Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller 10/100/1000M Gigabit Ethernet dead as a dodo

[Tallpaulos]

Hi,

I'm really tearing my hair out with this one & Google isn't helping.

So I was happily using my desktop on the 11th Feb, shut it down as usual. Then, 4 days later turned it on and found that it wouldn't connect to the internet. This is turning out to be a real pain the arse because I can't trouble shoot easily without the internet, and it's a pain to take screenshots and put them on here (I will do it via phone when get a chance)

I'm getting a 'code 10' error for the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000M Gigabit Ethernet), which essentially equates to a hardware or driver issue.

Possible cause:
---There were several major updates to Windows, including one that mentioned 'modem' in the title

Things I have tried:

---So, using my phone, I have bluetoothed new drivers for the controller from the Realtek website. They updated but didn't make it work again
---I tried a new ethernet cable & a different port on the router
---I turned the router off and back on again
---I tried reverting to 2 prior system restore points, one on the 11th and one before that, to no avail
---I also tried to install my old wireless Netgear adapter (to make troubleshooting easier), but the most recent drivers don't seem to work on windows 8

Things to try today:

---Start windows 8 in safe mode (I didn't actually work out how to do this last night more due to anger levels than anything else
---check to see if the little lights next to the ethernet port come one
---look to update the motherboard drivers/bios

If the ethernet adapter was separate from the motherboard I'd have just bought a replacement to test it out (Edit - or is it?? Not sure about this, motherboard is ASUS, ethernet adapter is Realtek). But it isn't & I'm getting rather stressed about this...I'm off this week and was looking forward to using my new 120hz monitor. I might end up buying another wireless N adapter.

There is always the chance that this is a hardware issue and the controller is fooked.

All suggestions greatly appreciated. Gonna get in touch with PCS tomorrow.

 

[mantadog]

if you cant find the key to start in safe mod, then do it through the msconfig utility. Described here. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/smsysconfig.htm

But honestly it sounds like a hardware issue to me, for it to be working one day and not the next is fairly ominous. Especially after you have rolled back updates etc.

The way I see this being resolved (if you no longer under warranty) is one of the following.

A USB 3.0 to Ethernet adaptor, perfect if you don't want to dig about inside your PC. This is my recommendation for a usb 3.0 to Ethernet adaptor.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-RJ...=UTF8&qid=1392549445&sr=8-2&keywords=StarTech

The 2nd being adding a dedicated network card/ wireless network card to a free PCIe slot on your motherboard. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gembird-Gigabit-Ethernet-PCI-Express-Card/dp/B0028ABUTK

I don't really like the wireless adaptors because I have never had one that functions properly, might be a quick fix in the mean time if you can get one locally though.

 

[Tallpaulos]

Thanks! Yeah I might pop to Scan in Horwich tomorrow and pick up a USB3 to ethernet adapter, it'll be useful for the future anyway. I'm still under warranty (it'll be 1 year in 3 weeks) and don't mind digging around the rig (I recently replaced a noisy PSU).

Long term though it would do my head in if I knew something in my rig was malfunctioning.

I'm not quite sure if the ethernet adapter in there is replacable or part of the motherboard - the only thing I haven't changed in a PC is the motherboard and a couple of the connected components.

 

[mantadog]

It is a piece of the motherboard, but undoubtedly it could be changed, however it would be a job for someone who knew what they are doing. I wouldn't go near it myself.

If your still under warranty I suspect they will just send you out a new board, fairly easy job to fit if its just a direct replacement as all the stand-offs will be in place already, just a case of remembering to put all the screws back in and connect everything. The only down side might be windows probably wont activate and you'll have to go through the telephone activation. Just explain to em your motherboard died and they will give you a new code.

 

[Tallpaulos]

Ah, that would be my preference...and would be happy to have a go at changing it...however I'm worried about the time that I have to reinstall windows 8. Bit of a long story...

I originally ordered a Vortex III laptop a year ago, with windows 8...I had so many issues with it that I sent it back and got this desktop. I had to keep windows 8, but didn't know that I needed to deactivate it on the laptop before I sent it back. Windows 8 wouldn't activate on the new desktop, so I had numerous phone conversations with PCS to try and sort it. Suddenly, it allowed me to activate..I don't know what happened but I think a PCS employee spoke to a Microsoft representative and got my code to work again.

So I have serious paranoia about windows now..probably be fine since it is now activated but....

 

[Boozad]

Just buy an ethernet PCI card, they're cheap as chips, saves messing about with the motherboard. Have you checked the BIOS to see if anything's been disabled in there? It seems strange that this happened after a Windows update.

My missus' dad's laptop wouldn't connect to the net a while ago and he brought it round, as I don't use 8 I struggled to find anything amiss, but after a while I accidentally brought up a blue bar on the right hand side which told me that the network connections had been shut down in Windows. Maybe worth a look?

 

[mantadog]

The problem you encountered was probably due to the fact that you had already activated your OEM (single use, tied to the original machine) copy of windows 8. When you try to re activate it Microsoft knows that code is already tied to a machine and because its an OEM code it knows not to allow the transfer. You can get away with adding new GPU's, HDD's etc because they are considered upgrades to your existing machine. However if you go fro a new motherboard windows thing "new machine, same code" then computer says no...

The way round this is really very simple. You will be prompted on screen to go through the telephone activation process. Follow the on screen prompts, and it will give you a number to call. You basically need to talk to the Microsoft representative and explain that your motherboard died, they will then allow you to transfer the copy of windows. Its just to stop people using the same copy on new computers. They are generally very helpful and it doesn't take long at all.

 

[Tallpaulos]

Just buy an ethernet PCI card, they're cheap as chips, saves messing about with the motherboard. Have you checked the BIOS to see if anything's been disabled in there? It seems strange that this happened after a Windows update.

My missus' dad's laptop wouldn't connect to the net a while ago and he brought it round, as I don't use 8 I struggled to find anything amiss, but after a while I accidentally brought up a blue bar on the right hand side which told me that the network connections had been shut down in Windows. Maybe worth a look?

Yeah I need to work out if I'm gonna have issues with space if I get a 2nd GTX680, but an ethernet PCIe card does look like the best course of action. It will really annoy me knowing that I have a problem with the motherboard though.

As for windows settings, yeah I have tried disabling, re-enabling, uninstalling and reinstalling the controller, and deleting the drivers...to no avail. Was thinking a registry clean up might help.

 

[Boozad]

Don't touch the registry, you could possibly screw something up and it might not help anyway. Can you check the updates that were installed and uninstall the one that was to do with the ethernet controller? I'm not convinced it's a hardware issue, I wouldn't be surprised if it was something to do with Windows 8. I'm still doing some Googling and you'd be surprised at how many people have had the same problem, yet to find a fix though.

The ethernet cards are really pretty small so shouldn't be an issue. As for adding a second card, just buy a...

 

[Tallpaulos]

Don't touch the registry, you could possibly screw something up and it might not help anyway. Can you check the updates that were installed and uninstall the one that was to do with the ethernet controller? I'm not convinced it's a hardware issue, I wouldn't be surprised if it was something to do with Windows 8. I'm still doing some Googling and you'd be surprised at how many people have had the same problem, yet to find a fix though.

The ethernet cards are really pretty small so shouldn't be an issue. As for adding a second card, just buy a...

Yeah I saw a lot of people had a similar issue but couldn't find a solution that I haven't tried already. I rolled back using system restore, that should have reversed any Windows 8-based changes. Gonna pick up a 'Dynamode NC1000TX-G 10/100/1000 Gigabit PCI ethernet card' tomorrow lunch time and see how it goes. Going to do some more troubleshooting tonight.

Yada yada yada....GTX780ti!!!

 

[Tallpaulos]

Well that is ridiculous. I turn my PC on today, and it can connect to the internet...I didn't do anything late last night to fix it. I thought computers were supposed to be logical.

Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again - maybe updating the drivers did help after rolling back via system restore, just not on the 1st or 2nd restart....

 

[mantadog]

Na if it was going to work it would work after the first restart, could be a dodgy connection somewhere I don't know. At least its working for the moment I guess, hope it stays that way for you.

 

[Tallpaulos]

Na if it was going to work it would work after the first restart, could be a dodgy connection somewhere I don't know. At least its working for the moment I guess, hope it stays that way for you.

Very strange, I hope it was software and not a loose connection. Thanks for the help, I might be back on here moaning again tomorrow!