Have To Reboot Computer To Connect To Network!

I have an old desktop connected to an old router by ethernet. Something went wrong with the router and my 300mbps connection started maxing out at 120bmps, so I replaced it. The new router was back at 300mbps, but my laptop (windows 10) couldn't find a network after it went to sleep. I had to reboot to get it to find a network.
My wife's desktop is connected by ethernet, a second router is connected by ethernet, and a TV is connected by Wifi. They are fine. (as is everything connected to the 2nd router by ethernet or Wifi)

Trouble shooting says I have a cable diconnected (but it magically reconnects when I reboot.)
I tried to reset the network adaptor, but it doesn't help. I am not even sure it does anything at all.

I have set the computer to just never sleep and all is well, but I'd like to get back to normal. Any suggestions?

 

A couple of things got flagged as soon as you said the word "old".
Old systems, hardware and peripherals can tend to build up a static charge.
when they get nasty and start complaining it's like getting a flat tire in the car.

First things first: "power reset".
When you shut things down; turn them off, unplug the power supply and let things go cold.

Second step: network reset.
In the old days we had 'release-renew' or 'disable-enable',
now it's just 'reset'.
It's more than an 'on-off' switch, but you can treat that way.

The 2 flags that are waving are
1) there is also a reset button on your new router
2) you may have to update some drivers in your laptop and desktop to suit the new router.

 

Did the two resets. The first time it went to sleep it actually worked. Second time it didn't. Doesn't seem like progress.

I assume the driver that might need to be updated is for the ethernet connector. Is that it, or all of the network adaptors?
Anyhow, it claims my 2016 driver is the most current from Windows updates.
However, I found a 2021 driver on google. I have uploaded a screen shot of it. Should I install it?

 

don't even stop to read this...

Go immediately to Intel,
download and install 1217 LM driver(s)
They will supply the lastest versions they have.

 

I went to Intel and installed their driver advisor. It said all my drivers were the latest.
It said that i217-lm was 12.13.17.7 dated 1/14/2016.
Several websites have 12.17.8.7 dated 9/29/2017 available.
I can't find it on Intel, but really, I can't find anything on Intel.
Should I download 12.17 from one of the websites? Is any particularly trustworthy?

 

Juse a question: did you log into Intel and let them identify your system?
It's usually alot more fun than just bee-lining for the download page,
And it might find something else you aren't even aware of.

But Microsoft is always a safe second choice, and you did the right thing in reading the dates.

 

Did you look at the network adapter and change the power settings there? Go to Device Manager and look at the Properties and Power Management.
Just because the computer "never sleeps" doesn't mean Windows doesn't still control power saving on devices.

 

I have power management set to "never sleep".
But your post got me to thinking...
I went to "device management" and "network adaptor". Under the "power management" tab there, I clicked that window can't shut off power to the network adaptor. Now, when the computer sleeps it does NOT shut off power to the network adaptor and I don't lose the ability to connect to the internet on waking.
This doesn't seem like a proper fix, but it is better than before.

I have NOT updated my network adaptor driver. Neither Intel nor Microsoft offer one. Several websites do, as noted above, but since I don't know anything about them, I am reluctant to load drivers that might not be safe.
If anyone can recommend a safer driver download site, I can try that.

 

Well, my "fix" wasn't so good. it works about 75% of the time, but the other times it still requires a reboot.
I got a USB to ethernet adaptor and it seems to survive a sleep just fine. So far. I hated to spend $8, but its better than rebooting.