The Weirdest Computer Probem Ever!!!(come inside to see and help)

Factual Questions
1

Either this is the weirdest computer problem you’ve ever heard(please don’t let this become a thread about the weirdest problems you’ve heard…unless you can solve this), or you have a really obvious answer.

I am using a Gateway Laptop computer, Windows XP, 2.2 GHZ Celeron, 512 RAM, and a bunch of other stuff that doesn’t matter. Naturally, it has a battery and a power cord. If I unplug the cord from the wall(or the computer), it automatically switches to the battery, seamlessly.

Here’s the “problem”. I’ve noticed recently that when I have the internet plugged in(it’s broadband, regular cable…not a dialup), that it isn’t detecting that the internet is plugged in, or that it takes it a couple hours until it realizes it. It simply says, “network cable unplugged” down on the system tray. I was thinking the internet was perhaps down, but it rarely(very) goes down and when it does, the internet usually says that it can’t “resolve host” when it tries to access a site, not that the cable isn’t plugged in. When the computer does realize the cable is in, the internet works fine.

So I’m trying to figure it out. I try multiple cables, all the same result. It’s not the cable. I decide I’ll take the computer down to my girlfriend’s apartment(she lives down the hall). I unplug the computer from the power cord(taking the cord out the back of the computer), and all the sudden, the network icon in the tray says, “network cable plugged in at 100.0 mpsb”. I plug the computer cord back in and…the internet works fine.

Then, I unplug computer cord again. I unplug the internet cable(“network cable disconnected”), then back in(“network cable plugged in”). I plug in the computer power cord. I unplug the internet(“network cable disconnected”). I plug it back in…NOTHING. I unplug the power cord….and…it detects the connection.

In the back of my computer, there is a Ethernet slot where the cable goes in. On the left, there is an amber light and on the right there is a green light. When the power cord is out, both lights come on, as normal. When the power cord is in, it only detects the amber light.

WTF? The power source should be irrelevant in the computer’s capability to detect the connection, right?

This is a new problem…as in the past week and a half. Anyone have even the remotest ides on it?

I have Windows XP Home Edition.

Mahaloth

2

Sounds like your network card (likely built in, but still a card) is going to sleep. There is a setting to tell it not to go to sleep – I can’t tell you exactly how to get there in XP, as I use Win2K.

On my system I right-click ‘My Network Places’, select ‘Properties’, then right click the connection I want to configure (I have several, you likely have one), select ‘Properties’, then click ‘Configure’. There is a ‘Power Management’ tab for the card – I tell it to never shut off.

Note that doing this on a laptop will degrade battery life when not hooked up to the network – there should be a way to set up a profile for portable vs. stationary use that takes different power management into consideration.

As with most weird Windows issues, what you’re experiencing is not a bug – it’s a feature.

Good luck.

3

i am guessing here but since the connection goes off and on while you are messing with it I doubt it is any sleep or power saving function. To check though go to device manager and click the adapter listed under network adapters. You will find a check box for cutting power to the NIC to save power. Typically this doesnt cause a problem but you might make sure it is set to always be on.

Otherwise I would have to guess that there is a problem with the grounding of either the cable, the power or both.
Try plugging the computer into a different power outlet and/or cable connection and see if the problem disappears. If it does, explain the problem to your cable company and they will likely fix it up for you.

4

Anyone else have an answer for this?

5

One final bump.