Windows 7: Network problem after sleep mode
Yet another glitch for Windows 7. Seems every time the machine tries to come out of sleep mode there is no Network available. And apparently I’m not the only one having this issue. The Internet is riddled with this problem.
I was ready to unleash my venom on Windows 7 for its ridiculous behavior but my buddy Theo talked me down. After giving me a cold towel and a Mountain Dew, I have to agree, I can’t blame Windows 7 for this one, at least not completely. It seems Windows 7 and my RealTek onboard network card aren’t quite getting along or they have quite figured out how to talk to each other correctly. A pretty big blunder since Windows 7 is the predominant OS and RealTek is the predominant onboard network manufacturer. Nothing like a well oiled machine.
But anyway, the fix is simple.
Open Device Manager (Control Panel – Hardware – Device Manager)
Click the Network Adapter, right-click and get Properties
Click the Power Management tab
Uncheck the options for Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
– All the other items should then grey out.
Update:Yeah too bad this didn’t work for me. When I brought the machine out of sleep mode last night, it still had no network connection. I guess this doesn’t work in all cases. Of course, I decided to be smart and assign a static IP address to that machine. Just caused Windows 7 to lock up on the TCP/IP Properties page. Damn, what a great operating system this is!
Update #2:I ended up fixing this by giving my machine a static IP address. Funny, I thought DNS should serve this function, but I guess when it comes to Windows 7, if you want it done right, or at least without something crashing, you have to do it yourself. At least now I always have an IP address when the computer wakes up.
Hello sanspantalones,
Have you checked compatibility?
Just an FYI for you.
It is always best to check with the software manufacturer FIRST. They will tell you if they have tested the product and the version, as well as whether or not it will work with Windows 7.
Check out the Windows 7 Compatibility site: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibility.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose “hardware” and “software”.
There are also some great articles, instructional videos and such to help with your Windows 7 at our Springboard site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx
Microsoft does have an official Windows 7 Support Forum located here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/w7itpro/ . It is supported by product specialists as well as engineers and support teams. You may want to check the threads available there for additional assitance and support.
Thanks again,
John M.
Microsoft Windows Client Support
Hey John,
Thanks for the comment. You do make a good point to check the HCL, however the machine was built by Dell and includes a RealTek network controller built into the motherboard. I assume if Dell included it, it was on the list. That aside, updated RealTek drivers have been available on the Windows Update site which I have installed, so again, I am assuming everything is compatible.
I know it’s not quite the same thing, but my Dell Inspiron Laptop has RealTek drivers and Vista and has never had a problem like this. My Dell Dimension 5150’s also have RealTek hardware and drivers with Windows XP and have never shown this problem. All my machines have been Dell’s and they are pretty consistent with their hardware.
As I mentioned I did “fix” the problem by using a static IP, so where the problem lies I’m not sure, but Windows 7 is the only version of Windows I’ve had this problem with.
But even if that problem had never arisen it still wouldn’t make me like Windows 7 any more. I still find 7 to be riddled with flaws and shortcomings. It’s 2010 and Win 7 barely knows what to do with an ISO image, has anemic built in support for handling/creating archives like Rar or Zip, Windows Explorer is useless, the picture import function is a joke (why does it still have to put spaces in the file name when spaces cause problems on the web?), the Taskbar can’t be stretched across multiple monitors, (7 can’t even set a different wallpaper for each monitor), the UAC is still so annoying I had to turn it off completely, changing the HOSTS file is ridiculously annoying, being an administrator on my machine doesn’t mean I can actually change what I want, when I want, Control Panel is a confusing mess as far as its layout is concerned, and DOZENS of other glitches and annoyances that just drive me batty.
Not to mention Windows 7 can’t seem to understand how to control the two video cards in my system even though they are from the same vendor and use the same driver. And both are on the HCL.
I might give the forum a try, but considering I’ve seen these problems discussed before and the standard answer seems to be “upgrade your hardware”, I’m a little hesitant. But thanks for the links they might come in handy one day.
Hey John,
Thanks for the comment. You do make a good point to check the HCL, however the machine was built by Dell and includes a RealTek network controller built into the motherboard. I assume if Dell included it, it was on the list. That aside, updated RealTek drivers have been available on the Windows Update site which I have installed, so again, I am assuming everything is compatible.
I know it’s not quite the same thing, but my Dell Inspiron Laptop has RealTek drivers and Vista and has never had a problem like this. My Dell Dimension 5150’s also have RealTek hardware and drivers with Windows XP and have never shown this problem. All my machines have been Dell’s and they are pretty consistent with their hardware.
As I mentioned I did “fix” the problem by using a static IP, so where the problem lies I’m not sure, but Windows 7 is the only version of Windows I’ve had this problem with.
But even if that problem had never arisen it still wouldn’t make me like Windows 7 any more. I still find 7 to be riddled with flaws and shortcomings. It’s 2010 and Win 7 barely knows what to do with an ISO image, has anemic built in support for handling/creating archives like Rar or Zip, Windows Explorer is useless, the picture import function is a joke (why does it still have to put spaces in the file name when spaces cause problems on the web?), the Taskbar can’t be stretched across multiple monitors, (7 can’t even set a different wallpaper for each monitor), the UAC is still so annoying I had to turn it off completely, changing the HOSTS file is ridiculously annoying, being an administrator on my machine doesn’t mean I can actually change what I want, when I want, Control Panel is a confusing mess as far as its layout is concerned, and DOZENS of other glitches and annoyances that just drive me batty.
Not to mention Windows 7 can’t seem to understand how to control the two video cards in my system even though they are from the same vendor and use the same driver. And both are on the HCL.
I might give the forum a try, but considering I’ve seen these problems discussed before and the standard answer seems to be “upgrade your hardware”, I’m a little hesitant. But thanks for the links they might come in handy one day.