Weird Internet connection issues in Windows 11

[MrJim]

As the title says, I'm having a weird connection issue with Internet access using my motherboard's ethernet connection in Windows 11.

When I cold-boot the PC into Windows 11, the PC reports problems connecting to the Internet. If I then do a warm-boot and restart the PC, everything is fine and the connection is solid. I've tried updating to the most up-to-date ethernet driver, but the problem remains. I'm using all the Windows default settings, with my IP address & DNS being supplied by my ISP.

I'm using the most recent stable version of the motherboard BIOS. There is a more recent 'beta' version of the BIOS available which states that it improves Windows 11 compatibility, but I generally prefer not to use beta BIOSes, if I can help it.

Can anyone offer any help? I should mention that I don't have the problem if I connect to my router via wifi rather than ethernet cable.

[DDY]

I've had bad ethernet cables cause this issue, try another cable. Similarly, slightly oxidised connector contacts on both the cable-side and ethernet port has cause the same issue, check and clean the contacts.

[MrJim]

I've had bad ethernet cables cause this issue, try another cable. Similarly, slightly oxidised connector contacts on both the cable-side and ethernet port has cause the same issue, check and clean the contacts.

Thanks for your reply. It's an interesting idea, but 1) the same cable was used with my old pc, and was working perfectly, and 2), if it's the cable, why would the Internet connection be fine after a warm-boot, but not after a cold-boot? I will see if I can dig out a different cable though, just to see what happens...

[[GSV]Trig]

Are you using the random MAC thing in Windows 11?
How about energy saving in the NIC settings or on the router/switch you are connected too?

[MrJim]

Are you using the random MAC thing in Windows 11?
How about energy saving in the NIC settings or on the router/switch you are connected too?

Well, it turns out that the beta BIOS fixed it. I thought I'd try the beta, despite my reservations...so far no catastrophic repercussions. The beta I'm using is dated the middle of September...does MSI usually take so long to release updates? The motherboard is the X570 Tomahawk, so not exactly obsolete. Anyway, thanks very much for the valuable help!

[AGTDenton]

They often leave it at beta. I've had a few boards where the final BIOS is beta but works fine.

Interestingly I just built a system for my dad to replace his ageing Media Centre PC with a MSI B450M Mortar Max. Touch wood I've had no problems without the beta BIOS on W11.

[Super_Ace]

I'm so glad I found this thread, I was having issues with my internet connection on a b550 unify and nothing I found online helped solved the issue. I have never updated the bios and so I wasn't even thinking about that. Updated to the latest bios and no issues whatsoever but I think I might go back to windows 10 for the time being.