Windows 7 Loses Internet Connection but not Network Connection.

Anonymous

Here is some basic information:

My Machine:

Custom built Intel Pentium D Machine 3.06Ghz, 4GB Ram, 3.0TB storage.

Intel PRO/1000 PM Network Adapter. On-Board

Windows 7 Ultimate. (All updates applied)

All Hardware has up to date drivers all around.

Environment:

Connected to a Windows Small Business Server 2003. (Wired)

The Server has been patched for Windows Vista Integration and ran Windows Vista for over a year without issue. I have read that to use Windows 7 you need to have all of the Vista Patches applied to the SBS 2003 server. I have done this.

My Router:

Linksys WRT54GSV4 with Firmware 1.06.3 (Up to date)

My Problem:

It seems my internet goes down whenever it feels like. I do not lose network connectivity. In other words I could be streaming an audio file or movie file from my server when I lose the internet. It just goes away. IT seems this is more during long downloads then anything, but has been rearing its ugly head more when just browsing. My only solution is to go into the network adapters and disable it, then re-enable it, and then I regain internet connectivity for an undetermined amount of time. Could be 5 minutes, could be 5 hours. It’s never the same thing twice.

I can see what it does more when downloading a larger file. I use a download manager so I can see the status of each file being downloaded. (This is from many locations so it’s not just one location that’s causing this problem. It all over the board) While downloading, I can see the download speed fluctuate a little and then eventually goes to zero. I can stop and then restart the download. It will go full speed for about 30 seconds and then drop back down to zero. Once I go in and disable and re-enable the network adapter, and I can run full speed once again without an issue for a undertermined amount of time.

All the while this is going on; I do NOT lose connectivity to my server which I basically use as a file server and domain controller. Once I lose my internet connection, I’ll click on a connection to the server and bring up an audio file or video file and it’s just fine. I can stream it from the server while I still can’t browse or download anything.

This tells me that the connection itself it OK, but there is something IN the connection that connects me to the internet that is faulty. IT kind of scares me since this could be a MAJOR flaw in an important part of Windows 7.

Have other machines on the network. One Laptop that has Windows 7 (Same thing happens with it), another Laptop with Windows Vista (Never Happens), and Desktop with Windows Vista (Never Happens) and a Laptop with Windows XP (Never Happens). So the ONLY machines that are having this problem are the ones with Windows 7.

What I have done:

Tried using another brand of Network Adapter. Same thing. No change.

Reinstalled both Windows 7 machines. From a clean install with no other software or AV software or ANYTHING, same thing. The exact same thing happens from a clean install to a fully loaded system.

Tried using Generic Drivers, the exact drivers, Windows 7 drivers. – No Change

Disabled all IPV6 in the network card. – No Change.

Rebuild the IPSTACK in case it was corrupted. – No Change

Turned off IP HELPER Service – No Change

I have turned off the Power Saving Features of my Network Card so it can not be turned off. - No Change.

Turned off “Receive Side Scaling” in network Adapter – No Change.

Turned off “Remote Differential Compression” – No Change.

As you can see, I have tried almost everything that has been suggested to fix this problem.

I even reinstalled Windows Vista on this machine to make sure it’s not my machine. Once Vista is on, it works flawlessly. Once I put Windows 7 back on the system, I am back to dropping the internet over and over and over again. Same thing with my laptop that is a much newer system. Intel Core Due and so on...

So in my mind, this is most defiantly a Windows 7 bug that needs to be fixed.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what to try to fix this problem? This is extremely annoying in that I can’t even use this machine for any reliable internet usage. Be it browsing, e-mail or downloading. Like I said earlier, I’m shocked to see that such a basic function of Windows 7 seems to have a MAJOR bug in it and that all past versions NEVER had this problem.

I look forward to hearing from you to see if I can come up with SOMETHING to fix this problem.

Thanks for your help!

Tom.

"The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain." Scotty - Star Trek

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hello all,

To avoid confusion and to help with troubleshooting we ask that you create your own thread in the appropriate forums below. Please be sure to supply all the previous troubleshooting done and details of the issue you are facing.

Windows 7

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7network/threads

Windows Vista

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistanetworking/threads

Windows XP

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xpnetwork/threads

Thanks,

Keith

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi,

I was mentioning Windows update optional patch in Windows 7 list called "Intel - Network - Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection", but I think it won't be relevant for you first because you are running 2003 and secondly because I SOLVED MY PROBLEM in another way...

I just removed Symantec Endpoint Security (SEP11 MR4 MP2) and all my problems disappeared.. Magic, no?

For those of you who have the same piece of software installed, try to remove it. I chose to install AVIRA (Free at http://www.free-av.com/) eventhough I believe that SEP is a better product.

Cheers and good luck if your are in a different case.

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194 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-04-08T11:46:48+00:00

I would like to thank everyone for adding their step by step diagnostics & directions. The problem with most of the support directions is that this issue is to random, quick acting, and you can go days without any evidence of a disconnect. Those that list they fixed their issue because they had no disconnects in over 48 hours, are finding it happens again a week later!

Yes, I am also one of the hundreds if not thousands of people that have multiple random disconnections while using Windows 7.

This just happened while typing this up!

dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded. 4/8/2010 6:53:45 AM

The disconnects only last a few seconds!

Latest Mixed disconnections . Note the times, there is not a pattern here.

safebrowsing.clients.google.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded. 4/8/2010 5:18:23 AM

dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded. 4/8/2010 4:54:20 AM

dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded. 4/8/2010 2:10:35 AM

Even while using Google Maps

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client

Date:          4/7/2010 10:57:26 AM

Event ID:      1014

Task Category: None

Level:         Warning

Keywords:

User:          NETWORK SERVICE

Computer:      (EDITED FOR PRIVACY)

Description:

Name resolution for the name maps.gstatic.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.

=========================

Here is the most common event at the time of the net dropping

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client

Date:          4/7/2010 2:21:08 AM

Event ID:      1014

Task Category: None

Level:         Warning

Keywords:

User:          NETWORK SERVICE

Computer:     (EDITED FOR PRIVACY)

Description:

Name resolution for the name dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.

========================

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client

Date:          4/7/2010 2:00:08 AM

Event ID:      1014

Task Category: None

Level:         Warning

Keywords:

User:          NETWORK SERVICE

Computer:      XXXXXX

Description:

Name resolution for the name dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.

===================

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client

Date:          4/6/2010 11:29:18 PM

Event ID:      1014

Task Category: None

Level:         Warning

Keywords:

User:          NETWORK SERVICE

Computer:      XXXX

Description:

Name resolution for the name dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.

====================

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client

Date:          4/6/2010 10:17:13 PM

Event ID:      1014

Task Category: None

Level:         Warning

Keywords:

User:          NETWORK SERVICE

Computer:      XXXXX

Description:

Name resolution for the name dns.msftncsi.com timed out after none of the configured DNS servers responded.

================================

I am using Windows 7 Pro (32 bit) , Belkin N Router F5D8236-4 v1 (Windows 7 friendly according to the MS list) I've checked with the Belkin support page to make sure everything with the router was correct. My ISP is Comcast , I am set to Dynamic, and my ISP states they are not finding any issues between them and me. My diagnostic readings according to them were considered to be blue ribbon (excellent).

I do not use IE, and my real complaint is not browsing ... because the connection drop is short, and you can get right back to browsing within a minute or less. The real problem for me is when this happens I lose a connection to a network of a few hosts... and once they drop they do not reconnect on their own... I must do that manually. If I am not available, the drop can last hours. This is unacceptable!

I've connected directly through my modem to my PC, without the router, same events. Disconnects happen with or without the router.

I've dropped my FW (which is pretty stupid in my opinion), and the events still happen. I've flushed DNS, and almost everything else people have suggested. From services, to configs, IPV6 on or off, safe mode, blah blah blah, I've tried them all.

Please note that I am very careful to keep notes of changes I make so that I can return the system back to its original state if a solution did not work. I take care to research a change before I make it.

I've read several forums, blogs, and sites, and I am amazed that nobody has really found a solution. I am eager to know if MS has actually investigated this issue due to the masses out there complaining.

Due to the magnitude of complaints, with mixed hardware, and my own investigation, it tells me it is not any one ISP, or router. However, what I do find common is that this seems to have started when SP3 was released, and it only gets worse with Windows 7.

So, ....

I gather we need a network expert to shed some light on what is executing this DNS check? Where to find the properties/settings? What are their suggestions? ...

Any updates or highlights to this situation would be helpful.
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Anonymous

2010-04-08T10:18:45+00:00

Pull apart Windows 7, until we find the fix. Likely the best advice I've read across hundreds of forums. This pretty much confirms its a Windows 7 issue.
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Anonymous

2010-04-04T01:09:25+00:00

For the IE8 32 bit popping up, just make sure that under Tools->Internet Options->Connections, that its set to Never Dial A Connection, and there shouldn't be any popup there. I'm running with DSL, and a Linksys, and no pop ups. The IE8 64 bit would be good to run always, but Adobe Flash is not yet available as a 64 bit plugin, thus Flash pages only work on the 32 bit IE. Also have a Hauppauge 2250 that was a royal pain in the but to get Windows 7 to recognize the infrared receiver with it, and then found that I had to install the CD that came with it (vs using the updated drivers from the site, or having Windows install drivers), and then go through the Windows Media Center setup, do the manual setup for the card, and it then showed the two tunes, to which I had to test each one, and the one that showed up with seeing the channel the cable was on was the one I followed through with; beat my head senseless for the last week getting that to go. Hopefully, when an eventual SP1 for Windows 7 comes out, all the issues with network cards (and others like the tuner card) will all be seamlessly resolved, which would make any future reload that much less painless.
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