Question Internet on PC keeps dropping out randomly

imported_blip · Jan 7, 2025

This has been going on for several months and I can't figure out what it going on. I'm connected via the Ethernet on my motherboard to our Xfinity router. Everything will be working fine, then it will just say that it can't connect to a certain page. This happens in Chrome and Firefox, and I opened Edge and that didn't work either. When I check Network Connections, it says the network connection is active and shows that data is being uploaded and downloaded. I've also switched to a USB wi-fi adapter and sometimes that will work for a while and sometimes not.

If I another program that connects to the internet, such as Steam, it will work, which really confuses me. All the other devices in the house will still work over wi-fi. A lot of times, if I restart my PC, the internet will start working again at least for a little while. Sometimes only for a couple of minutes. Then it will randomly start working again with no problems for a couple hours or days, etc.

I have run scans that didn't find any malware, and I've tried to reduce all the startup programs to only what I need and recognize.

I've recently tried turning off ipv6 and using manual ipv4 settings to use encrypted. I found an option to turn off DNS in Chrome which has had mixed results. Has only been a day or so with that. Below is a screen shot of my network settings. (I blacked out a couple of things but not really sure if those are sensitive info or not). Please let me know if there is any more info I can provide. This is driving me crazy and I can't figure out what is happening. Why would it just stop working for an hour then all of a sudden remember how to connect to the internet?! Thanks!

akugami · Jan 7, 2025

Networking issues can always be tricky. Is it your network drivers? Is it your network hardware on the mobo? Is it your Ethernet wiring? Is it your internal networking equipment? Is it your Internet modem?

First thing, double check if there are any general issues with your particular motherboard, the network driver, or the network chipset that your motherboard is using. Update any drivers as needed. Possibly downgrade if you were already on the latest.

Next, I always suggest is Ping Infoview. Download here from Nirsoft.

I always like to log the test results to a text file, in case something causes the computer to reboot. I usually set the ping intervals to 5 seconds.

What I always like to do is ping a local device such as another computer connected on the same network, the router, the Internet modem, and of course a stable website or Internet location such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8).

In general, if the instability such as network timeouts is everywhere, then it's possible it could be wiring, but also possible it could be your Internet Modem, since it seems like you're using that as your router.

If the instability is only when you ping the Internet IP address such as Google DNS, then it could be your Internet Modem, or it could just be some sort of an issue with the drop from your Internet provider into your home.

BoomerD · Jan 12, 2025

Using the motherboard NIC? Dur...finished reading the screenshot. Realtek 2.5gb ports are notoriously wonky. (as bad or worse than the Intel i225/226)

In2Photos · Jan 12, 2025

This is going to sound weird but it worked for both my daughter's PC and her laptop wireless. Go into BIOS and disable the Ethernet port. Boot into Windows. Shut down the system and boot back into BIOS. Enable the Ethernet port again and boot into Windows.

BoomerD · Jan 13, 2025

In2Photos said:
This is going to sound weird but it worked for both my daughter's PC and her laptop wireless. Go into BIOS and disable the Ethernet port. Boot into Windows. Shut down the system and boot back into BIOS. Enable the Ethernet port again and boot into Windows.

So...turn it off...then turn it back on? Do you work for my cable company?

mikeymikec · Jan 13, 2025

Considering that the problem has occurred over ethernet and wifi, I would do two basic things:

1 - On the problematic PC, restart (rather than shut down) Windows.
2 - Pull the power out of the router for a minute, plug it back in, give it a few minutes, and see how it goes.

manly · Jan 13, 2025

On iPadOS, Safari had been acting wonky the past couple weeks. Nothing would happen when visiting a URL; or the page would quickly load but none of the embedded images. It was maddening, but didn't appear to affect any other devices. I kept wondering if the last iPadOS update had broken Safari somehow.

Turns out my new-ish cable modem was unhealthy, and it totally died on Friday. I grabbed a replacement CPE from Spectrum, and everything is working normally now.

After isolating the problem to the SurfBoard 8200, I had tried to activate my ancient SB5101 to use temporarily but Spectrum refused. This was an old DOCSIS 2.0 modem that was in use as recently as October 2023. ARRIS will replace my SB8200 under warranty, but I'll just keep it as a spare (Spectrum doesn't discount when a customer uses their own modem).

OP's problem seems to be host-specific (as was my Safari browsing problem), but it's possible that the router or cable modem is acting up. As others have alluded to, you have to methodically apply a process of elimination to try and isolate the root cause of the problem.

akugami · Jan 13, 2025

BoomerD said:
So...turn it off...then turn it back on? Do you work for my cable company?

I think that's one of my first level techs...

Network connection issues are one of the most maddening things that LVL1 passes on to me. Sometimes the issue is so retarded and basic that I just facepalm on why LVL1 can't solve it.

JackMDS · Jan 13, 2025

The amount of Junk that Chrome stores is Beyond normal imagination.

Try periodically to clear the Saved Data, Go the the Menu, set it acoording to the variables that you need to Keep (like passwords etc.), and clean.

Fallen Kell · Jan 17, 2025

Also if you have not, try swapping out the ethernet cable between your PC and the switch/router (as well as any cable between the switch/router and the cable modem) if you have not done so. Cheap ethernet cables are just that, cheap, and can and will fail.

Question Internet on PC keeps dropping out randomly

imported_blip

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akugami

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BoomerD

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In2Photos

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BoomerD

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mikeymikec

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manly

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akugami

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JackMDS

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Fallen Kell

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