So I have an 4 port switch (actually a DIR655 router but it acts as a swtich) in my basement and three ethernet cables are connected to it. One feed comes from the router, another feed to a bedroom with a switch in it and the last cable runs to a wall outlet area by my HTPC. The cables are routed through the basement so there is electrical lines all over the place but I strategically placed the ethernet cables perpendicular to any electrical (or cable lines) and as far away as possible. I have a weird phenomenon that has been happening for the last year or so but I mainly live with it. Basically what happens is when I plug in the ethernet cable from that goes to my wall outlet to the HTPC the internet disconnects at the DIR655. When I unplug it the internet returns. Meanwhile network access still works while all the cables are plugged in. The problem is that it is very sporadic when the internet goes down. If I leave the ethernet cable that is giving me problems unplugged for a few days and then plug it back in the internet typically works and my whole network is happy again. Then randomly it will go out again. (by random I mean it happened last night for the first time in four months, but before that it was 3 times in three weeks)
The only thing I can think of is a short in the line or the ethernet cable is not grounded because I have also tried it on a different switch and its the same effect. Anyone ever experience this before or have an idea rather than rerunning the cable (which I probably will have to do)