Windows 7 Drops Network Connection when Suspended
I have a brand new, laptop at work, fresh install of Windows 7, all windows updates applied. The laptop is always on the docking station and always powered. My ethernet connection is hardwired and wireless is disabled. I have network access, Email, Internet, etc. PROBLEM: If I lock my computer and come back 15 min later, it drops the network connection. I enter my password, log on and abour 45 seconds later, my network connection resumes. Co-workers have Vista and XP on their laptops and this problem does not happen to them. My power options for the network card are turned off - it does not attempt to power down or reduce speed to the Network card when plugged in or on battery. This problem happens when on batter or plugged in. seeing as everything eventually resumes and works, this is more of an annoyance than a permenant problem. Any sugestions are appriciated. thanks
July 13th, 2010 2:12pm

Did you check the Windows setting - not the network card setting? Right-click you battery-charging Icon, choose Power option and then change plan settings for the active profile. In the new box, click advanced power settings and scroll through to the wireless settings and see if windows is taking control under it's power plan. Actually - you didn't specify if you are on wireless or network, but either way - check out the advanced power plan settings and see if one of them are trumping your cards settings.
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July 13th, 2010 3:27pm

Hi Vince-at-work, It seems that the computer is entering a sleep state while locked. The network connection delay is from resuming from the sleep state. I would recommend that you change the advanced power settings in your power plan to extend the time to enter sleep when plugged in or disable sleep when plugged in. Start\Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\(change)Edit Plan Settings\Change advanced power settings Then test for the behavior.
July 13th, 2010 4:29pm

My ethernet connection is hardwired and wireless is disabled I wouldn't think that wireless battery settings would have any effect on this but i've checked them anyway. Active Profile - Advanced Power Settings - Wireless adapter settings - power saving mode on battery: Max Performance Plugged in: Max performance __________ PCI Express - Link state power management - On batter: Off Plugged in: Off
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July 13th, 2010 4:32pm

Seems to have worked, No network disconnect this time, Sleep has been disabled, Thanks alot for your help Nano Warp
July 13th, 2010 5:31pm

Thought this solved the problem, went away for lunch and came back, dropped my network connection again :(
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July 13th, 2010 7:27pm

Hi, Please go to Device Manager, expand Network Adapters, right click your network adapter, click Properties, click Power Management, uncheck the box “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”, click OK. See if the issue persists. Meanwhile, as a work around, you could run the ipconfig /renew command every time that you wake the computer from sleep. BTW, I would like to recommend you to visit: You may experience connectivity issues or performance issues when you connect a mobile PC that is running Windows Vista or Windows 7 to a wireless access point Best Regards DalePlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
July 15th, 2010 9:44am

Device Manager -> Network Adapters -> Properties -> Power Management: Reduce link speed during battery operation <- NOT Checked This is the only option under this box in relation to power saving options. As for the article you sited, This is not a wireless connection I have a laptop, in a docking station, plugged into the wall, hardwired with an ethernet cable. Wireless is disabled, we are not allowed to use wireless at work. thanks for the attempt
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July 15th, 2010 5:34pm

Do you enable Screen Saver on your computer? If so, please read: Computers that are running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 stop responding at a black screen if a screen saver is enabled If the issue persists, type the following command to reset network: Ipconfig /release Netsh winsock reset Ipconfig /renew Best Regards DalePlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
July 16th, 2010 8:01am

Was this ever figured out? I am having the exact same problem with a Dell E6500 series laptop with wireless disabled, on a docking station and hard wired into the network via the Intel 825xx network adapter. If I lock the computer by hitting ctrl + L and go away for 10 minutes then come back and log on, the network is disconnected. I have DHCP disabled and a static IP address but Windows 7 still wants to find the network again and then I have to log back into exchange, communicator etc...and it's a annoying problem to have. I have changed all the power options that I think were relevant to this issue but none of them seem to have worked, I even got rid of some dell applications that looked like they may have had some influence on the problem but that did nothing. Anyone know the solution? Thanks!
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September 17th, 2010 7:31pm

Found the solution that worked for me on another site/thread. Solution = change the network adapter settings to match the switch...don't let Windows 7 auto negotiate the speed, the problem went away. The answer was on the following site/thread: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7network/thread/f44f2e97-2a55-419f-a05d-92ad40098f18
September 17th, 2010 11:19pm

I saw a setting while familiarizing myself with Windows 7 for Stopping or Suspending Network Connections when Screen Saver Activates. Sorry I can't remember where it is. I do remember that it was the default setting and it was a check box that I saw after turning on the screen saver and pointing it to a folder with pictures but I can't find that tab again. I believe that is the setting you need to find.
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June 21st, 2011 2:45am

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