[hofbei]

This is a request relating to a closed but unfinished thread: "Can Not Connect To Internet on First Startup of the Day" (http://forums.techguy.org/networking...t-first-2.html)

Internet connection problems with Windows 7 (not only with RC but also with the recently installed full commercial version Microsoft submitted to us).

Each time we restart our computers (4 different notebooks connecting from different locations with different LAN configurations and different ISP) they are all unable to connect to our LAN and/or to the internet (LAN only, wireless works perfectly).

We have tried several solutions suggested by MS, Technet and blogs, but the only working one is the following -kinda convoluted- one:
1) The correct LAN configuration is "Obtain an IP address automatically". But, after a restart, we must modify this provisionally, and change the LAN connection properties placing the last IP number leased by DHCP before turning off the computers.
The previous action will let you browse your local net, but you will not be able to navigate the internet.
2) You need to let the system "Obtain an IP address automatically", but it will not do so, no matter how deep you explore into Windows, after replacing the LAN tab to "Obtain an IP address automatically" and going through all the necessary movements in CMD with ipconfig, and so on...
3) For the moment, it seems the only solution is to run iExplorer or Network and Sharing Center/Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties and let Windows (with validate settings upon exit) start the diagnose of the connection problems. If you completed step one (otherwise this solution will not work), the diagnose will say what we know: 'DHCP is not enabled for "Local Area Connection"'.
4) Click on "Try this repairs as an administrator" (no matter if you are logged in as an administrator, Windows 7 will not recognize you as one) and "Apply this fix". It will fix the problem. Now close the troubleshooter and start browsing.

Note that, in our case, all the computers are quite capable to connect to internet using wireless. For that matter, it is a PITA to see Windows 7 connecting to a very slow and far away WiFi (we must turn off the WiFi radio of the computers to push Windows to find the LAN instead), when it has a patch cord directly plugged to a gigabit fiber connection...

A supposed malware issue has been mentioned to us (even asking if the previously installed RC came from MS). For those, we can confirm the installed RCs were submitted directly by MS (we do a lot with Technet as MS partners and MCSEs)... And... Computers were scanned with three diff. anti malware softwares, all reported clean systems.
Moreover, las week we got the final Win 7 commercial version. Did a clean install... Same problem.

By now we do all of above automatically. Nevertheless, we would be very grateful if anyone know a solution for this 'mistery'.

Thank you in advance...

[Rollin' Rog]

My off the wall guess here is that this is a router or modem compatibility issue, probably involving its timely ability to establish a DHCP for the network.

In an old problem of my own, I actually had to downgrade the firmware for my Linksys wired router to avoid DHCP delays of up to a minute.

Are not the router and the modem the only common devices in this network?

The two things I would do here is see if there is a router firmware upgrade available -- following manufacturer's instructions -- and also make sure that the modem is Win7 compatible -- your ISP should be able to confirm this.

There doesn't seem to be a Windows 7 hardware compatibility list yet, but you should atleast verify for Vista

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...less%20Routers

[TerryNet]

Four different routers and four different notebooks. But same problem. And, I assume, the same brand and model notebooks. Did I understand correctly? If so ...

Sure sounds to me mostly like a driver issue. Best choice for driver is the latest (Windows 7 or Vista) from the PC manufacturer's web site. Second best would be from motherboard manufacturer (I think, from the other thread, that this is what you have). Third choice would be from the adapter manufacturer. I'd try all three or as many as exist. Or, this may be a screwed up motherboard design.

Maybe the NICs are all having trouble negotiating a speed with the router. In Device Manager right click on the ethernet - Properties - Advanced tab. There should be a 'speed & duplex' property, which probably has the choice 'auto negotiate.' Try some different settings beginning with 100 Mbps full duplex and 10 Mbps full duplex.

I would advise the following if we were talking about one network only, but it may still be worth trying if you haven't already. Make sure you have the latest firmware for the router. Then reset it to factory default settings and reconfigure it.

[hofbei]

Dear Rollin' Rog and Terry Net;

Many thanks for taking time to address our mistery.
Since the described problem does not occur with Windows XP, we did our hardware check list for Vista / 7...
Not easy, there still isn´t enough information on Windows 7...

Nevertheless, since we can use the LAN in different offices, we have been able to try this out with a dozen modem and switch combinations. As we suspected, it is most probably not a hardware problem, since we have the same symptoms in three different Win 7 computers (two Dell 1420 are the same, but the other two are HP and Toshiba) connected to four different locations, to different ISPs and using different modem and switch combinations (all very standard equipment by the way).

Remember we do not have any wireless router problems whatsoever, the problem occurs only when turning off the computer and connecting to a wired LAN (the computer is connected to wired LAN, the user can browse the internet, but if the computer is turned off, it will not browse the internet on new power up). Computers with Win 7 connect to the LAN but, after turning on, the DHCP client has to be stopped and restarted to be able to navigate the internet. This, I repeat, does not happen with wireless. Wireless works always perfect with all our Win 7 notebooks.

[Cyberatleta]

Hey! I have the very exact problem Hofbei is describing. Can´t connect to internet using wired LAN if computer is turned off.
Did the experiment (restarting DHCP as Hofbei explained). It works, but it is a pain to do this every morning...
Have no problems when connected to wireless (turning on and off and it connects beautifully to any wireless nearby).
My computer is an Acer laptop... I guess it is not a hdw issue (?)...

[Rollin' Rog]

Has there been a test with a direct connect to one or more modems (if you have different ones) bypassing the router(s)?

[TerryNet]

Even though we're having trouble keeping track of how many computers and LANs are involved , the things Rog and I have suggested are still worth trying, at least with one or two systems.

Another thing to try is booting into Safe Mode with Networking. If this happens to work then there is some task or service on the machines causing this strange, strange behavior.

[Rollin' Rog]

Also is there any chance you could take one of these computers home and test there -- to get it out of the company network environment. Maybe a firewall or "Virtual Private Network" issue there someplace?

And just to clarify -- are you always "direct" connecting through a "switching" router, rather than a base one?

[Cyberatleta]

Once again, many thanks to all for keeping track...

Just for the record, we tried the speed & duplex idea (changing to 100 Mbps full duplex and 10 Mbps full duplex). Regretfully it is not the solution (but we kept the 100 Mbps full duplex... It seems to work better in the office even if it does not solve the DHCP issue).

Regarding the LAN configuration for internet connection, this is probably interesting...
The described problem occurs when connecting the computers directly to the cable operator modem (a much faster connection, by the way). When connecting to the phone operator ADSL modem, directly, same problem. When connecting via the wireless router... No problem... DHCP works from startup with wireless.

Took one of the office notebooks home. Same simptoms. When connecting wired to the ADSL modem, no DHCP after startup. Connecting via the wireless router (which is using the same ADSL), perfect. It connects inmediately to internet after startup.

To answer briefly Rollin' Rog last question: We have tried connecting (wired) directly to the modem or via switch (with the switch connected to the modem), both in the office and home. The problem persists (no problem if we use the wireless router connected to the same modem). The problem occurs only when connecting wired.

Will do the SafeMode test on monday at the office, as TerryNet suggest and keep you posted with the results.

Have a great weekend!

[Rollin' Rog]

I'm wondering if there is a common NIC involved here? Seeing some issues with Netgear's FA311 v1 on RC Build 7100

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

[flushentity]

Hi guys, i have the same problem as you describe above, also using an ADSL modem/router. I have since fixed this and have had no problems for a couple of days now. I manually set the ip address for my wired computer ( Win7) and my wireless laptop ( Vista ) and turned DHCP off on my router. This is the only solution to this problem i have found so far..

[Cyberatleta]

ooOK. Apparently there "is some task or service on the machines causing this strange, strange behavior", as TerryNet suggests...
Booted the laptops into Safe Mode and, alas, no problem! Same with all machines...
This confirms my feelings this was not a hardware issue and there was something inside Windows causing our problems.
Now (this is beginning to look like a CIS chapter)... Any ideas?
Somebody sugested the ******* Bonjour DNS Responder Service, saying something similar -but not exactly equal- happened in his office (tried his 'disable this service' idea, but this did not do it...).

[Cyberatleta]

...By the way, in regard to the idea suggested by flushentity... Part of it if what we do every morning, that is, set manually the IP address and then let the system correct the DHCP problem (the DHCP at the modem is not enabled, the IP numbers come directly from the DHCP server at the ISP).

[hofbei]

Yes! Same as Cyberatleta. No DHCP problem when booting in Safe Mode...

[Yuditah]

Don´t know much about computers. My nephew installed Win 7 in my Toshiba Satellite portable. The new software is very nice and fast, but... It seems it has the same problem as hofbay and cyber... DHCP or whatever. Cannot navigate internet when connecting to the cable which goes to the office net. A guy from a neghboring office helped using the same method as hofbei. It works, but I had to call him every morning to do it again, so I asked him to change the options so the computer stays on all the time, from monday to friday, so I only have to bother him monday morning. He (the neighbor) tells me it is not logical to work on safe mode all the time and to let him know as soon as I find a solution (he says he will also look, but I can´t count on that). Anyway, jus to let you know I will be looking at this thread every day until the mistery is solved...