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 Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 29, 2014 8:20 AM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 29, 2014 8:20 AM in response to John Oldham

    Please post the version of the Broadcom driver right after Bootcamp drivers are installed successfully.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 12:44 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 12:44 PM in response to Loner T

    Windows reinstalled successfully. Having most of my settings on Skydrive actually made it easy. Good job, MS.

     

    I customized the install process to not set up Windows Update. During the install it did hook up via Wi-Fi but there is no way to control that.

     

    I checked Device Manager after installing the Bootcamp drivers and the ethernet driver was back to 15.6.1.3.

     

    I uninstalled the driver and it disappeared from the Device Manager listing. I restarted. The 15.6.1.3 driver was back and the BootCamp driver would not install.

     

    I uninstalled it again and instead of rebooting I immediately installed the Bootcamp driver. The Installer said the install was successful but Device Manager did not update to reflect that.

     

    I restarted but the 15.6.1.3 driver, which comes from Microsoft, is back. So uninstalling this driver does not work because the OS persistently reinstalls it.

     

    The streaming test failed again, so we are back to square one.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 30, 2014 1:25 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 30, 2014 1:25 PM in response to John Oldham

    In Device Manager, remove the Ethernet adapter. Install the BC driver. Reboot. Does it show the BC driver as the installed version?

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 1:32 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 1:32 PM in response to Loner T

    I have already done that. Please read the fourth sentence in my previous post.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Loner T

    I meant read the fifth sentence in my last post. I did it again anyway exactly as you requested. Same result

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 30, 2014 1:56 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 30, 2014 1:56 PM in response to John Oldham

    I uninstalled the driver and it disappeared from the Device Manager listing. I restarted. The 15.6.1.3 driver was back and the BootCamp driver would not install.

    I am suggesting removing the device, not uninstalling the driver. If you remove the driver, the device still exists in the device database and will come back when the driver is installed.

     

    One more option I can suggest, and it is bit more work. Instead of using W8, if you can use W7 and see which version of the driver comes back.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 2:02 PM in response to Loner T

    Got it. So how do I REMOVE the device? I tried looking for it before but could not find a path.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 30, 2014 2:41 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 30, 2014 2:41 PM in response to John Oldham

    There is a 'Delete' option in Control Panel -> Network and Sharing -> Organize.

     

    BTW, on my rMBP with W7,

     

    Broadcom-W7-Driver.PNG

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 3:31 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 3:31 PM in response to Loner T

    Control Panel -> Network and Sharing -> Organize is not an option that's visible in Win 8 Network And Sharing Center. Just "Change Adapter Settings" and "Change Advanced Sharing Settings". "Change Adapter Settings" only took me to the same driver options in Device Manager.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 30, 2014 6:11 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 30, 2014 6:11 PM in response to John Oldham

    Would you mind sharing your streaming URL, since I have the same Broadcom driver as what you have?

     

    Broadcom-W8.1-Driver.PNG

     

    This would also explain why the BC drivers, which are installed silently, will not overwrite a later version.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 6:11 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 6:11 PM in response to Loner T

    This is weird. Programs and Features shows this:

    Capture.PNG

     

    But Device Manager shows this:

     

    Capture01.PNG

     

    I binged "How to remove a device in Windows 8" and found an option mentioning "Programs And Features". But why does Windows show two different drivers installed from two different places? Weird, huh.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 6:13 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 6:13 PM in response to Loner T

    Wow. We cross posted again. Check for the driver in "Programs And Features" and see which version it says you have there.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 30, 2014 6:13 PM in response to John Oldham
    Level 7 (24,409 points)
    Safari
    Nov 30, 2014 6:13 PM in response to John Oldham

    It is showing it correctly. BCA installed 15.4.0.17, but Windows has a later driver, so it is using 15.6.1.3.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 6:19 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 6:19 PM in response to Loner T

    My streaming test is just running the "Music" program from the Start Page and selecting an artist from the "Radio" section. I have also gotten the problem streaming Live365. Haven't tried streaming Netflix, but I expect I will get the same issue. I will try it though.

  • by John Oldham,

    John Oldham John Oldham Nov 30, 2014 6:22 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2014 6:22 PM in response to Loner T

    So I guess it's down to how we pull 15.6.1.3 kicking and screaming out of Windows 8 and keep it out. I'm surprised no one else seems to have had this issue.

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