Realtek RTL8168C/8111C ethernet compatibility

Similar bugs reported and specific information on the forum http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4589140#post4589140

Introduction: new user, so sorry if there's too much info. This post is about as much as I know.

Issue: LiveCD and installation appears to configure internet access through ethernet for the Realtek RTL8168/8111C card. Previous methods worked only for the 8111B series. Connection does not connect. Previous fixes included wake on LAN if dual booting with Windows XP, or cold booting the PC. Ubuntu reports that it has detected the card 8111B, the network icons are present and available and for all intents and purposes, it works - but doesn't.

Notation: No definitive explanation if dual booting with Vista. Various Vista tweaks with LAN card and power management proves there is no difference whether they are turned on or off or whether LAN wake/suspend is on/off. Does not appear to be Ubuntu dependent as the kernel core seems to be problematic and not the operating system itself. Problem also experienced with the OS Mint and Mandriva (the latter, however, sometimes worked from LiveCD only).

System specifications:
Dual boot Windows Vista Ultimate and Ubuntu v7.10 Gutsy Gibbon new install from LiveCD
Hewlett-Packard Pavilion m9090a
Quad Core Q6700
Realtek RTL8168C/8111C Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Asus 1066Mhz motherboard
ST3500630AS HDD 500GB x 2
Nvidia GEForce 8600GT
DL-ST-BDDVDRW GGC-H20L combo
HP w2207 22" HDMI widescreen LCD
Hauppauge Win TV HVR-1200 Hybrid
3GB DDR2 667 Ram
Additional stuff not worthy of mention (please advise if you require full system specs, however, the system is a specific brand)

Fix: the following steps modified from previous forum thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=699658&highlight=8168&page=2, however, this thread needed updating for my particular system. I'm no expert and perhaps these steps can either be trimmed down or my preference, some guru could ship it with Ubuntu or have a deb file! From my reading, the following steps must be done after every kernel update (although I've not got that far to try it).

01 - Download the latest driver from Realtek from http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=13&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false, this version being r8168-8.005.00 for the 2.4, 2.6 kernel
02 - Copy the file to the Desktop and extract it then open a terminal. cd Desktop
03 - $ sudo mv r8168-8.005.00 /usr/src
04 - $ cd /usr/src/r8168-8.005.00
05 - $ sudo make clean modules
06 - $ sudo make install
07 - $ sudo depmod -a
08 - $ sudo insmod ./src/r8168.ko
09 - $ cd /etc/modprobe.d
10 - $ sudo touch blacklist-network #is this line required? Dunno!
11 - $ sudo gedit blacklist-network
12 - add text "blacklist r8169" to the file (without quotes) and save
13 - $ sudo update-initramfs -u #to make the change permanent
14 - $ sudo reboot
15 - test the internet (ie, open Terminal and type ping www.google.com).

Hope this helps.