Network Computer Reboots when Laptop Connects to Wireless Network

I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another computer
on the network reboots.

The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop and
a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
broadband modem.

I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both computers
are running XP Pro with SP2.

The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But when I
switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I don't
mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched off at
the mains and switched back on again.

Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet at
the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
internet.

Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?

TIA

Charles

wow..... That's weird.....

Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards now days
come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and seeing a
signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.


"Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
computer
> on the network reboots.
>
> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop
and
> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
> broadband modem.
>
> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
computers
> are running XP Pro with SP2.
>
> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But when
I
> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I
don't
> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched off
at
> the mains and switched back on again.
>
> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet at
> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
> internet.
>
> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
>
> TIA
>
> Charles
>
>

Hi Bryan

Thanks for the response. I don't think it can be WOL as I have other (wired)
machines that do not cause this problem when they are switched on.

Any other suggestions very welcome though, or just musings. This problem is
driving me up the wall. As you say: it *is* weird.

I can't imagine what could be happening, and I have spent more years with
computers than I care to mention.

The problem is 100% repeatable. Dell desktop machine sitting doing nothing,
except running Windows XP Pro SP2 and connected to an ADSL modem for
broadband internet. Also connected to a 4-port 100Mb powered Ethernet hub.
D-Link Access Point connected to hub as well.

The AP is configured to use 802.11a (I have disabled 802.11g).

The laptop (also Dell) is running the same OS and service pack. I switch the
laptop on and it proceeds to the Ctl+Alt+Del screen. So far all is well. I
log in and after about 20 seconds the desktop restarts; no elegant shutdown,
just restarts from the BIOS screen The desktop has shares that are visible
to the laptop, and when it has finished restarting they can be seen. The
internet is also available to both machines. I have disabled the XP firewall
because I have ZoneAlarm running on both machines.

What is interesting is that once it has all settled down, I can reboot the
laptop without problem. However, if I shutdown the laptop, and then later
start it up again, the problem reoccurs.

I really hope someone can offer some suggestions, or just things to try to
get closer to the problem.

Thanks everyone.

Charles


"Bryan Martin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> wow..... That's weird.....
>
> Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards now
> days
> come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and seeing
> a
> signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.
>
>
> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
> computer
>> on the network reboots.
>>
>> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop
> and
>> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
>> broadband modem.
>>
>> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
> computers
>> are running XP Pro with SP2.
>>
>> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But when
> I
>> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I
> don't
>> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched off
> at
>> the mains and switched back on again.
>>
>> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet at
>> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
>> internet.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>
>
>

I may have resolved this now.

I went to the Intel web site and got an updated driver for my PRO/100 VE
network card in the desktop computer and the problem seems to have gone
away. The version I was using before came from the Dell web site.

Interestingly, this has come up in another thread, where someone suggested
that (for laptops) one should use the driver from the OEM web site. This is
not borne out by my experience here, but this may be different for desktop
computers.

Charles


"Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Bryan
>
> Thanks for the response. I don't think it can be WOL as I have other
> (wired) machines that do not cause this problem when they are switched on.
>
> Any other suggestions very welcome though, or just musings. This problem
> is driving me up the wall. As you say: it *is* weird.
>
> I can't imagine what could be happening, and I have spent more years with
> computers than I care to mention.
>
> The problem is 100% repeatable. Dell desktop machine sitting doing
> nothing, except running Windows XP Pro SP2 and connected to an ADSL modem
> for broadband internet. Also connected to a 4-port 100Mb powered Ethernet
> hub. D-Link Access Point connected to hub as well.
>
> The AP is configured to use 802.11a (I have disabled 802.11g).
>
> The laptop (also Dell) is running the same OS and service pack. I switch
> the laptop on and it proceeds to the Ctl+Alt+Del screen. So far all is
> well. I log in and after about 20 seconds the desktop restarts; no elegant
> shutdown, just restarts from the BIOS screen The desktop has shares that
> are visible to the laptop, and when it has finished restarting they can be
> seen. The internet is also available to both machines. I have disabled the
> XP firewall because I have ZoneAlarm running on both machines.
>
> What is interesting is that once it has all settled down, I can reboot the
> laptop without problem. However, if I shutdown the laptop, and then later
> start it up again, the problem reoccurs.
>
> I really hope someone can offer some suggestions, or just things to try to
> get closer to the problem.
>
> Thanks everyone.
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Bryan Martin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> wow..... That's weird.....
>>
>> Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards now
>> days
>> come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and seeing
>> a
>> signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.
>>
>>
>> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
>> computer
>>> on the network reboots.
>>>
>>> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop
>> and
>>> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
>>> broadband modem.
>>>
>>> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
>> computers
>>> are running XP Pro with SP2.
>>>
>>> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But
>>> when
>> I
>>> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I
>> don't
>>> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched
>>> off
>> at
>>> the mains and switched back on again.
>>>
>>> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet
>>> at
>>> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
>>> internet.
>>>
>>> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> Charles
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

"Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I may have resolved this now.
>
> I went to the Intel web site and got an updated driver for my PRO/100 VE
> network card in the desktop computer and the problem seems to have gone
> away. The version I was using before came from the Dell web site.
>
> Interestingly, this has come up in another thread, where someone suggested
> that (for laptops) one should use the driver from the OEM web site. This is
> not borne out by my experience here, but this may be different for desktop
> computers.
>
> Charles

Sure enough. A classic example of garbage in - garbage out

--PA

Looks like I spoke too soon. Turned on the laptop this morning and desktop
is off with the fairies.

Can anyone offer any other suggestions? Please.

Charles


"Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I may have resolved this now.
>
> I went to the Intel web site and got an updated driver for my PRO/100 VE
> network card in the desktop computer and the problem seems to have gone
> away. The version I was using before came from the Dell web site.
>
> Interestingly, this has come up in another thread, where someone suggested
> that (for laptops) one should use the driver from the OEM web site. This
> is not borne out by my experience here, but this may be different for
> desktop computers.
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi Bryan
>>
>> Thanks for the response. I don't think it can be WOL as I have other
>> (wired) machines that do not cause this problem when they are switched
>> on.
>>
>> Any other suggestions very welcome though, or just musings. This problem
>> is driving me up the wall. As you say: it *is* weird.
>>
>> I can't imagine what could be happening, and I have spent more years with
>> computers than I care to mention.
>>
>> The problem is 100% repeatable. Dell desktop machine sitting doing
>> nothing, except running Windows XP Pro SP2 and connected to an ADSL modem
>> for broadband internet. Also connected to a 4-port 100Mb powered Ethernet
>> hub. D-Link Access Point connected to hub as well.
>>
>> The AP is configured to use 802.11a (I have disabled 802.11g).
>>
>> The laptop (also Dell) is running the same OS and service pack. I switch
>> the laptop on and it proceeds to the Ctl+Alt+Del screen. So far all is
>> well. I log in and after about 20 seconds the desktop restarts; no
>> elegant shutdown, just restarts from the BIOS screen The desktop has
>> shares that are visible to the laptop, and when it has finished
>> restarting they can be seen. The internet is also available to both
>> machines. I have disabled the XP firewall because I have ZoneAlarm
>> running on both machines.
>>
>> What is interesting is that once it has all settled down, I can reboot
>> the laptop without problem. However, if I shutdown the laptop, and then
>> later start it up again, the problem reoccurs.
>>
>> I really hope someone can offer some suggestions, or just things to try
>> to get closer to the problem.
>>
>> Thanks everyone.
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>
>> "Bryan Martin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> wow..... That's weird.....
>>>
>>> Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards now
>>> days
>>> come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and
>>> seeing a
>>> signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
>>> computer
>>>> on the network reboots.
>>>>
>>>> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop
>>> and
>>>> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
>>>> broadband modem.
>>>>
>>>> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
>>> computers
>>>> are running XP Pro with SP2.
>>>>
>>>> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But
>>>> when
>>> I
>>>> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I
>>> don't
>>>> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched
>>>> off
>>> at
>>>> the mains and switched back on again.
>>>>
>>>> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet
>>>> at
>>>> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
>>>> internet.
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> Charles
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

The desktop restarts because XP crashes.
Please check your eventlog for relevant messages.
When you identify the reason of these crashes, please post here.
The dump files also can be helpful for investigation, but they need special tools to read.

--PA

"Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:#ZO$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Looks like I spoke too soon. Turned on the laptop this morning and desktop
> is off with the fairies.
>
> Can anyone offer any other suggestions? Please.
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I may have resolved this now.
> >
> > I went to the Intel web site and got an updated driver for my PRO/100 VE
> > network card in the desktop computer and the problem seems to have gone
> > away. The version I was using before came from the Dell web site.
> >
> > Interestingly, this has come up in another thread, where someone suggested
> > that (for laptops) one should use the driver from the OEM web site. This
> > is not borne out by my experience here, but this may be different for
> > desktop computers.
> >
> > Charles
> >
> >
> > "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Hi Bryan
> >>
> >> Thanks for the response. I don't think it can be WOL as I have other
> >> (wired) machines that do not cause this problem when they are switched
> >> on.
> >>
> >> Any other suggestions very welcome though, or just musings. This problem
> >> is driving me up the wall. As you say: it *is* weird.
> >>
> >> I can't imagine what could be happening, and I have spent more years with
> >> computers than I care to mention.
> >>
> >> The problem is 100% repeatable. Dell desktop machine sitting doing
> >> nothing, except running Windows XP Pro SP2 and connected to an ADSL modem
> >> for broadband internet. Also connected to a 4-port 100Mb powered Ethernet
> >> hub. D-Link Access Point connected to hub as well.
> >>
> >> The AP is configured to use 802.11a (I have disabled 802.11g).
> >>
> >> The laptop (also Dell) is running the same OS and service pack. I switch
> >> the laptop on and it proceeds to the Ctl+Alt+Del screen. So far all is
> >> well. I log in and after about 20 seconds the desktop restarts; no
> >> elegant shutdown, just restarts from the BIOS screen The desktop has
> >> shares that are visible to the laptop, and when it has finished
> >> restarting they can be seen. The internet is also available to both
> >> machines. I have disabled the XP firewall because I have ZoneAlarm
> >> running on both machines.
> >>
> >> What is interesting is that once it has all settled down, I can reboot
> >> the laptop without problem. However, if I shutdown the laptop, and then
> >> later start it up again, the problem reoccurs.
> >>
> >> I really hope someone can offer some suggestions, or just things to try
> >> to get closer to the problem.
> >>
> >> Thanks everyone.
> >>
> >> Charles
> >>
> >>
> >> "Bryan Martin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> >>> wow..... That's weird.....
> >>>
> >>> Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards now
> >>> days
> >>> come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and
> >>> seeing a
> >>> signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >>>> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
> >>> computer
> >>>> on the network reboots.
> >>>>
> >>>> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell desktop
> >>> and
> >>>> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a USB
> >>>> broadband modem.
> >>>>
> >>>> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
> >>> computers
> >>>> are running XP Pro with SP2.
> >>>>
> >>>> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But
> >>>> when
> >>> I
> >>>> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And I
> >>> don't
> >>>> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was switched
> >>>> off
> >>> at
> >>>> the mains and switched back on again.
> >>>>
> >>>> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the internet
> >>>> at
> >>>> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse the
> >>>> internet.
> >>>>
> >>>> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
> >>>>
> >>>> TIA
> >>>>
> >>>> Charles
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Hmm ...

There are no messages in the event log at or around the time of the crash. I
also could not find any dump files, e.g. files in a directory called
MiniDump. Where should I look, and what tools can read them?

I did notice though, whilst wandering through System Properties | Startup
and Recovery, that under System failure it was set to Automatically restart.
It never used to be like that, at least not up until I installed SP2.

Anyway, I unchecked the box, rebooted, and now I can't make it crash
anymore. Still no entries in the event log either, apart from the usual ones
about no DNS server, domain cannot be found, W3Time getting upset and some
from NetLogon; but then my server is not on most of the time so I'm not too
surprised.

Serendipity is a wonderful thing :-)

Charles


"Pavel A." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> The desktop restarts because XP crashes.
> Please check your eventlog for relevant messages.
> When you identify the reason of these crashes, please post here.
> The dump files also can be helpful for investigation, but they need
> special tools to read.
>
> --PA
>
> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:#ZO$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Looks like I spoke too soon. Turned on the laptop this morning and
>> desktop
>> is off with the fairies.
>>
>> Can anyone offer any other suggestions? Please.
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>
>> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I may have resolved this now.
>> >
>> > I went to the Intel web site and got an updated driver for my PRO/100
>> > VE
>> > network card in the desktop computer and the problem seems to have gone
>> > away. The version I was using before came from the Dell web site.
>> >
>> > Interestingly, this has come up in another thread, where someone
>> > suggested
>> > that (for laptops) one should use the driver from the OEM web site.
>> > This
>> > is not borne out by my experience here, but this may be different for
>> > desktop computers.
>> >
>> > Charles
>> >
>> >
>> > "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> Hi Bryan
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for the response. I don't think it can be WOL as I have other
>> >> (wired) machines that do not cause this problem when they are switched
>> >> on.
>> >>
>> >> Any other suggestions very welcome though, or just musings. This
>> >> problem
>> >> is driving me up the wall. As you say: it *is* weird.
>> >>
>> >> I can't imagine what could be happening, and I have spent more years
>> >> with
>> >> computers than I care to mention.
>> >>
>> >> The problem is 100% repeatable. Dell desktop machine sitting doing
>> >> nothing, except running Windows XP Pro SP2 and connected to an ADSL
>> >> modem
>> >> for broadband internet. Also connected to a 4-port 100Mb powered
>> >> Ethernet
>> >> hub. D-Link Access Point connected to hub as well.
>> >>
>> >> The AP is configured to use 802.11a (I have disabled 802.11g).
>> >>
>> >> The laptop (also Dell) is running the same OS and service pack. I
>> >> switch
>> >> the laptop on and it proceeds to the Ctl+Alt+Del screen. So far all is
>> >> well. I log in and after about 20 seconds the desktop restarts; no
>> >> elegant shutdown, just restarts from the BIOS screen The desktop has
>> >> shares that are visible to the laptop, and when it has finished
>> >> restarting they can be seen. The internet is also available to both
>> >> machines. I have disabled the XP firewall because I have ZoneAlarm
>> >> running on both machines.
>> >>
>> >> What is interesting is that once it has all settled down, I can reboot
>> >> the laptop without problem. However, if I shutdown the laptop, and
>> >> then
>> >> later start it up again, the problem reoccurs.
>> >>
>> >> I really hope someone can offer some suggestions, or just things to
>> >> try
>> >> to get closer to the problem.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks everyone.
>> >>
>> >> Charles
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Bryan Martin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >>> wow..... That's weird.....
>> >>>
>> >>> Mabe the motherboard is flaking out. I know allot of motherboards
>> >>> now
>> >>> days
>> >>> come with a feature call wake on LAN. Maybe that's messing up and
>> >>> seeing a
>> >>> signal come from the laptop and is interpreting it to mean shutdown.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> "Charles Law" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> >>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >>>> I have a really weird problem. When I log in to my laptop, another
>> >>> computer
>> >>>> on the network reboots.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The set-up I have is a 4-port hub, plugged into which is a Dell
>> >>>> desktop
>> >>> and
>> >>>> a D-Link Access Point (DWL-7100AP). The Dell is then connected to a
>> >>>> USB
>> >>>> broadband modem.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I also have a Dell laptop, which has a Mini-PC wireless card. Both
>> >>> computers
>> >>>> are running XP Pro with SP2.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The desktop computer runs all day, every day without a hiccough. But
>> >>>> when
>> >>> I
>> >>>> switch on my laptop and log in, my desktop immediately reboots. And
>> >>>> I
>> >>> don't
>> >>>> mean it shuts down and restarts. It behaves just like it was
>> >>>> switched
>> >>>> off
>> >>> at
>> >>>> the mains and switched back on again.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Once it has rebooted, everything works fine. I connect to the
>> >>>> internet
>> >>>> at
>> >>>> the desktop and my laptop can use shares on the desktop and browse
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> internet.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Can anyone suggest what on earth might be happening?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> TIA
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Charles
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>