Run tshark. See if it is counting packets. If not, whatever is coming from the operating system either does not have the ethernet preamble and trailer or it is not coming from the driver at all.
If tshark count is 0, look for an OS tool like netstat to see if it is counting any traffic. Most OS implementation have counters and a tool that will read them.
Assign an IP to your interface. See if that stops the babble. If so, you maybe trying to use DHCP and not be properly configured.
My final suggestion is replace the NIC. In the bad old days when a NIC went bad, it would take the entire LAN down. Of course, that was the shared ethernet days.
Paula Dufour
