Computer randomly freezing after switching to Ethernet.

[inf1nity]

I used a mobile broadband connection with a USB modem to access the internet for a long time. However, recently I got a new connection which is a wired, ADSL based broadband.

I'm using a D-Link 2750U WiFi router.. My mother board is a Jetway 945GCM2SA2-6CH with a Realtek RTL8101E-GR PCI-E 10/100 LAN. I'm on Windows 8.1 64 bit. The computer is connected to the router with a standard ethernet cable.

Ever since I started using this, I have been experiencing random freezes. The computer freezes while browsing the internet. Even the mouse pointer stops moving. Everything just stops. Even Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't work.

I downloaded the latest drivers from realtek's website but its still happening.

It happens randomly, but one thing I've noticed that most of the times the computer is under heavy load when it freezes.

Anyone have a solution for this?

 

[Ketchup]

Did your old connection use any special software or drivers? Might want to remove those.

But freezing under heavy load sounds more like an overheating problem, which wouldn't be directly connected to the Internet connection change. Might want to make sure all fans are spinng and there isn't a huge build-up of dust.

 

[inf1nity]

Yes, the modem came with a dialer software of its own, which I haven't removed because I still might have to use it sometime.

And this problem started exactly the same day i switched to Ethernet. I've already looked into the dust angle, blew it all out with a vacuum cleaner.

I'll remove the old software and see if it fixes things..

 

[inf1nity]

Alright so I'm 90% sure that its a problem with the ethernet. Because I can use the computer normally, listening to music, watching movies etc for long periods of time. But turn on the internet and it hangs within 30 minutes.

Should I downgrade to Windows 7 again?

 

[Ketchup]

Could be a short in the cable. Would make the computer seem to hang until it gives up and tells you it can't load the web page.

While Windows 8.1 has been with us for years, an outdated driver it still a possibility. Try the latest driver from here:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...d=7&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

If you are still having issues, you might want to consider a replacement network card, which would just plug into a PCI slot. Or, just go ahead and get a WiFi card since you have the WiFi router now.

 

[inf1nity]

Hmm, let me switch to another cable and report back.

I've already installed that driver you mentioned. Replacement network card would be an option, but I don't want to go for that unless I've exhausted all possibilities.

And I do not have a WiFi capable computer. The WiFi is used by family members on their mobile phones.

A small question, is it possible for these kind of problems to happen if the ethernet cable is strung too tight? I was using the ethernet cable that came with the router and its short, barely reaches my computer from where the modem is kept. Could this be causing the problem?

 

[Ketchup]

There are 4 twisted pairs of cables in an Ethernet cable. If you are pulling even one loose (possibly from time to time) that could explain your problems. Like I said, waiting for a page to time out when loading). One easy way to determine if this is the issue is to look at your network icon in the notification area. It may be going between connected and not connected.

But if your cable barely reaches, it's too short. Replace it or move something closer. And I don't know what it's like where you live, but you could buy a USB WiFi adapter for your PC for about $15, which would have no problem communicating with your WiFi router.

 

[inf1nity]

Alright, switching to another cable didn't work, it still hanged.

ketchup79, the problem isn't that webpages stop responding. The problem is that the entire computer just freezes. No response comes from it no matter what. The mouse pointer freezes despite moving the mouse around. Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc provides no response either. I have to cut the power and boot it from the scratch.

I don't think this problem is because of the cable being loose, but then i'm no expert on this either.

 

[Elixer]

I am betting driver issues, since those can and do lockup the system, but, I have no idea if you troubleshooted your system first, checking CPU & RAM for errors, and also, could be corrupted system files.
What does event viewer show? You see any errors/warnings?

 

[Ketchup]

inf1nity, have you made any other changes to your computer since the internet connection change?

Don't rule out Malware, since it only happens while you are online. And the event viewer is a good idea.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I would take a look at the adapter properties and makes sure that the settings are appropriate for your connection. I would first start with the packet size and disable jumbo packets if it is enabled and go from there.

 

[inf1nity]

ketchup79, no I haven't made any other changes to my PC. And I have avast antivirus installed and up-to-date on my PC. I also take other precautions, like running ublock and noscript on my browser, not installing toolbars or shady software.

I tried Event Viewer but it doesn't give me any clues. I also tried WhoCrashed but it doesn't report any records of any fatal system errors.

Another thing I'd like to point out, my system is old and I keep feeling that its on its last hinges. I even had a thread about this. BSODs are pretty much a way of life for me. You think these freezes are another symptom that its about to die?

 

[JimKiler]

I would take a look at the adapter properties and makes sure that the settings are appropriate for your connection. I would first start with the packet size and disable jumbo packets if it is enabled and go from there.

+1 as Jumbo packets would freeze my PC years ago on my old AMD system unless they updated the driver.

 

[inf1nity]

Thanks, will look into this Jumbo packets thing.

EDIT: So I did some googling and from what I have found, I have to go into the connection properties and set the jumbo frames thing to 1514 bytes, right? Because I don't see any other way to "disable" it.

 

[inf1nity]

So, I just went into Network and Sharing on my PC and it turns out that my network adapter doesn't even have the option for Jumbo Frames! Did some googling and looks like the reason for this is that I have fast ethernet and not Gigabit ethernet.

Not sure what to do now...

 

[Engineer]

I had a similar issue several years ago with a Realtek unit and finally gave up and bought a cheap (as possible) Intel card. No problems after that.

With that said, most of my Realtek units have been fine though.

 

[Ketchup]

So, I just went into Network and Sharing on my PC and it turns out that my network adapter doesn't even have the option for Jumbo Frames! Did some googling and looks like the reason for this is that I have fast ethernet and not Gigabit ethernet.

Not sure what to do now...

Gigabit isn't needed for a starndard internet connection (it won't make a difference). The speed is nice transferring large files across a local network, but that's about as far as it goes.

You may want to take things in reverse and actually UNinstall the latest driver for your network card, and use the driver that Windows 8 has on hand for your NIC.

If possible, buying an inexpensive PCI NIC is an inexpensive way to work around the problem, if that is indeed the cause.

 

[JimKiler]

So, I just went into Network and Sharing on my PC and it turns out that my network adapter doesn't even have the option for Jumbo Frames! Did some googling and looks like the reason for this is that I have fast ethernet and not Gigabit ethernet.

Not sure what to do now...

try turning off other features or like offloading. Then if the system appears stable turn them on one by one until you find the culprit. But as other suggest a different or older driver might also fix your issue.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Another thing I'd like to point out, my system is old and I keep feeling that its on its last hinges. I even had a thread about this. BSODs are pretty much a way of life for me. You think these freezes are another symptom that its about to die?

You may have a dying mobo / PC.

Have you tried a fresh re-format? Do the hardware-related issues remain? If so, then you have hardware problems.

Another way to test is to use a reasonably recent Linux LiveDVD/USB distro. See if that freezes when using the ethernet. If it doesn't, then it's probably a software issue in Windows.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

Browser issue? I didn't see mention of what your using.......

 

[tortillasoup]

You may have a dying mobo / PC.

Have you tried a fresh re-format? Do the hardware-related issues remain? If so, then you have hardware problems.

Another way to test is to use a reasonably recent Linux LiveDVD/USB distro. See if that freezes when using the ethernet. If it doesn't, then it's probably a software issue in Windows.

Op, try getting speedfan installed and monitor your 12V and 5V lines under light load and heavy load. When you say "heavy load" I'm assuming heavy CPU load. Perhaps you should look at the voltages under idle conditions, then run something like Prime 95 on a single core and see how much the voltages sag. Try incrementally loading down the system and see how low the voltages get. Perhaps you could limit the CPU speeds to like 10% of maximum in the power settings and try the ethernet and see if it still freezes.

If the ethernet on the motherboard isn't suffering from a hardware failure, then my guess would be power supply related. Too low of voltages can cause hard freezes and loading down the system may be too much though this issue is specific to you using the ethernet which would be unusual but not impossible.

 

[RLGL]

The latest bios is from 2007. The board or power supply may be failing. By my standard I would have replaced the whole thing 3 or 4 years ago due to the age

 

[inf1nity]

Alright, so since the night of yesterday(17th Aug) the problem seems to have stopped. This is really weird, it has abruptly stopped with no solid reason behind it.

I haven't done anything special. Disabled IPv6, and deleted my old mobile broadband connection in the Network and Sharing Centre.

No idea which one of these things did the trick, but its been running stable for over an hour now, which is the longest it has ever since I switched to ethernet.

 

[tortillasoup]

Alright, so since the night of yesterday(17th Aug) the problem seems to have stopped. This is really weird, it has abruptly stopped with no solid reason behind it.

I haven't done anything special. Disabled IPv6, and deleted my old mobile broadband connection in the Network and Sharing Centre.

No idea which one of these things did the trick, but its been running stable for over an hour now, which is the longest it has ever since I switched to ethernet.

ambient room temperatures change?

 

[razel]

ignore me