John Oldham

Q: Ethernet adapter keeps needing to be reset in Windows 8.1

I am running Windows 8.1 on a Mid 2010 MacBook Pro 15" which has Mavericks installed. I am using the Broadcom NetExtreme Gigabit Ethernet driver (15.6.1.3) provided through Bootcamp 5.1. Eventually, during use, Ethernet connectivity will be lost, and I will need to reset the adapter. I have done this using the troubleshooting section of the Network And Sharing Center Control Panel, manually in the command prompt (ipconfig / release followed by ipconfig /renew), or by disabling and enabling the driver in Device Manager. All three methods get ethernet back but it will eventually drop out again. Usually, but not always, when this happens the indicator lights on the gigabit switch that my cable is connected to will blink rapidly even though there is no traffic. It happens much more frequently if I am streaming audio/video or copying a large file from other computers on my network. One time it kept happening over and over and I had to restart Windows to stop it. I have never had any issues like this booted as a Mac, and my network is fine. Other devices can copy files and use the internet, so I don't think it is an issue with my switch, modem, or router. Are there any changes to settings for the driver in Device Manager that would cure this? Or is there another solution? Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Nov 26, 2014 4:51 PM

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Q: Ethernet adapter keeps needing to be reset in Windows 8.1

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  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 26, 2014 4:57 PM in response to John Oldham
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    Nov 26, 2014 4:57 PM in response to John Oldham

    I have also tried reinstalling the driver from my Bootcamp drivers thumb drive. No help. I also went to Broadcom's site and tried a newer version of their Win 8 64 bit driver. But the unzipped download does not have an installer.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 26, 2014 8:42 PM in response to John Oldham
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    Nov 26, 2014 8:42 PM in response to John Oldham

    This may be splitting hairs, but are you losing Layer 2 connectivity or Layer 3 (IP, cannot surf the internet, etc.)?

     

    If you are handy with something like Wireshark and have access to a port-mirror switch, it may help to figure out what the issue is.

     

    Also, if you are booted in OSX, do you see similar behavior?

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 26, 2014 9:08 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 26, 2014 9:08 PM in response to Loner T

    If I understand you I believe I have lost connectivity to both layers. I have lost connectivity while downloading (especially while streaming) from the internet, and also while transferring data between this computer and another one on the network. My network is a simple home network with everyone on the same node (WORKGROUP). All of my other computers are Macs just running some flavor of OSX. Unfortunately I don't have another Windows PC to test with.

     

    I did not think to test for network connectivity after losing internet connectivity. Unfortunately, although the symptom eventually will occur, I don't know when. I can't do X and always get Y. I've streamed for 10 minutes or an hour before it happens, which make diagnosis tricky.

     

    The only commonality seems to be data load, i.e. if I am streaming or copying large data files. If it was OSX I would look at clearing caches or running Onyx, but my Windows chops are not as deep.

     

    Could dealing with packet sizes be an issue? Thanks for responding and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 27, 2014 6:35 AM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (23,813 points)
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    Nov 27, 2014 6:35 AM in response to John Oldham

    Can you share the topology of your network? On the same Mac which shows ethernet issues, does the OSX side behave properly?

     

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 9:26 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 9:26 AM in response to Loner T

    Topology: Three, sometimes 4, Macs, an Airport Extreme g router (last of the "flying saucer" models), a ZyXel DSL modem, a Netgear 8 port gigabit switch.

     

    No such problems at all on the Mac for three years. Windows 8.1 was installed via Bootcamp about three weeks ago.

     

    I have never been able to reproduce the issue while booted from Windows and connected via Wi-Fi only. Just ethernet.

     

    When the Bootcamped Mac has the issue, none of the other devices on the network have any issues with internet or data transfer.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 27, 2014 9:33 AM in response to John Oldham
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    Nov 27, 2014 9:33 AM in response to John Oldham

    My assumption is that the topology is

     

    ZyXEL <-Ethernet-> WAN port (Airport G) <-Lan Port of Airport-> Netgear <-Ethernet->  Mac via Ethernet.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 10:02 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 10:02 AM in response to Loner T

    Yes, that is correct.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 27, 2014 10:15 AM in response to John Oldham
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    Nov 27, 2014 10:15 AM in response to John Oldham

    Is the Netgear an unmanaged switch or is it a managed switch (with a UI)?

     

    As a test, can you disconnect the Netgear, and plug the MBP into the LAN port of the Airport G to see if the problem can be duplicated? The other reason to try this is that you do not have the issue when using WiFi, which bypasses the Netgear. This may also be related to your adapter/drivers as well (en0 vs en1), This should also help eliminate driver issues.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Loner T

    The NetGear switch is unmanaged.

     

    Netgear is bypassed as suggested. Now streaming music through Windows Music app. Will let it run for a while and let you know.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 27, 2014 11:11 AM in response to John Oldham
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    Nov 27, 2014 11:11 AM in response to John Oldham

    What model is the Netgear switch?

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Loner T

    The Netgear switch is a GS108. It does not look like the culprit as I got the same symptom hooked directly to my router after about 45 minutes of streaming. I am now using the same setup with a different cable and will test again with streaming. Both cables are Cat 6.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 12:19 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 12:19 PM in response to John Oldham

    I am having the same symptom with a different cable. This was the worst one yet. I could not reset the ethernet adapter using the Network And Sharing Center troubleshooting, the command prompt, or the Device Manager. Even restart was going nowhere (stuck on the Restarting screen with moving progress indicator) until I unplugged the ethernet cable from my MBP. Then restart proceeded normally.

     

    During this incident I noticed that the indicator light on the Extreme router was blinking rapidly as on the Netgear switch when I had this happen before.

     

    At least we've eliminated the switch and cabling as a cause. Looks like we are down to something on the Mac when booted from Windows, or maybe the router.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 27, 2014 12:22 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (23,813 points)
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    Nov 27, 2014 12:22 PM in response to John Oldham

    What happens if you directly connect to ZyXEL?

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 27, 2014 2:08 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2014 2:08 PM in response to Loner T

    Connected directly to the ZyXEL. Same symptom. Reset the ZyXEL modem and retested. Same symptom. We seem to have eliminated everything outside of the MBP itself while booted from Windows. Agree?

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