Network / Sharing :: Windows 8 Pro - Realtek PCIe GBE Family Loses Internet Connectivity

I am using Windows 8 Professional. I am using a Dell XPS 1510 and am using a PCI Express Realtek PCIe GBE Family Expresscard.

I have already downloaded the latest driver from Realtek from 09/26/12. I have ran Windows Updates. No matter what the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Local Connection loses internet connection.

This card worked fine for months in Windows 7 Pro. The card works fine in Windows 8 Safe Mode. However, when logged into Windows 8 in normal mode, the card will allow and have internet connection for 1 min 12 secs to 1 min 32 secs, at which point the internet connection drops. The wifi and internal NIC (10/100) connection work fine. I've changed the NIC binding order. I've disabled the internal NIC, and Bluetooth (just in case) in the BIOS. I've tried uninstalling the WiFi to force using the Realtek PCIe GBE Family card.

I have ran procmon in order to try to figure out what if any application runs within the 1 min 32 sec timeframe that may interrupt the Realtek PCIe GBE Family card and have uninstalled any suspected applications. I've tried disabling services one at a time to see if it makes a difference.

I have tried DHCP and Static IP addresses.

The problem seems to be something within Windows 8. Something with Windows 8 disables the Realtek PCIe GBE Family internet connectivity. I've tried everything to keep the connection alive, internet works fine, I get perfect gigabit level speeds up until the 1 min 12 secs to 1 min 32 secs then all I get is no network connectivity.

The Windows 8 Troubleshooter is useless. Even though it is setup with static IP it says it can't find the default gateway. The issue is not with the router, somehow not being compatible with Windows 8 or something else. The card worked fine with the same router in Windows 7 and the internal NIC card works with the router in Windows 8 so its not that the router has problems with Windows 8.

I've also already disabled the "Allow the computer to turn off this device" option in the cards Power Management tab (first thing I tried). I've set the Power Management options on the laptop to be set to Maximum Performance.

Everything else with the laptop in Windows 8 seems fine, only this PCI express card that enables gigabit connection is failing. Don't want to use the slower WiFi or 10/100 connection those are too slow for what I need.