Router loses internet when I restart my PC

[hgivens]

You guys are going to think I'm crazy, but this has happened 3 times now. I recently moved into a new apartment and got a brand new modem and router. For whatever reason, sometimes when I restart my PC my router freezes or something and I lose internet until I reset my router.

I have
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-Gigabit-Support-Compatible/dp/B00R2AZLD2/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1501875537&sr=1-2&keywords=netgear%2Bnighthawk&th=1

The lights flash on the Ethernet Port number and Wifi when there is internet traffic. Whenever I lose connection after a restart my router has solid white lights instead of flashing, still indicating that their is internet access, the lights turn amber if I lose internet access. I have had no other issues with my internet other than the 3 times in the past week that this has happened after a restart.

Whenever I lose connection, I'm unable to ping anything but my NIC card and my WiFi also stops working. My modem still claims to have internet and I only have to restart my router to fix it, so I don't think it's an issue with my modem. Does anyone have any ideas on how or why this is happening? After 3 times immediately after a restart of my PC, something has to be up, can't still be a coincidence.

Edit:

Just to add a little more info, the router does have the most updated firmware and virtually the factory settings apart from changing SSID and a few things of that nature.

 

[jimmyEatWord]

so what NIC are you using is it on the motherboard or an expansion card ?!

 

[boosted1g]

Is the desktop PC using a static IP or dynamic IP?

Makes me think the motherboard NIC port is sending bad data or voltage when restarting and is causing the router to lock up.

 

[hgivens]

so what NIC are you using is it on the motherboard or an expansion card ?!

It's the NIC on the motherboard, I never had anything like this happen on my old router.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128706

 

[jimmyEatWord]

whatever the issue it is from your NIC , not your router , your mobo can't damage your router

 

[hgivens]

Is the desktop PC using a static IP or dynamic IP?

Makes me think the motherboard NIC port is sending bad data or voltage when restarting and is causing the router to lock up.

It's using a dynamic IP. I can try setting a static IP, I'll also try reinstalling network drivers and see if that helps at all

 

[boosted1g]

No additional EMI/surge suppression on NIC on that board, and even worse it is an atheros Killer one (these were not very reliable and if you shop around you will notice the newest gen high end boards have switched back to intel nics).

The NIC is one of the most vulnerable parts on the board because when there is a surge or trapped voltage due to say a lightening storm it will try to escape the next best avenue it has which is through your ethernet port

 

[hgivens]

No additional EMI/surge suppression on NIC on that board, and even worse it is an atheros Killer one (these were not very reliable and if you shop around you will notice the newest gen high end boards have switched back to intel nics).

The NIC is one of the most vulnerable parts on the board because when there is a surge or trapped voltage due to say a lightening storm it will try to escape the next best avenue it has which is through your ethernet port

I see, that's very unfortunate...

How big of an issue do you think it is as far as damaging my Router goes. I've had the board for 2 and a half years now and this is the first I've run into the issue. I ask because I was hoping to upgrade my GPU in the upcoming months and they're over priced beyond believe thanks to zcash.

 

[boosted1g]

If you router works just fine without the PC plugged in, then the router itself is still fine.

Is your PC and the router plugged into a surge protector (or UPS)?
Is PC wired direct to router, or is there in-wall network cabling?

 

[photonboy]

1) Not sure how the ROUTER would be directly affected, but you can TEST that by trying to access it with a different computer or device (such as Netflix on BluRay player). Technically you don't need to access the internet to prove the router but this proves both devices and your ISP connection so I'd do that.

This is not 100% proof if other devices work, but if they no longer work it's a bad router.

2) Wi-FI also stops working, on it seems the same device?
That sounds like some addressing error.

Right-click the network icon in the lower right to find Network Troubleshooting and run that. It may indicate the router is bad.

3) It may be some majorly corrupted drivers, though I'm doubting that since it appeared to work before and it's a new router. If you're really stuck right now, here's something that seems complicated at first but is actually fairly easy.

a) download an Ubuntu ISO
b) burn to USB or DVD (USB best)
c) boot to Ubuntu
d) test internet connection

The above tips should help isolate where the problem is, though using Linux is problematic if the issue doesn't happen often. Is it EVERY BOOT? If so, that's easy.

SUMMARY:
ROUTER's are complex, so I suppose in theory it could be defective such that when you bootup you lose the connection and it's the routers fault. Perhaps even OTHER devices still work.

As a computer technician I've learned to test what I can easily, but not overthink it. So when I start getting stuck I look at SWAPPING the device in question. In this case that's the router so perhaps you can BORROW one from someone just long enough to test?

Don't mess with their wi-fi since it's not necessary. Just swap, plug in Ethernet and try to repeat the error. Heck, swap your router to THEIR location and see what happens.

 

[hgivens]

If you router works just fine without the PC plugged in, then the router itself is still fine.

Is your PC and the router plugged into a surge protector (or UPS)?
Is PC wired direct to router, or is there in-wall network cabling?

I mean, my PC is always plugged in to the wall and router, but I've only lost connection 3 times in the past week. I do have a surge protector,both my cable to modem and PC / Router go through it. It's not new and has been used before. Also the Ethernet is directly from Router to PC, I've already tried switching cables.

 

[hgivens]

1) Not sure how the ROUTER would be directly affected, but you can TEST that by trying to access it with a different computer or device (such as Netflix on BluRay player). Technically you don't need to access the internet to prove the router but this proves both devices and your ISP connection so I'd do that.

This is not 100% proof if other devices work, but if they no longer work it's a bad router.

2) Wi-FI also stops working, on it seems the same device?
That sounds like some addressing error.

Right-click the network icon in the lower right to find Network Troubleshooting and run that. It may indicate the router is bad.

3) It may be some majorly corrupted drivers, though I'm doubting that since it appeared to work before and it's a new router. If you're really stuck right now, here's something that seems complicated at first but is actually fairly easy.

a) download an Ubuntu ISO
b) burn to USB or DVD (USB best)
c) boot to Ubuntu
d) test internet connection

The above tips should help isolate where the problem is, though using Linux is problematic if the issue doesn't happen often. Is it EVERY BOOT? If so, that's easy.

SUMMARY:
ROUTER's are complex, so I suppose in theory it could be defective such that when you bootup you lose the connection and it's the routers fault. Perhaps even OTHER devices still work.

As a computer technician I've learned to test what I can easily, but not overthink it. So when I start getting stuck I look at SWAPPING the device in question. In this case that's the router so perhaps you can BORROW one from someone just long enough to test?

Don't mess with their wi-fi since it's not necessary. Just swap, plug in Ethernet and try to repeat the error. Heck, swap your router to THEIR location and see what happens.

1. I really only use my desktop as a wired device, everything else I use on my network is wireless and as I mentioned I've had no issues with connection loss other than the 3 times I explained. I could try an Ethernet cord on my laptop, but it doesn't happen every time I restart, so it's not something I could really test for with great results.

2. WiFi stops working as in the router stops giving out WiFI. When I restart my PC and lose internet connection. No device will work with the router until I restart my router. After the router freezes up, I can no longer communicate with it with a ping or anything.

3. Not sure what running a live boot of Ubuntu is going to do, My desktop has internet 100% of the time until I restart it. Even then, it doesn't freeze on every restart, it's happened only 3 times in the past week and I've probably restarted my computer 10-15 times thanks to a game called PUBG which eats memory more than chrome.