Solved Ethernet won't connect until suddenly it does

I just got a new computer with Windows 11 Pro and I don't know what's going on with the ethernet connection. For example, this morning I used the computer for about 45 minutes and in all that time the ethernet did not connect. No method I tried got it to work. Then this afternoon I went back and the ethernet was still not connected, but after about 20 minutes it connected on its own and has been working fine ever since. However it seems to forget when the computer resets so the same thing will happen again.

Like I said it's fine when it works and I can't find any problems, but when it's not connected the computer doesn't seem to realize it's there at all, so there are no errors to fix. I'm using the same cable I used with my previous computer, which never had these problems. Anyone know what's going on?

Home setup or office?
It is setup for DHCP? Can you set IP etc statically?

During the times it is not connected have you proven the obvious...that your internet connection is actually up and stable? Do other devices (tablet, phone, laptop, etc)) connect without issue during this time?

Change Ethernet Cords, if you have one. It could be a bad cord

glasskuter said:

During the times it is not connected have you proven the obvious...that your internet connection is actually up and stable? Do other devices (tablet, phone, laptop, etc)) connect without issue during this time?

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JAM83 said:

Change Ethernet Cords, if you have one. It could be a bad cord

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All of the above.
Also, is your home networked, do you plug into a wall socket or directly into the router?
If networked, try another Ethernet socket, if directly into the router, reboot the router and also check the firmware is up to date.
If nothing mentioned above works, contact your service provider.

What computer is it? Have you updated the drivers from the manufacturer? It isn’t unheard of that new computers need to be updated.

It's a home setup. I tried a different cord and it didn't make a difference. The internet does work and I have no problem with other devices connecting wirelessly or through wired connections. I updated the drivers. It's plugged into a router; I've changed sockets and rebooted the router. DHCP is set to automatic. I'll contact the provider and see if they can do anything.

Mysteryman said:

The internet does work and I have no problem with other devices connecting wirelessly or through wired connections.

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I doubt it would be a service provider issue then. Possibly more of a hardware manufacturers issue if other devices can connect without issue through Ethernet and you haven’t done anything out of the ordinary with your “new” PC/Laptop.
Has this occurred since you got it?
Have you installed any network related apps or software?
Does the new computer have wireless capability? If so, for interest sake, turn off the wireless setting and see if that makes a difference.

Also, when the internet stops, have you tried the network troubleshooter in windows?

If other devices have no problems and your have changed ethernet cable and router ports. The following are the only things I can suggest.

1. Reset network adapters Reset Network Adapters in Windows 11 Tutorial


2. Attached below is @FreeBooter .bat file which resets network components. Unzip it, RIGHT click on the .bat file and select run as administrator.

3. Check for file system corruption. Open a command prompt as administrator and type
sfc /scannow

After system file checker completes, make note of whether it found and corrected any problems. If found and corrected, restart
If it found problems it could not correct, in command window type
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Restart

4. Verify Power Options are set correctly. Control Panel>power options>Balanced should be checked

After all that, if your ethernet still doesn't work, you have a bad ethernet port on your motherboard. Contact the manufacturer for warranty fix.

I plugged it in through a USB adapter and it's been working ever since. I looked around and it seems a lot of people are having ethernet connection issues with their motherboards, even new ones. I guess the problem is solved.

Mysteryman said:

I guess the problem is solved.

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If it were me and the device is under warranty, I would make them fix it. Using a usb adapter is not actually fixing what is wrong with the computer. It's a bandaid.

I agree with @glasskuter
Hey, @Mysteryman , is your BIOS up to date?
I am interested, would you mind giving the brand and model of your motherboard?

It's MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi. It has the latest BIOS.

You might try purchasing an Ethernet Card. That's what I done. I don't use the integrated Ethernet Port

Mysteryman said:

It's MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi. It has the latest BIOS.

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I see, as you mentioned, quite a lot of results for issues with this motherboards Ethernet.

Mysteryman said:

It's MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi. It has the latest BIOS.

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You might look into this

I too have a Z970 board. Intel have screwed up their i 225 and i226 nics. I had constance dropouts and even Intel's work around didn't work. So I got a tp-link 2.5gb card and lo and behold everything works as it should. No more errors in event viewer and no dropouts. Intel's networking division is not what it use too be.

no1yak said:

I too have a Z970 board. Intel have screwed up their i 225 and i226 nics. I had constance dropouts and even Intel's work around didn't work. So I got a tp-link 2.5gb card and lo and behold everything works as it should. No more errors in event viewer and no dropouts. Intel's networking division is not what it use too be.

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Sounds like the integrated Ethernet Port was going bad.

Mysteryman said:

It's MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi. It has the latest BIOS.

Click to expand...

Just curious, do you have a Verizon FIOS router?

Personally, if i had a motherboard that had to have a 3rd party Ethernet card to compensate for a faulty Ethernet port, I’d return the board.
Who knows what could die next, let alone that fact that I’d of paid for a Motherboard that should just work.