What is the deal with the Nvidia LAN connection?

Celrond · nForce Padawan

Just that. I am trying to get to the bottom of this. I've read in posts all over on DFI Street to not install NAM, Nvidia Firewall drivers etc, which is fine. I installed them the first time around, not knowing yet there were issues.

My troubles began when my brother was visiting and we connected his laptop to my PC. Up until then I had been using the Nvidia LAN to connect to the internet with no problems at all. Well, we were unable to hook each others PC's up using the Marvell Yukon LAN so I switched connections making the Marvell Yukon my Internet connection and using the Nvidia LAN to connect to my brothers PC. That worked. Then, when he left I decided for no good reason to switch back to the Nvidia LAN as my primary Internet connection. No go. It just didn't connect anymore. After reinstalling the drivers still no go. In the meantime I also flashed the BIOS. That's when things really started getting screwed cuz after that my Marvell Yukon wasn't working anymore either and explorer was running at a constant 99% slowing my rig down to a near freeze. I finally reinstalled Windows, but I was STILL NOT ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET. How weird is that? I un- and reinstalled the Marvell Yuokon drivers multiple times and suddenly I was connected back to the Internet. That lasted a few weeks until it suddenly crapped out on me again for no good reason. So I tried the Nvidia LAN again - that worked. Until it quit working again.
I discovered that when disabling and then enabling the Nvidia LAN under Network Connections I'm back up and running again for a time, sometimes a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. Eventviewer gives me a DHCP error message each time the connection craps out:

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

You using a HW router/firewall, ICS, ZA or the likes, and what type of connection.

Celrond · nForce Padawan

I use cable. No router. The cable runs directly from the LAN port to the modem. No NAM installed, nor Nvidia Firewall.

The Marvell Yukon is working fine atm. But one of the perks of this board was to be able to connect to the Internet and a home network at the same time.

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

Gutsy

Ok, what's the modems name and model #. And list all used for security, less AV.

Have you ever looked "in' the modems config pages as to your signal strength and any errors that might be present?

If it's a Motorola, try logging into it HERE. This is the most common IP for Motorola modems. Look at the Status, Signal and Logs pages and post it's signal strengths and any relevant error(s) in Logs.

[pee] poor signal from your ISP could be most of your problems.

EDIT: BTW, just where is Oblivion on the map?

Celrond · nForce Padawan

Not on the map - it's where I live.. Laughing

I had a Motorola modem but one of troubleshooting steps included going to the next Comcast Center and getting a different one. They gave me a Terayon... not much info on that side.

A Comcast techie was here yesterday and did his magic. After chanting and dancing around in my living room, talking to his grandfather who lives in the spirit world and throwing salt over his shoulder, he claims that the modem and my connection is fine on their side and that the problem was on my side.

Suggestions in other forums to "just use a PCi Network Card" or "the other LAN port" is a poor substitute for a Dual LAN board and kinda defeats the purpose of buying a board that features a Dual LAN solution. Rolling Eyes

daglesj · nForced

Hmmm I've always used the nvidia port on my DFI the other is disabled. Always worked a treat. Never installed anything but the driver though. None of the active armour crud.

Celrond · nForce Padawan

It used to work for me too. What I'd like to know is, why did it work until after I networked my brothers laptop? To revamp, I used the Nvidia LAN port to connect to the Internet. When my brother was here we were unable to get a network going using the Marvell Yukon LAN port. So I swapped ports and used the Marvell for Internet and Nvidia for network. When he left and I tried to change my Internet back to the Nvidia port, it didn't work anymore. Even after a Windows reinstall.

Issues with the Nvida NIC seem quite common with ANY board. See here for example: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=4978

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

Celrond · nForce Padawan

Format and reinstall - Looong format, not quick.

Obviously the Nvidia NIC isn't broken - nor is the Marvell Yukon as they both work most of the time. The Marvell Yukon is a little more reliable though.

Thanks for those links wardog, I'll get on it!

What about MAC address? That's something I've only begun learning about, since having these issues. (As I always say, that's how I get half my PC education: from troubleshooting. So having a problem is not always a bad thing).

daglesj · nForced

I was thinking MAC address too. I think I have the MAC ID bit disabled in my bios.

If you have a router have you tried switching that off to refresh the IP addy?

I also delete all networking sytems except tcp/ip in the Local Area Connection properties. Oh and I disable Netbios wherever I can.