Disabling Internet connection hangs computer (Home

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I know that the connection to the Internet and how one uses it can be different, post 604,688. In this case there is nothing odd or complicated involved; one ADSL modem and one PC. No network, no routers etc.

Before I turn off this PC I disable the Internet connection, either via right-click on the connection in Network Connections or via the icon in the tray (Notification Area, whatever), then shut down Windows and maybe turn off the modem. When I turn on the PC, the connection is disabled, so I start the modem and some minute later enable the connection.

This is how I have done the last year and it has worked perfectly. Some month ago I rebuilt the machine, new hardware, and in this case integrated NIC on the M/B.

Two weeks ago when I disabled the Internet connection, the PC froze. When I rebooted I found a discrepancy; it was disabled in Network Connections but not in the Device Manager. When I tried to disable the NIC in DM the machine froze again. After I rebooted the PC I found it enabled in both Network Connections and DM. OK, so I tried again to disable it in Network Connections, and the PC froze.

OK, maybe the drivers are corrupt or something. Reboot to Safe Mode, uninstalled the NIC drivers via CP Add or Remove Programs, reboot to Normal Mode, installed the drivers for the NIC. Then it worked until yesterday. When I disabled the connection, the PC froze.

Now if I disable the connection it hangs again.

When I built this machine some month ago, I checked which device drivers I had and what versions. I found that I, in the most cases, had the latest versions (downloaded newer for graphic and IDE/SATA).

The only driver that Windows complained about (as it does with standard settings) was the NIC driver since it was not signed. I don’t know if this is related, but I guess someone would say always use WHQL tested and signed drivers. I do if I can, but it is sometimes hard to track down drivers.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Spec.
Asus M2V (Socket AM2)
Integrated LAN controller: Attansic L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000
Driver: Attansic 0.3.3790.105
There is some version 0.3.3790.106 on the ASUS site, but the Release notes on my M/B CD says:
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v0.3.3790.106(A0025)
setup.exe
(1)fixed install from CD-ROM issue
——————–
so the driver version is 105, and the correction is related to the setup.

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Dear fellow Loungers,
Well, there has not been an overwhelming amount of suggestions, comments etc. on my initial problem description. Admittedly the post was a bit long, but I wanted to get the background in the post. I could of course just said: “Uh, computer hangs when I close Internet”, then there probably would have been unnecessary follow up questions.

Anyhow, I sent some questions to ASUS, with more or less the same information as in my post here. Also pointing at the fact that some of their drivers isn’t tested and signed, and for another M/B controller is in beta!

I have recently got this reply from ASUS:
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Dear Valued Customer

I think you have some issues with your BIOS or BIOS battery. Please try reset your BIOS/CCMOS.

Best Regards
[snip]
Asus Nordic TSD Support

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Huh, a BIOS issue? Well what do you think?

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Hi Argus,

If the NIC is integrated into the MB maybe a reset would help but I really wouldn’t want to do it. I keep thinking of all the other things that would be messed up. Why not get a NIC card instead and disable the MB integrated NIC in the BIOS? Just my

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Hi Skitter, (Sandy if I may),
Thanks for reply. To be honest I’m a bit surprised it could be a BIOS issue. With corrupt settings I wouldn’t expect it to work at all … Well, OK, if it is corrupt you could expect anything, so maybe …

Normally I only chose the “Load Setup Defaults” option, and then do some small changes. I have not for many, many years needed to clear the RTC RAM in CMOS (remove battery, move jumper/reseat jumper, replace battery, load default). I guess if “have some issues with your BIOS” means something is corrupt, then it doesn’t help to only reload default.

Anyhow, my changes in BIOS at install are not big; change boot device priority, change quick boot, disable a controller for eSATA, maybe something more. I remember every value, so if something is changed I will notice.

This is a new system, and as you say, a NIC card maybe can fix that issue (and they are probably the cheapest thing to add to a PC). Well, I do have one around from the old setup. But my “problems” (small) with that one has not found a solution (My post +11 months ago: Odd CPU activity when connected to Int. (Home/SP2)).

I don’t want to be stubborn, but a separate NIC may have “its issues”; finding drivers again, take a PCI/PCI-E slot.

Still wonder why it works for some weeks.

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Hi Argus,

You are certainly welcome to call me Sandy!

I agree with the statement you made – To be honest I’m a bit surprised it could be a BIOS issue…. – and I agree with you, I don’t think I’d change the BIOS or reset it for a network problem.

You also said – I don’t want to be stubborn, but a separate NIC may have “its issues”; finding drivers again, take a PCI/PCI-E slot

Certain NICs can be harder to install than others. I don’t have any recommendations about which work best. I know I have dealt with Linksys, DLink and Realtex that our vendor recommended for our Win98/Win2000 computers in our school computer labs. So I went with Realtex when I wanted a couple for my Win2000 and WinXP box in my home and I haven’t had a problem with either system. Both NIC cards took the PCI slots that the modems had previously occupied so that didn’t cause me any concern either. But each person and each computer is different, you will have to decide how you want to approach the problem. Until you find a solution, you could do as Doc Watson or Bob suggest in their posts so you can keep a live connection going.

You didn’t say, but which motherboard do you have that has the intregrated NIC port? Would the MB website have any information about their intregrated NICs? Or list any updated drivers there for it? Certainly something has changed for you, but what? I guess that’s what you’d like to know!

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Sandy,
I should have posted a reply yesterday, since things developed, but had no time. Yes, there are quite a range of NIC’s to chose among, if one want; even though most of them will not introduce new problems, it can sometimes go wrong. Anyhow, I have done what Doc and Bob suggested after it froze the second time (2 weeks after driver reinstall); it isn’t that funny to force a disable and then know it will hang.

You didn’t say, but which motherboard do you have that has the intregrated NIC port?
In my first post I briefly mentioned my MB as ASUS M2V and the integrated NIC as Attansic L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 adapter. They have a quite good site, a bit slow in connection, but the information is there and so are the programs, drivers etc. I can assure you that I have been going to the MB site most every day since this first happened (and of course, something one would like to visit first, when building a new machine).

My post to ASUS was just lately, October 23. They said they will reply in aprox. 48 hours. Since no reply to my e-mail, I used the Case Code link to their site and found the answer I quoted earlier. Their reply was at October 24.

When I yesterday morning checked their site for Downloads, under LAN there is an update, v1.4.3790.7, see my screen shot. Added at October 25! , must have started something … I have always looked at all download categories, this is added to LAN, then it’s a completely different matter why they don’t show it under Drivers or Latest (where they show older ones); they do have some odd way of doing things.

Before, when searching the net just for fun for “Attansic L1 driver”, I found driver numbers that didn’t match my initial (v0.3.3790.106) at all. I don’t like to download drivers from so called Driver sites, that is no option. So maybe this new driver has been around for a while, the driver itself is dated July 28.

I have now installed the new driver, everything is working as normal. (And yes, I have tested to disable the connection and it works, time will tell if it lasts. But at least it’s a new updated, tested and signed driver).

I would have looked at their download site in the next couple of days, but you made me check once more earlier. Thanks!

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I have now installed the new driver, everything is working as normal. (And yes, I have tested to disable the connection and it works, time will tell if it lasts. But at least it’s a new updated, tested and signed driver).

Hi Argus!

I am glad you have resolved this pesky problem! It’s “in the books” as a “win” for you and the computer loses this round. Don’t you really enjoy the feeling of achievement when you do solve a problem? I know I do! Thanks for sharing the solution!

for the too!

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Why not just stop disabling the internet connection on shutdown and see if that “cures it”. It seems obvious that something in the system (like the MoBo)doesn’t like that. Personally, I don’t see the need for this anyway.

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Hi Doc,
If “something in the system (like the MoBo) doesn’t like that”, then why did it start after 2 weeks, and why did it work another aprox. 2 weeks after driver reinstall? Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate your advice (I’m depending on you guys ).

It isn’t only an issue at shutdown, sometimes one would like to disable the Internet connection, and do some work offline (install something), of course one can just turn off the modem …

Not that someone does it, but you should be able to use the Device Manager and go and disable whatever you like, of course most of the items will result in problems (disable monitor etc.). However, disabling an Internet connection (disable the NIC for that connection) and the result is a hang, seems to me at first as a driver issue, but I don’t know.

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Hey Argus,

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If “something in the system (like the MoBo) doesn’t like that”, then why did it start after 2 weeks, and why did it work another aprox. 2 weeks after driver reinstall?

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We are talking about a computer here, right ??? That in itself leaves the door open to many possibilities.

Seriously though, I’m probably not the best source for this and was just suggesting a work around or a change in your MO (as Bob suggested). I never turn my system off unless I’m going out of town. I leave the internet connection live, but not connected or logged on, and the modem on at all times.

As they say, “One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.”

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I am with Doc, WE turn off our systems only when needed, i.e., extended power outage ( we have battery backups), and when leaving town.

As for ON board NIC, we have been using them on all of our newer (4 years old or newer) machines and have not seen any need to install a separate NIC. We are on cable connection with a “Wired” network. We share printers so both desktops need to be on, and the laptops are on ac power most of the time.
No need to disable NIC.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Argus,
I agree with what Doc says. I have basically the same DSL set up as you and I never disable the DSL connection first. I just shut down the machine normally and when it’s done I just turn off the modem with it’s power switch.
When turning the system back on, I just start the boot up and turn on the modem at the same time. It boots up and the network is enabled and ready to go.

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Hi Bob,
Seems like a good MO.
The whole discussion about firewall is not so much an issue anymore, since it loads really early. And as you say, to turn on the modem at boot time, it takes some seconds for it to establish a connection (in my case around 60-80 seconds from power up), so when the modem is ready, so is the system.

In my case I have also used the “disable connection” to temporarily disable, without having to power cycle modem or reboot or anything else, just to disable for doing other things.

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