Re: Aspire 5740 Broadcom NetLink Gigabit Ethernet Device

I have been following the issue regarding Ethernet cable and wifi connection problems with many manufacturer's PCs FOLLOWING the UPGRADE to WINDOWS 8.1. One doesn't have to survey Microsoft's support site and other third-party tech forums to see this is a large and growing issue. MANY users have PCs and laptops from ACER and numerous other companies that utilize the Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet chipset and these users are posting the same symptoms and issues surrounding the loss of speed or (mostly) dropped connections that were never experienced prior to the upgrade.

In checking with other users and their Laptop models, I have read and heard that any update to the Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet driver does not exist. Numerous other driver updates are posted here in the ACER support site but nothing regarding the Ethernet driver.

To me, it is not an issue with ACER nor with any of the other OEMs utilizing the Broadcom chipset. However, there are no updates posted by Broadcom and Microsoft appears to be referring users to the OEM's support sites to get any new or updated drivers. I think we are in a old-fashion "black-eye syndrome" where neither company is taking possession of the problem.

Sending ACER fans and users to the Driver update page WITHOUT any new information/fixes for this ethernet issue is not consistent with ACER's reputation and quality. I would hope that ACER SUPPORT will take further actions to help remedy this ethernet issue very soon!

Thank you!

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Tommy-Acer

The Aspire 5740 shipped with Windows 7 operating system.

We do not support Windows 8 on the Aspire 5740, nor Windows 8.1.

Drivers have not been posted for this system for Windows 8. I do not forsee that changing for Windows 8.1.

MFL2277

Thank you for that clarification. I have an Aspire M5-481PT. There are no Ethernet drivers listed for the Broadcom chipset for my device.

Tommy-Acer

Do you have the part number of your system?

What operating system did it ship with?

Not every device requires a driver to be loaded from the manufacturer. Microsoft has continued efforts in recognizing and installing a larger set of hardware with every iteration of operating system.

There is a Broadcom driver posted under the Windows 8 upgrade from Windows 7:

Wireless LAN

Broadcom

Wireless LAN Driver

6.30.59.20

34.5 MB

2012/10/18

Download

MFL2277

Thank you, Tommy.

I purchased an Aspire M5-481PT in the first week of March, 2013, and I have been very happy with it. I purchased it to take advantage of the new touchscreen features and re-build of Windows 8. I upgraded to Windows 8.1 this past Saturday and it was very smooth and trouble-free.

The ONLY, yet very critical issue that resulted from the upgrade was this very troubling Ethernet (cabled) problem.

Shylaja was very helpful via chat to suggest the WIRELESS driver which matches to my configuration (which is a Qualcomm Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter/Driver). I assumed, that perhaps, it may have been suggested as it interfered with the Ethernet Driver from Broadcom. So I installed it but it has had no effect on the Ethernet cable/port/connection.

Do you think that the Broadcom Wireless LAN driver will address the Ethernet (cabled) port and correct the problem? If you do think that driver will help with my configuration/laptop, i will surely try it out. Would you please confirm this step as a viable, feasible resolution before I undertake the driver update?

Thank you!

PS - Here is my SN for my Aspire laptop: NXM3WAA00530414D2B7600

Tommy-Acer

Correct, that IS a wireless driver that I linked above, as it is the only Broadcom driver that we have listed for your system.

Delving into the issue specifically, does the device appear properly in Device Manager?

If there is an ! or X on the device, can you report the error that is listed?

If it is a connectivity issue, have you attempted to see if the device is getting an IP address?

(I'm assuming a connection to a modem or router with DHCP.)

Have you attempted to connect while in Safe Mode (with networking)?

Each of these pieces may give us some additional information on how to rectify the issue.

MFL2277

Tommy, thank you for your feedback.

Here's a copy/paste from my interactions in the Support Community at Microsoft. I will give you the details of my efforts to find a resolution for this.

_____________________________

As a matter of feedback...

I tried the referenced remedy regarding the 'netsh winsock reset catalog" and "netsh int ip reset" ...

It appeared that this seemed to work as it enabled a much longer period of video viewing - and I thought it had remedied the Ethernet disconnection problem after installing the Win 8.1 upgrade.

However, the Ethernet connection problem did occur once again. The network troubleshooter was run and remedied the problem for the umpteenth time - network gateway was fixed.

While thankful for that suggestion, it appears not to be a solid remedy. Will continue to pursue this forum for further remedies.

FYI

_________________________________________

UPDATE: I then attempted to use the suggestions to configure my Ethernet adapter/IP4 setting for fixed DNS addresses and used the Google Public addresses (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and ... sigh ... it appeared to work for a longer period of time (I browse news videos and NFL highlight videos) BUT alas, IT DID NOT WORK. AFTER 6-8 MINUTES, THE ETHERNET SIGNAL FAILED AND I SAW THE YELLOW/! YET FOR THE 100TH TIME!

I HAVE NOW ALTERRED MY FIREWALL TO SPECIFICALLY ENABLE IE 11 TO BE PERMITTED THRU THE FIREWALL (ALBEIT, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WOULD WORK), BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

I STILL THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITH BROADCOM'S ETHERNET DRIVER

FYI

__________________________________________

UPDATE 2: Configuring the FIREWALL to enable IE 11 to specifically pass through ... DID NOT WORK ... so an FYI regarding that ... HOWEVER ... GOOD NEWS FOR MY SITUATION ...

I was able to chat with Tech Support at ACER. In order to fix my ETHERNET CONNECTION, they recommended their updated driver for the Qualcomm Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter ... So even though this was NOT a SPECIFIC driver for the Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet chipset, I went forward with downloading the updated driver and installing it .... AND ....

IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING!! Long playing videos from the net are playing without a glitch or drop in my Ethernet/wired/router connection - well over an hour AND GOING.... Before this, it would drop within 2 to 5 minutes of video play AFTER THE WINDOWS 8.1 UPGRADE (which went quite smooth).

BUT SINCE I HAVE NOT RESET THE PRIOR FIX-ATTEMPTS AND CONFIGURATIONS... I AM NOW RUNNING WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE CHANGES TO MY SYSTEM:

1. I CHANGED MY DNS SERVERS TO FIXED ADDRESSES (GOOGLE PUBLIC DNS ADDRESSES)

2. MY FIREWALL WAS CHANGED TO EXPRESSLY PERMIT IE 11 TO BE UNBLOCKED (THIS IS A SECURITY BREACH, IS IT NOT?)

3. NEW QUALCOMM ATHEROS WIRELESS NETWORK ADAPTER DRIVER INSTALLED (their ZIP package also updated and installed a new BLUETOOTH Driver ... if that had anything to do with the fix)

SO ... IS IT PART AND PARCEL OF ALL THREE OR JUST THE FINAL REMEDY with the new Atheros Driver? INTERESTING QUESTION.... I HAPPEN TO THINK IT IS THE DRIVER ISSUE AND SO I WILL ALTER THE OTHER TWO TO THEIR DEFAULTS and see what happens.

BTW ... MY SYSTEM CONFIG IS:

ACER ASPIRE/M

WINDOWS 8.1 - 64

BROADCOM GIGABIT ETHERNET

WHATEVER YOU MAY GLEAN FROM THIS... I WISH YOU THE BEST!

_________________________________

Tommy .... NOW ... the only change to this is that I CONTINUE to have dropped Ethernet connections ... but... BUT ... with, yet, longer lengths of time in my video viewing or web research.... 10 to 20 mins.

So while this is MUCH BETTER than in the prior days, I have had the dropped connection several times today... So that leads me to think that my ACER Aspire is still in a very tentative state that is not operating with the degree of reliatibility that I've had over the prior months before upgrading to Win 8.1.

I will find out how to boot 8.1 into SAFE MODE with Networking and will let you know the results. It may be a while to test that, but I will post the update. AS PER DEVICE MANAGER, it continues to show that my device is properly working and there is no yellow warning emblem.

Thanks, again!

MFL2277

Tommy:

I was able boot into win 8.1 in "SAFE MODE with NETWORKING" (option 5) but alas.... when doing so .... it did not recognize or permit my ethernet connection to be viewed. In Device Manager, it appeared and said it was working properly.

My Wifi connection worked fine but the network window did not even display my ethernet connection.

Anyway, I am back to 8.1 and the safe mode exercise only showed that the ethernet adapter was not even acknowledged/presented/enabled... whatever the word!

FYI

Didiou

Hello,

I'm having the same problem as you... at least I think if I understood correctly.

No problem with Wifi, but with Ethernet I keep getting disconnected and need to troubleshoot (gateway not responding)..

Did you found a solution ?

Thank you.

idgat

Same problem with ACER 5740G - Win 8.1 clean install.

FIXED! The installation default setting for the Broadcom LAN chip is to "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" ... so that's what it's doing (whether it's being used or not).

Untick the setting : Control panel > Newtwork and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings > right-click Broadcom Netlink device > Properties > Configure ... > Power Management tab > untick options!!

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