Windows 10: Ethernet controller not seen 50% of the time in Windows 10

Hello, I am struggling here trying to troubleshoot a "weird" issue with my Ethernet controller. The computer is an old Toshiba Satellite C660-220 running Windows 10. The controller is a Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller, with the latest driver installed for it straight from Realtek's website current version installed: 10.3.723.2015 Windows 10 is fully updated the computer cannot run Windows 11 Now the issue is as follows: When I turn on the computer the "first" time, ethernet either works, or does not. If it is not working and I restart the computer, it will then be working. If it

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Ethernet controller not seen 50% of the time in Windows 10

Hello,



I am struggling here trying to troubleshoot a "weird" issue with my Ethernet controller.



The computer is an old Toshiba Satellite C660-220 running Windows 10.



The controller is a Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller, with the latest driver installed for it straight from Realtek's website (current version installed: 10.3.723.2015)



Windows 10 is fully updated (the computer cannot run Windows 11)



Now the issue is as follows:



When I turn on the computer the "first" time, ethernet either works, or does not.



If it is not working and I restart the computer, it will then be working.



If it is working and I restart the computer, it will then NOT be working.



After that, whenever I restart the computer, it is always 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 etc. and this loop goes on steadily so I can predict the behaviour before hitting restart.



What I am trying to say is that it always goes this way:



works - restart - does not work - restart - works - restart - does not work - restart - works... etc.

Here is what I have tried:

I have of course plugged, unplugged, re-plugged the ethernet cable several times.

The modem is working, other devices are working fine over the ethernet, the connections are correct, the hardware outside the computer is known-good.



Whenever I reboot, the ethernet either starts right away, or the Wi-Fi takes over with no issue, and in the Network Settings of Windows 10, the "Ethernet" section simply does not appear on the left side.

Additionally, MSINFO32 shows the controller either way, but shows it as "Not available" when not working. It also shows "rt640x64" as the linked service.



I do not know how to add the msinfo32 file I have to this post, but I can provide it if needed.



I have tried a safe mode boot, the issue is the same.



I have tried a clean boot and tried to isolate what third party service could be the issue until I realised it was not related at all.



I did a clean install of Windows 10.



I have used the "Reset Network" feature of the Windows 10 Network settings. I ran the network troubleshooters.



I booted to a liveusb of Linux Mint and then installed Mint on the internal drive and did the same from there, the behaviour is the same (1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 etc.)



I reset the BIOS settings (it is a Legacy BIOS I cannot update, nor move to UEFI)



I reset the CMOS battery.



I removed the RAM for more than 10 minutes, and there is no battery connected to the computer.



I rolled back the driver, reinstalled it, tried Windows 7 drivers for the same device etc. to no avail.



I uninstalled the driver and restarted the computer several times.



I noticed in the Device Manager that when it does not show up, it is actually hidden and gives an error 45.



When it is not working, it shows in the Device Manager events several things I cannot make anything out of.

Please check this for more info on these events: (I have tried to add a screenshot, but it does not take it)

Events detail:



25.10.2023 20:06:40 Device configured (rt640x64.inf):



Device PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\4&370aa848&0&00E0 was configured.



Driver Name: rt640x64.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Driver Date: 04/10/2015

Driver Version: 9.1.410.2015

Driver Provider: Microsoft

Driver Section: RTL8105.ndi.NT

Driver Rank: 0xFF2000

Matching Device Id: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&REV_05

Outranked Drivers: oem22.infCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&REV_05:00FF2000

Device Updated: false

Parent Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B42&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\3&11583659&0&E0



25.10.2023 20:06:40 Device started (rt640x64):



Device PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\4&370aa848&0&00E0 was started.



Driver Name: rt640x64.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Service: rt640x64

Lower Filters:

Upper Filters:



26.10.2023 00:20:15 Device configured (oem3.inf):



Device PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\4&370aa848&0&00E0 was configured.



Driver Name: oem3.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Driver Date: 07/23/2015

Driver Version: 10.3.723.2015

Driver Provider: Realtek

Driver Section: RTL8105.ndi.NT

Driver Rank: 0xFF0000

Matching Device Id: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05

Outranked Drivers: rt640x64.infCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&REV_05:00FF2000 oem22.infCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&REV_05:00FF2000 oem3.infCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&REV_05:00FF2000

Device Updated: true

Parent Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B42&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\3&11583659&0&E0



26.10.2023 00:20:15 Device not started (rt640x64):



Device PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_FD3C1179&REV_05\4&370aa848&0&00E0 had a problem starting.



Driver Name: oem3.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Service: rt640x64

Lower Filters:

Upper Filters:

Problem: 0x0

Problem Status: 0xC00000E5

These are way above my paygrade I'm afraid. I also noticed that not all restarts show as events there. 20:06 is a working ethernet, 00:20 is a non-working ethernet.

It looks like when it is working, it summons rt640x64.inf reliably, and when it is not working, it summons oemxx.inf instead. Maybe it is something related?



That's about it, my brain is fried for today... I thank anyone who can take the time to give it a go.



Regards,

 

Ethernet controllers problems

thats what i have been doing is going to the device mgr and clicking the the let me choose. but it always says "windows can not install your ethernet controller. And there the Ethernet Controller isnt in the list..im going to be working on this all night. I just got back from work.

 

Is it time for Windows 10 already?

Here's a good step by step guide on doing a fresh install.

How to clean install Windows 10 from a USB drive - Software - Feature - HEXUS.net