[FIXED] Steam won't download on ETHERNET, but WIFI is fine.

[Karolus Rex]

Steam gets stuck on 'Starting' for HOURS when I try to download something, and I have toi attempt login around 10 times before it is successful. This is on Windows 10.

All my other apps and internet functions are good. It is a brand new PC, new SSD and HDD, everything brand new newest drivers. I only have onboard network and can't add another card due to space and money.

I have done:
- Reset/reconfigured router
- Multiple reinstalls of Steam Windows and drivers
- Clean boot does nothing
- Bypassed ethernet and used WiFi (which worked)
- Changed an ungodly amount of settings suggested in troubleshooting such as automatic setting detection stuff and energy saving stuff adding commands and running in different modes ETC ETC ETC.
- Disabled all firewalls
- Tested other PC's (they are fine and download normally)

Why won't Steam download or log in on Ethernet when I have a perfectly good connection? it works on this same PC, same router, same ISP with tethered WiFi.

p.s. I cannot install a WiFi card and can't afford a new motherboard for the next few months. Now I can't access any of my games or even install backed up games (it gets stuck all the same).

EDIT: I ahve found about a HUNDRED forums topics in various places of people having this exact issue with single network cards since 2013, and yet NOTHING has been done to rectify it until now. NOR is there any advice on how to fix or circumvent it. Steam help is useless too.

===FIX===
In the end deleting and reinstalling driver with Windows update fixed it. I had tried this several times, but only the last time worked. Not sure what the real issue was, it was still only Steam that had an issue with them.

[_I_]

try another cable, make sure the ports are not damaged

[Karolus Rex]

Originally posted by _I_:

try another cable, make sure the ports are not damaged

I've tried multiple cables, different ports, etc. Nothing works. Not to mention, the internet is PERFECTLY FINE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, includi9ng Steam through the browser. THIS IS STEAM. people have this issue for a DECADE and no help has been given. I myself have had this issue multiple times before with older PC's, sometimes it just magically fixed itself after a couple of days or weeks.

[chiefputsilao✖️ping]

if it is only steam, then perhaps there is a firewall issue.

[Karolus Rex]

Originally posted by chiefputsilao✖️ping:

if it is only steam, then perhaps there is a firewall issue.

Turns out it was my network driver. I let Windows choose the driver when I installed but it had some issue. Several times in fact.

Then on another thread someone reminded me of the drivers, so I deleted it and let it reinstall. now Steam works fine without issues. It's strange, I've done this several times and none of those times it worked.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Always go and download/install the latest official Drivers yourself.
Disable the OS ability to handle any of that via Windows Updates.
Disable that via This PC > Properties. Then on left hand side click on Advanced.
Then click the Hardware tab and click Device Install Settings and set to NO.
Click OK and restart Windows to apply.
Make sure to update to Win10 2004 or later also because this changes Windows Updates so that Drivers are now Optional and you can Hide those if you don't want them from there.

Either get Driver from the chipset make of said device, such as Realtek. Or via the support/downloads website for your exact model of Motherboard.

[Karolus Rex]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Always go and download/install the latest official Drivers yourself.
Disable the OS ability to handle any of that via Windows Updates.
Disable that via This PC > Properties. Then on left hand side click on Advanced.
Then click the Hardware tab and click Device Install Settings and set to NO.
Click OK and restart Windows to apply.
Make sure to update to Win10 2004 or later also because this changes Windows Updates so that Drivers are now Optional and you can Hide those if you don't want them from there.

Either get Driver from the chipset make of said device, such as Realtek. Or via the support/downloads website for your exact model of Motherboard.

The latest official drivers were initially the problem actually. It doesn't work with dedicated drivers. Only the auto-installed Windows one works(sometimes). The RealTEK driver behaves like this, most of the auto-installed Microsoft drivers didn't work either. But the latest one fixed it. Weird.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

> Only the auto-installed Windows one works(sometimes).

> most of the auto-installed Microsoft drivers didn't work either.

That is a contradiction and doesn't make any sense.

Uninstall the Wired LAN device and software via Device Manager, then click Disable on the WiFi Device.

First, download the latest Wired LAN Driver from the Motherboard maker, which is customized from them, not Realtek.

Whenever a system has both Wired and Wireless LAN, disable the one you won't be using.