Solved Dell Inspiron 3880 sporadically loses internet connection

I've got a Dell Inspiron 3880 that on occasion cannot connect to the internet either via an ethernet connection (normal) or via Wi-Fi. This problem usually shows up when attempting to open website using the new Edge browser and seeing a message that it is taking too long for the page to respond. Running the troubleshooter from within the browser results in "Connection between your access point, router, or cable modem is broken.". Then it says to unplug the router to reset it. Using the Network Troubleshooter by going to Settings>System>Troubleshoot indicates no problems.
There are two other computers and a smart TV connected to the router as well. When the 3880 starts acting up, none of the other devices have any issues.
I use an Arris T45 gateway and a Tp-link AC1750 (Archer C7) router. A LG tv and the Inspiron 3880 are connected via ethernet. A Dell Inspiron 3793, HP notebook and a Canon printer are connected via Wi-Fi.
The specs for the 3880 are: Intel i5-10400 @2.96GHz, 8GB memory running Windows 11 Pro 64-bit, Version 21H2, build 22000.493. I've gone to the Dell website and checked that all drivers on the computer are up to date.
I have used the troubleshooting guide from Microsoft, following it to the point where it says, "We don't know what the solution is." I've had to resort to performing an in-place upgrade a couple of times before being able to connect. It will work long enough for me to figure that I solved the problem, 3 or 5 days, and then it starts again. I've also done the repair Micrsoft Edge procedure and uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox (it also acts up the same way as Edge). OneDrive also has problems connecting when this happens. I have also switched ethernet cables thinking that might have something to do with it. I'm beginning to think poltergeist.
Has anyone else seen an issue like this before?

So far your troubleshooting has been on point. Try resetting the network stack.I am including 2 methods, manual or batch file.

Note that these commands affect all of your networking adapters, both physical and virtual, both used and unused, so you will see some errors when running these commands, where the resets targeted adapters that are not being used. These errors are perfectly normal, and not a cause for concern. Complete each step in order, even if you have done some of these previously, and even if you encounter errors.

MANUAL

1. In the search box on the taskbar click Start, type command prompt, right-click the command prompt result and then select Run as administrator and confirm.
2. At the command prompt type these commands (decline restarting your machine until you have entered the final command):
   1. Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.
   2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
   3. Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. (This will stall for a moment
   4. Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter. (Don’t restart yet.)
   5. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
3. Now restart your machine. Hopefully it resolves your issue.

BATCH FILE I credit this batch file to @FreeBooter. It goes a little deeper into resetting the components than my manual instructions and I highly recommend it.
Unzip the attached file, right click on the resetnetworkcomponents.bat and run as administrator. Then restart.

glasskuter said:

So far your troubleshooting has been on point. Try resetting the network stack.

Note that these commands affect all of your networking adapters, both physical and virtual, both used and unused, so you will see some errors when running these commands, where the resets targeted adapters that are not being used. These errors are perfectly normal, and not a cause for concern. Complete each step in order, even if you have done some of these previously, and even if you encounter errors.

1. In the search box on the taskbar click Start, type command prompt, right-click the command prompt result and then select Run as administrator and confirm.
2. At the command prompt (decline restarting your machine until you have entered the final command):
   1. Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.
   2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
   3. Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. (This will stall for a moment
   4. Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter. (Don’t restart yet.)
   5. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
3. Now restart your machine. Hopefully it resolves your issue.

Click to expand...

Those commands are on my cheat sheet and I have used them. Along with Network reset. What is puzzling me is why it is happening so frequently and only on this computer, which is the one that my wife uses. She mainly uses it for web surfing and even then only a few specific sites.
Sometimes resetting the gateway and router does the trick, other times I have to proceed to step by step troubleshooting until I get the connection back. I've even connected my 3793 to the router via ethernet and tried to recreate the problem on it by using her credentials and visiting whichever website she started having problems on to determine if it was the website or the computer. It only happens with the 3880.
It's a head scratcher.

Tink009 said:

Has anyone else seen an issue like this before?

Click to expand...

NO.
That is a head scratcher, especially since it happens both wired and wirelessly and other services like onedrive have no problems. Here's all the ideas I have left.

Since you've already gone so far as an inplace upgrade, there could be some kind of file corruption that carries over when you upgrade, possibly corruption in her user account. Try making a new user account to test with (give it administrative privilidges)

Run the batch file anyway. It won't hurt anything, and it might help.

Run command prompt as administrator type sfc /scannow

If you haven't already, verify the power settings for your network adapters. in power management. You need to revoke the permission which allows Windows to turn off the adapter to save power.

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand the list below Network Adapters.
3. Right-click on your network adapter.
4. Select Properties.
5. Click on the Power Management tab.
6. Unmark the checkbox next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

After that, I'm out of ideas other than trying a clean install.

I was thinking a little more on this. You say she uses only a few sites. I know it's far fetched but she could have acquired some kind of malware that altered either her hosts or firewall rules. I believe firewall rules and hosts carry over through an inplace upgrade.


Also try running a full scan with Malwarebytes.
Exactly what are some of these sites?

Typically, she only goes to Amazon.com, YouTube for some cooking shows that are commercially produced, Outlook.com, and MSN. She isn't one who is comfortable using a computer, so she tends to stick with what she knows. She also has quite a few games downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
When it comes to computers and Windows, I'm self-taught and not hesitant to dig deeper. I run Macrium Reflect on all my computers, so if I break something I can always restore a backup image.

glasskuter said:

That is a head scratcher, especially since it happens both wired and wirelessly and other services like onedrive have no problems.

Click to expand...

There have been times that OneDrive has had problems connecting. Also, I have Tunnel Bear installed on the computer and it has served as an early warning that something is wrong. While troubleshooting, I've uninstalled Tunnel Bear to check if it was causing an issue. But it still cropped up. And I did run virus scans using Windows Security and Malwarebytes.
This issue started cropping up a few months ago when the computer was running Windows 10 Pro. Dell came out with another BIOS update and an update for the wireless card last month and when I couldn't get the computer to connect to the internet, I upgraded it to Windows 11 to get things working on the premise that the updates were aimed at Windows 11.
Currently, it is connected but I'm expecting it to act up again anytime. I've downloaded and saved the batch file you have provided. I'll run it the next time I start running into issues again.
One always hears how an update has caused issues for users. Until now, I've been lucky enough to not have had any. I can't say that the updates are causing the problem because I have rolled back the BIOS and Wi-Fi updates to check if it solved the issues.
I may end up doing a clean install and then gradually reinstall programs to see if one is the culprit.

Looking at Dell's support site for that PC there are a LOT of drivers marked urgent, many in 2022. Are all your drivers and your bios updated?
Select Windows 11 as OS on Dell's page.

Other than that, a clean install is all I can suggest. Either way your drivers and bios need to be current.

glasskuter said:

Looking at Dell's support site for that PC there are a LOT of drivers marked urgent, many in 2022. Are all your drivers and your bios updated?

Click to expand...

It's the first place I went to. The thing about Dell is that you really need to look close at the drivers to make sure they match up with the computer. Dell will have different configurations for the same model. There are times (like this problem) when I download the Dell Support Assist to check for driver updates. Some of Dell's "Urgent" updates turn out to be what I consider bloatware.
What I've learned to do is to open Device Manager and compare the installed drivers to the description of the updated drivers. Dell typically will describe how the updated driver will appear in Device Manager once updated.
I appreciate the suggestion, though. Always good to know that I'm not just flailing about trying to fix something. :)

@glasskuter Thanks for all of your suggestions. This helped me know that I hadn't missed a bet about what steps I'm taking to solve the issue..

Tink009 said:

Dell will have different configurations for the same model

Click to expand...

Not if you pull up drivers using your service tag from here Drivers & Downloads | Dell US
You get drivers specific to your hardware configuration.

@glasskuter I am not being snippy here, but I've had several Dell computers and know about the service tags. For this 3880, using the service tag, one of their "Urgent" drivers is for the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver, which applies to RAID systems, and which serves no useful function since the computer we have has a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD and no Intel Optane memory.
There's a radio button to show drivers only for the specific service tag. Turning it on cuts the list of drivers from 59 to 20 for our computer. Past experience with Dell and drivers has taught me to be a little cautious when looking for drivers. And I also use the Dell Support Assistant which scans the computer and will download updated drivers.
I've also noticed that Windows Update will update drivers for the Dell. It was Windows Update that alerted me to the BIOS update. When that happens I go to Dell and get the updates there.

My Dell came from the factory with only a m.2 ssd boot drive and no optane. I added a 1 tb hdd for storage without raid. The Intel driver is listed for people who do choose to setup Raid or install Optane and for people like me who has benchmarked an improvement in using IRST over the default MS driver. Therefore, the driver does apply to your system even if you don't choose to use it. Take a gander at this article from Intel.