Hello,

I have a bit of a strange network occurance. Sometimes I get the "local area connection , a cable has been unplugged" message appear in the taskbar. When it happens I can't access internet/network stuff [surprise surprise? :-o].

Most of the time the message comes up and goes away and I don't notice any network traffic disruptions.

Sometimes it comes up and remains long enough that when it goes away the computer actually has to reconnect/resync with the network.

Sometimes it flashes very quickly, like the cable is being disconnected and reconnected ... but at 20 times a second. If this goes on long enough when it stops flashing the computer has to reconnect/resync with the network.

I am runnng XP SP2, I have a Gigabyte GA-8IG1000 Pro-G motherboard and use the onboard 10/100/1000 lan [marvell yukon 88e8001/8003/8010 PCI gigabit ethernet controller].

I am connected to a 4 port 10/100 router all other computers on the router are 10/100, I considered disabling the 1000 on my lan card ... but I don't think I have that option ... atleast I could not find it.

I have tried swapping ports. So I am down to the cable/onboard lan/xp. I think that it tends to occur more when I am using nero's video tools but it does not occur everytime I use nero's video tools, so I might be seeing something thats not there.

So does anyone have any clues as to the problem? It can go for weeks without getting the problem? ?but when it does occur it can last an hour without reconnecting/resyncing to the lan. The fact that it can go for so long without being a problem makes it very hard for me to diagnose, I have tried using one of the other pc on the cable when the problem is occuring ... no problems ... but no problems when I returned the cable to my pc either.

Sorry about being long winded, just wanted to be thorough, detailed and clear.

thanks

:-) Hey Eric,

Welcome to PCHF. We have a lot of great people here and I am sure we can help you solve your mystery.

I had a simialr occurance at one time and it was a damaged cable, but it was only partially broken so the problem was intermittant. So you may want to simply replace the cable to see if the problem continues.

Also, is this a problem that started suddenly, or is it something that is progressively getting worse? At any time have you noticed the same occurance on any of the other PCs?

Do you have a Firewall or other sheild software that could be knocking you off of the network? Have you updated the driver for your lan card?

Looking forward to your reply,

TTFN

T

I'll give the cable theeory another test, I remember testing it once and still got a couple of flashes, the way my LAN is setup I have to lug the cable down a regularly used hallway so I didn't want to leave it their indefinietly.

Drivers are updated, firewall is "standard" sp2 firewall. It happened with sp1 as well but not with 98.

The problem has neither gotten worse or better. But it is so erratic, a couple of months no worries and then it can spend a hour constantly trying to reconnect. This irregularity made me think that it might be more software. Wish I had a spare LAN card ... might have to go out and buy one if the cable works OK ... I geuss LAN cable probably cost the same as a LAN card anyway.

:-) Hey Eric,

You might want to give a different firewall a go. You can read about them here, there are many free ones to choose from that do a much better job than the XP version.

I'm just having a hard time figuring out what would cause your LAN card to do that. Seems like if it was bad, it would just be bad.

Look forward to your reply,

TTFN

T

Well its not the cable ... unless both cables are faulty. The one I use was self crimped ... but the one I just tested it with is original, rj45 heads are moulded into the cable.

A question about the firewall, if I go to control panel and just turn it off will that be sufficient in testing if its the firewall or not? Sounds like a silly question but I am never sure if windows does what I want to do when using the window xp controls.

Anyway, I turned the firewall off and it still happening ... I didn't reboot or anything between switching the firewall on and off.

I might go about seeing about the network card.

Thanks for the help so far,
Eric

:-D You just never can tell when you crimp your own cables Eric.

I'd say go for it. Maybe Merlin or Joe or one of the other guys will chime in with their great and amazing wisdom.

In the meantime, check out the LAN card, can you just swap out one of the other computer's?

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

TTFN

T