Sorry about this being long and winded but it's detailed. I just RMA'd a board with Newegg and am very close to RMA'ing its replacement. I love Newegg and this is the first (about to be second RMA) I've ever had to do with them in years I've been a loyal customer. I believe I triggered a hardware defect. I'll explain.
I dual boot. I have Windows 7 and Kubuntu 10.10 *both* 64bit and updated. After the motherboard installation and first boot, Kubuntu ran like a champ. Upon bootup to Windows 7, I had to install everything under the sun (CD). After all was said and done, both OS ran happily. My usual use at dual booting is hibernate Kubuntu and boot into Windows. Shutdown Windows and resume Kubuntu. I have always done this. This has always worked.
One day, out of nowhere, the networking just stopped working. I swapped cables. I thought it fried. Kubuntu wouldn't connect. So, I boot into Windows. Windows wouldn't connect. I boot into the BIOS and the Smart LAN function couldn't connect. Every other device in the house was connected but my gigabyte motherboard refused to connect. I was convinced the ethernet port blew out. So, I remove all the cables and open the case. I insert a wireless card and BOOM the ethernet (not just the wireless) was working again.
I google for details and come up with nothing. Then after a while, I get hit by no networking again. I figure maybe if I remove the wireless card, it'll magically heal up? I removed the card and boot up. Nothing. I tried Kubuntu, Windows and the Smart LAN function. No ethernet. I re-insert the wireless. No matter how hard I try, nothing works. I call gigabyte and they can't help. They told me to RMA the board so I call up Newegg. They handled it like a boss. Had a new board out the door for me before I could hang up. I'm happy and a bit sour (this is my first gigabyte product ever).
So, I remove all cables to the case and put it back under the desk. Plug all the cables back in and boot up. BOOM. The ethernet works. At this point I'm thinking about calling up Newegg and canceling the RMA. I don't do it though. And lucky. I get bit by this several times again and again before the replacement arrives. So what's the solution? Physically going under my desk and cutting off all power to the PSU. Ridiculous. I tried shutting down the PC normally and no matter how long I leave it off, this doesn't work. I have to remove all power flowing to the PSU for at least a minute. Really?
I called gigabyte and asked if they knew anything about this issue. Sort of futile. I visit the official Gigabyte site and join up with the gigabyte club. Sort of futile. I end up googling for a place where I can maybe get some official input about this problem and I end up here. So basically, the networking capability of the board turns absolutely off no matter what OS I'm in. Nothing but shutting down all power fixes it. Does anybody know what in the world is happening with this board? Surely I can't be the only one?
