Ethernet goes out intermittently, no fix works

Hi,

Regarding the possibility of it being your ISP modem or Windows configuration, do you have any school or work accounts configured on your PC?

It's on a Microsoft family system.

If possible, test with another internet connection (not your ISP's) at home to see if the problems occur so we can further troubleshoot the issue.

Thanks

My PC is just my personal account. By another internet connection, do you mean something like connecting to a phone hotspot with Wi-Fi? Or is there some sort of other ethernet connection that I could do that isn't through my ISP? Also, I am not the only one connected to the router, but I am the only one who is appearing to have these issues.

Hi,

Regarding the hotspot, if possible, let's do a test: open the command prompt (admin) and run this command: net user administrator /active:yes, restart your PC and log in to the administrator account (do not log in with your Microsoft account within that account) and test using the internet normally to see if the problem persists.

If the internet stops working, check the error code that appears in your browser and report it here.

Thanks

I am testing a mobile hotspot right now and it seems to be better, it's hard to tell if any slowness is from the issue or just from the fact that it's a hotspot, but it seems like on the hotspot my internet is just slow, not dropping completely.

Hi,

Did you try testing with the administrator user to see if the problem occurs via cable?

Thanks

I don't think I understand what you mean, I am the only user on this PC. Also do you know why my comments keep getting reported?

Oh wait, sorry, I didn't see your new reply, I'll try that now

Hi,

Keep me informed.

Thanks.

I'm currently testing Administrator, it's hard to tell but I think it's still not working. I'm having trouble getting my browser to throw an error though.

Idk if this is what you're looking for but this is what chrome gave me on my personal account

Hi,

Interesting DNS error.

Do the following: access the Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > DNS, select Edit > Manual and IPv4 > enter the Cloudflare DNS to test:

Primary: 1.1.1.1

Secondary: 1.0.0.1

Apply.

Then go back to the previous menu and advanced network settings > Select Ethernet (down arrow) > select Viewer Additional Properties > uncheck the IPv6 option and click OK.

Open the command prompt (admin) and run the commands: sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, wait for the process to finish and restart the computer.

Thanks

Hi,

Please test it using the local administrator account.

Thanks

I'm not finding the DNS option in Ethernet, do I need to do manual IP setting, or do I do it through control panel? If the former, I'm unsure of how to fill everything out correctly.

I ran the commands both on my personal account and on administrator, and I did the DNS change on both as well but through control panel, which is something I've tried before. The scannow command found something the first time, but overall it doesn't seem like it fixed my issue.

Hi,

Does the browser show the same DNS problem as you sent the photo?

Do you have any school or work accounts configured in Windows > Start menu > Settings > Accounts > Work & School access?

If so, uninstall the VPN application.

Thanks

The PC doesn't have any Work or School accounts. I don't know what VPN you're talking about, and I don't understand what you mean by the browser showing the same DNS problem as the photo, since the photo is from my browser. Could you please clarify? Also, an extreme solution that I've been suggested to try is to reinstall Windows 10 or to install Windows 11

Hi,

I apologize, I'm asking about whether you have any VPN or third-party antivirus applications.

If it's a VPN application, uninstall it, or if it's a third-party antivirus, disable it.

I mean, the error code would be the browser image you sent as the DNS.

Just to be sure, are you having this problem on any websites or applications/games?

Or

Is it happening with a specific website?

Also, open the command prompt (admin) and run the command:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

Restart your PC.

Well, if you choose to reinstall Windows, that might be a solution. I recommend installing Windows 11 using the USB method.

Thanks

Oh I see. I do have a VPN installed but it's been off the whole time and has never caused issues before, but I will uninstall it just to be sure. The only 3rd party antivirus I have is Malwarebytes, but I installed it after the problem had started as an attempt to solve the problem, and I only used it to scan my device, so it is disabled.

I still don't understand what you mean about the error code, that error code in the image is from a Google tab that wouldn't load properly on my personal Microsoft account.

This issue is affecting my entire PC, so any app, game, or website that required an internet connection get intermittently interrupted and disconnects from the internet, making it unusable until the drop ends.

For flushing DNS, these commands are something I have tried already multiple times and they didn't work.

I think I have eliminated the possibility of it being an issue with my cable or port, which means to me at least that it's some sort of software error, like configuration, or I have a problem with another piece of hardware that could be appearing as an internet problem, but as far as I can tell nothing really points to the latter being the case.

Also, can't I just upgrade to Windows 11 directly without needing an external USB? And that would be equivalent to reinstalling my OS? Or is that not how it works?

Hi,

In your case, a direct installation to Windows 11 via USB would be the best option because if it's a configuration or driver problem, updating will replicate the problem to Windows 11.

I highly recommend a clean install instead of updating; updates can often cause problems with drivers, software, and other issues.

If you want to update to Windows 11, we only use the update assistance if you wish.

Regarding the error, I'm asking if the problem occurs in the browser and is this same error here.

Thanks

In terms of reinstalling my OS, if I wanted to just stay on Windows 10, could I use the rest my PC tool is settings to keep my personal files and reinstall, or could that also carry the problem through?

For the browser error, I think I understand what you're asking now. The problem does occur in the browser, and I haven't paid that much attention to what the type of error is every time, but the one in the photo appears, and most recently when it's happened in browser I noted that the problem was listed as DNS_PROBE_STARTED instead of DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.

Hi,

Please check if the DNS client service is active in services.msc (search bar).

You can back up and reinstall using the Windows 10 ISO or USB method if you wish, but it should be a clean reinstall, not a reinstallation that keeps files or programs.

Thanks

DNS client service appears to be running

Hi,

That's very strange, are you not using any Microsoft family system?

Thanks

I'm not quite sure what that means, but not as far as I know. Is there a way for me to check? Also, I got another browser error, ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT.

Hi,

The problem is that it's giving various errors, possibly DNS or connection issues. That's why I'm testing with a different internet connection to see if it's the ISP modem.

I think it might be a configuration issue, not a driver problem, because you tested different drivers and a different connection. Did the hotspot give these browser errors or did it only occur with the Ethernet cable?

Thanks

I didn't actually test different Ethernet drivers, I just uninstalled and reinstalled the same ones. I thought about trying different ones entirely, but I don't know enough about drivers to do that, but I did test various connections. I don't think that the hotspot gave the same browser issues, since it didn't seem to have the full internet drops, but I was focused more on applications when I was testing the hotspot, so I'll try it again and see if I can get a browser error.

I'm on my mobile hotspot right now and it doesn't appear to be giving any browser errors

Hi,

The hotspot would be a different driver, as I mentioned. If the problem doesn't occur there, switch to the Ethernet network driver. That's why I asked you to test with another internet connection, so we can confirm if it's your ISP modem or Ethernet network driver.

Thanks

I'm not sure I fully understand. The hotspot connection uses Wi-Fi, which has its own drivers separate from Ethernet, but is hotspot also the same ISP a ethernet, or is it different because it's using mobile data? And by switch to the Ethernet driver, do you just mean switch back to Ethernet instead of my hotspot? Apologies for the confusion.

Hi,

Are you testing the hotspot on the same network as your ISP modem?

I say separate drivers because they are different drivers. For example, if the problem is the cable and you are using the same port and the same driver, and you tested it differently with a different driver, and the problem persisted, then rule out the problem as the driver or the cable. Then it's either a Windows configuration issue or a problem with your ISP's internet service.

Thanks

The hotspot is through my phone's data, which I assume is not the same as my modem. I am pretty sure the cable isn't a problem based on my testing, but I haven't tested different drivers for the cable, as I don't know how to get different ethernet drivers. The only different drivers I've tested are for Wi-Fi, both through my ISP router and my mobile hotspot. The hotspot doesn't seem to have the issue, but the Wi-Fi through my ISP router does, since it just gave me the same DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error as before when I was on Ethernet. I guess then that that would point to my ISP being the issue, but since I am the only person in my house having these issues, I'm not sure how that would work.

Hi,

I want to say that if the problem doesn't occur on your phone's hotspot, then it points to your ISP modem, which is a problem not with your PC but with some configuration on your ISP modem.

This might be conflicting with your PC, as your PC has the same name as another, causing the problem since it's only occurring on your PC; others don't have this issue.

Now, if the problem isn't occurring on the hotspot, you can try the following: connect your smartphone to your home Wi-Fi network and activate the hotspot via USB from your smartphone to your PC and see if the problem persists.

Thanks

Okay, I'm trying that now, I think I got it set up correctly. Also, while on Wi-Fi to my router (not hotspot) I got the DNS_PROBE_STARTED error again on my browser.

Hi,

Try this: see if the same problem persists. If so,

Connect your smartphone to the Wi-Fi network and share the data via USB hotspot to your PC to see if the problem occurs again.

Thanks

As far as I can tell it seems like the USB internet tether from my phone is working fine. I made sure to turn data off and to connect to my local Wi-Fi on my phone, and the driver for USB tethering is different than the normal ethernet driver, so I feel like that means it's a driver issue, not an issue with my ISP, but I also did see stuff about an IP address conflict and I'm not sure if that's ruled out or not.

Hi,

If an IP conflict appeared, we found the problem. Your ISP modem is picking up the same IP address, which is causing the issue.

If the problem doesn't occur this way, just confirm it's not Windows, but rather the ISP modem assigning the same IP address as another device, causing the conflict.

Thanks

Sorry, I worded that poorly. I didn't actually see an IP conflict on my device, I just saw that people online were suggesting that as a possible cause for the problem. Is there a way to make sure that's not the issue?

Hi,

I understand. Can you test using the method I mentioned to see if the problem occurs or if the internet works, like a USB hotspot on your smartphone connected to your Wi-Fi network?

Try a 24-hour test.

Thank you.

Yes I already tried the USB hotspot with my phone and it appears to have worked. I can run a longer test if needed but I ran it for a while today already and as far as I know the issue was gone, I just need to figure out how to replicate that without needing my phone hotspot. Since the hotspot uses different drivers, that makes me think it's a driver issue, but if using my phone means it skips my PCs IP, then an IP conflict could still be what's wrong.

Hi,

I think you've misunderstood a problem with your ISP modem, not your PC. It's likely your PC's name is conflicting with another, causing a DNS error.

Run a long test just to be sure.

Then go to Start Menu > Settings > System > About > Rename this PC and change the name.

Also, open the command prompt (admin) and run the following commands:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

Restart your PC.

Run the test again.

Thanks

Will changing the name be enough or do I need to change my local IP address? Also, will changing the name cause issues elsewhere on my PC if something depends on knowing its name?

Hi,

I meant to say that you're right.

However, since a DNS error appears, I believe there are some devices with the same name, thus conflicting with your PC on the network. The DNS failure, even with an isolated network working normally, can only be a problem with your ISP modem.

Changing your PC's name won't directly affect anything; you can rest assured. What might occur is related to shared folders or printers, or software you use for local networking, something like Hamachi for example.

Thanks

The problem doesn't appear to be fixed after changing the name of my device. How different does it need to be? I assume any amount. Could it be an driver issue then?

Hi,

I don't believe it's a driver issue because you tested with a Wi-Fi driver and the problem persists.

Did you contact your internet provider to inform them that you're having connection problems and that you realize it's not your PC?

Are you using an extension cord or is the network cable connected directly to the ISP modem?

Thanks

I have not contacted my ISP. My Ethernet cable is connected to a secondary router than is connected to my ISP modem, but during my testing I used a new cable wired directly to the ISP modem and the problem persisted, so I don't think there's a connection issue anywhere. Could it be an IP address conflict instead of just a device name conflict? I'm not sure exactly how that works and if that's different, and I don't know what could have a conflicting IP address with my PC.

Hi,

Ahhh, do the following: turn off the router and restart the modem, then test directly on the modem (Router turned off.).

If possible, use a cable connection.

Run these commands:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

Test and Again

Thanks

Okay, let me make sure I understand first, my PC is currently wired to a router that is the same device as my ISP modem but is acting as a sort of wire splitter/hub, and that hub is wired to my home router/ISP modem, so I should try fully disconnecting the hub from the main router, restart the main router, plug my PC directly into the main router, and run those commands?

Hi,

Yes, if there's nothing else connected between your PC and your internet provider's modem, that router and hub need to be turned off. Leave only the internet modem and the computer connected directly to it via cable.

You will execute these commands as soon as you connect the PC directly to the ISP modem.

Thanks

This appears to have worked, but this unfortunately can't work as a permanent setup.

Hi,

I didn't understand what you mean by permanent configuration?

Thanks

Because of how the devices in my house are currently wired/laid out, I can't keep the current setup of removing the secondary router and wiring directly to the main ISP one. Other devices depend on the secondary router, and the location of my device requires me to be wired to the secondary router long term. But I feel like this still gives us information about how to solve the problem to allow the wiring to go back to normal.

Hi,

Have you found the problem? It's probably a secondary router with some configuration issue causing a conflict with the modem.

In that case, you can reset it and reconfigure the router. Regarding the question, I can help you: do you know the router model and is the router connected to the modem via cable or Wi-Fi?

Thanks

I am unsure of the problem. The secondary router is directly wired to the main ISP modem, the model is a Zyxel, model number C3000Z, which is identical to the main ISP modem, but it has been modified to act like a switch/hub, but I am unsure of what that means or entails exactly. Also, nobody else who is wired to the secondary router is having the same issue as me.

Hi,

It's probably the secondary router, or the LAN configuration that's causing the problem. The issue can only be that; it's not your PC, the problem is the secondary router.

You can contact the internet provider that configured it and ask them to come and reconfigure it if you don't have experience.

Thanks

What would it take to reconfigure it myself? And what would need to be reconfigured?

Hi,

In this case, resetting the factory default settings and configuring the internet mode and LAN settings on the router itself is not difficult. However, if you lack experience and your internet provider did the configuration, you should contact their support to do it.

Thanks

Hii,

I hope everything is well.

I would like to know if the situation is still ongoing. If so, could you share more details so we can analyze it better?

Thanks

I believe I found a fix. I ended up factory resetting my secondary router, turning off DHCP to make it a switch, and turning on Transparent Bridging. I am not sure exactly what that does, but it seems to have worked.