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Why RTL8111H-CG Might Not Work After OS Upgrade

Why RTL8111H-CG Might Not Work After OS Upgrade: Troubleshooting and Solutions

The RTL8111H-CG is a commonly used Realtek Ethernet network card, and it's generally reliable. However, after an operating system (OS) upgrade, many users may encounter issues where the network adapter stops working or isn't recognized. Let's explore why this could happen, what might cause the failure, and how to resolve it in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step manner.

1. Driver Compatibility Issues

Cause: When you upgrade your operating system, the drivers for older hardware might no longer be compatible with the new version of the OS. Newer versions of Windows or Linux might not recognize or support older drivers automatically, resulting in the network card not working properly.

Solution:

Step 1: Go to the manufacturer's website (Realtek) and download the latest driver for the RTL8111H-CG compatible with your new OS version. Step 2: Uninstall the existing driver through "Device Manager" (Windows) or "Network Manager" (Linux). Step 3: Install the new driver you downloaded. Step 4: Restart your computer and check if the Ethernet connection is now working. 2. OS-Specific Power Management Issues

Cause: Some operating systems, especially after upgrades, may change the Power Management settings, which can lead to devices like network adapters being powered down or not recognized.

Solution:

Step 1: Open "Device Manager" (Windows) or "System Preferences" (Mac). Step 2: Find the network adapter (RTL8111H-CG) under "Network Adapters." Step 3: Right-click and go to "Properties," then look for the "Power Management" tab. Step 4: Uncheck any option like “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Step 5: Restart the computer and check the network connection. 3. Incompatible OS Kernel (Linux)

Cause: Linux OS upgrades sometimes introduce new kernels that may not support the older drivers for network cards, including the RTL8111H-CG. This can result in a failure to recognize or utilize the network interface .

Solution:

Step 1: Open a terminal window. Step 2: Type the following command to check if the driver is installed: lspci | grep Ethernet Step 3: If the Ethernet device appears but doesn't work, try reinstalling or updating the Realtek driver via the terminal using: sudo apt-get install r8168-dkms This installs an updated driver that should work with the new kernel. Step 4: Reboot your machine and check the connection. 4. Firmware Issues

Cause: The upgrade might change system settings or affect the firmware, which could cause the network adapter to stop functioning properly, especially if the firmware isn't compatible with the new OS version.

Solution:

Step 1: Visit your motherboard or network adapter manufacturer's website to see if there are any new firmware updates available. Step 2: Download and follow the instructions provided to update the firmware of your network card. Step 3: After updating the firmware, restart your system and check if the network adapter works. 5. Conflicting Network Settings or Software

Cause: After an OS upgrade, network settings or third-party network software may conflict with the RTL8111H-CG driver, causing network issues.

Solution:

Step 1: Disable any third-party firewall or antivirus programs temporarily to check if they are causing the issue. Step 2: Go to "Network Settings" and ensure the Ethernet connection is set to "Obtain an IP address automatically" (for DHCP). Step 3: Reset network settings to default, which can be done through the "Network and Internet" settings in Windows or by resetting the network interfaces in Linux. 6. Check BIOS/UEFI Settings

Cause: Sometimes, after an OS upgrade, the BIOS/UEFI settings might have changed, affecting the behavior of your hardware components, including the network adapter.

Solution:

Step 1: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing a key like F2, Delete, or Esc during startup). Step 2: Navigate to the "Advanced" or "Integrated Peripherals" tab and ensure that the onboard LAN controller (RTL8111H-CG) is enabled. Step 3: Save and exit BIOS/UEFI settings, then boot into the OS to see if the network card is functioning.

Conclusion

If your RTL8111H-CG network card stops working after an OS upgrade, there are several possible reasons and solutions to address the issue. By carefully checking for driver updates, adjusting power settings, handling kernel issues in Linux, updating firmware, eliminating software conflicts, and inspecting BIOS/UEFI configurations, you should be able to resolve the issue.

By following these steps, you can get your Ethernet connection back up and running after an OS upgrade.