Network connectivity issue has my stumped

[computermn]

So, I'm a long time web designer, but newer to hardware issues. I have a client whose desktop keeps on disconnecting from the internet seemingly at random. The computer says the network is connected, other computers work on the wireless network being used, but it's definitely offline (dropbox, all browsers, etc. disconnected). The only solution had been to reset the computer and the connection would restore, but now not even that is working.
I've hardwired it right to the router so it's not using wifi and it still doesn't work. I've tried all the other troubleshooting I can think of and all the instructions I could google to now success. I tried it in safe mode and no connection.
Finally, I used a glive (linux) live CD to see if I could determine if it was a software issue, and it still wouldn't connect.

I'm wondering if from all that I can solidly confirm that it's a hardware issue with the network card or if there is more troubleshooting I should do? It seems odd that it would show in every way to appear to be connecting and running fine but without truly a connection.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[MichaelBits]

Would be helpful if you listed the steps you have already tried.
Otherwise we will all be telling you to do stuff you did already.

 

[computermn]

Steps

Thanks Michael, I wish I knew more technical ways to describe these things, but here's what I've done:

• Disconnected and reconnected wireless connection
• disabled and re-enabled wireless connection
• Alternately disabled the LAN connection and Wireless to see if one was interfering
• Updated Wireless card drivers and LAN drivers
• Tried to connect in Windows Safe mode
• Made sure IP6 and 4 were set to automatic
• Tried the glive CD
• Banged my head against a wall

 

[computermn]

I can ping things via cmd

One more to add to the mystery, I went to the command prompt and can ping google.com and packets are being sent back and forth, so it is in someway still actually connected.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Do I understand correctly?

You are having trouble with BOTH the wifi and ethernet connections? From Windows and Linux?

Sounds like the problem is the router not the PC.

 

[MichaelBits]

Did you try to use wireless with linux or cable?

Does it show internet connectivity in the network and sharing center?

 

[PcTek9]

concurrification

I think I agree. Sometimes weird things happen to routers. The chips in routers and even cable modems can behave in peculiar ways as they get older, and there are factory released lemons.
but i can tell you a story or 30. I have seen squirrels walking on cables and gnawing them... I've seen people lose connectivity when the wind blew and their internet cable suspended in the air would rock back and forth, back and forth, in the high winds abusive fingertips. slowly, surely, quietly cutting the insulation, the wire itself, or loosening up the screw connectors....
routers & modems that got hit by a surge, or far away lightning strike, develop spirits deep in their integrated hearts.
I've seen servers on the isp side dropping packets like snowflakes. I've observed cable modem firmware hacked from the net side, and while treading the frequently trespassed unsanctified datastream, put out my hand, and touched the wire.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Does both wireless and wired fail on the LiveCD?

Have you bounced the router?

Have you tried a different router?

 

['putertutor]

reconcurrification

I think I agree. Sometimes weird things happen to routers. The chips in routers and even cable modems can behave in peculiar ways as they get older, and there are factory released lemons.
but i can tell you a story or 30. I have seen squirrels walking on cables and gnawing them... I've seen people lose connectivity when the wind blew and their internet cable suspended in the air would rock back and forth, back and forth, in the high winds abusive fingertips. slowly, surely, quietly cutting the insulation, the wire itself, or loosening up the screw connectors....
routers & modems that got hit by a surge, or far away lightning strike, develop spirits deep in their integrated hearts.
I've seen servers on the isp side dropping packets like snowflakes. I've observed cable modem firmware hacked from the net side, and while treading the frequently trespassed unsanctified datastream, put out my hand, and touched the wire.

I cried a little at the end, where you connected with the wire on such a deep level. I want that in my life, I need that in my life.

But I do re-concur with nline and re-re-concur with PcTek9, sounds like the router is the place to start. Like my poetic friend above, I've seen routers do some odd things on their way to the garbage pile, my own personal router at home was struggling through issues like this just last week - some ports worked fine, others went all crazy and lazy; wireless randomly kicked off random users. New router fixed it. Hope your issue turns out to be that simple.

 

[A/CPC]

Disconnected and reconnected wireless connection

Does this mean that you power cycled the router? Apologies if it's supposed to be a given, but it doesn't seem clear in your posts. And even if so, I've seen some routers or switches not work after power cycling after 30 secs down but work after being powered down for several minutes.

If you already have power cycled, the things I would check (for what that's worth...):

1.If win 7, try the network troubleshooter.

2. Check to see if DHCP is enabled. If it is, try a static IP to see what happens. Try pinging the router. Ping the dns server trying name, trying address. Change the dns server on that machine. Tracert.

3. An NIC is a pretty quick and easy replacement (on a desktop). Or you could try a usb wireless adapter.

4. Just swap the router to see if that clears it up. As 'putertutor says, routers can do odd things, sometimes selectively. I carry WRT54GL routers with me for quick swap troubleshooting. Reliable and simple.

 

[frase]

Reset the actual network adaptor

cmd line
>netsh winsock reset
Restart PC then
>ipconfig /renew

 

[nlinecomputers]

Ok so why is anyone still commenting on this? The op hasn't bothered to check back....