jbaird123
asked on
Network Card Troubleshooting
Can someone tell me how to troubleshoot an issue I'm having with my NIC? The card may be completely dead, but I'm not yet convinced of that.
Here's the issue: I have a Dell Studio 1737 Laptop. The network card is not responding to any Ethernet cable that I plug in. I've tried several different cables, 3 different routers, 1 hub. Nothing. No lights when I plug the cable in. The device manager says the device is working properly, and I've uninstalled the NIC and Windows automatically re-installs it. No luck.
Ordinarily I would think that the NIC was dead, but I had this problem before, and then suddenly after a reboot everything started working fine. In both cases this trouble started after I switched from one router to another. Yesterday, I was able to have some success with plugging my computer into one router, but then I would get nothing when plugging it into another. Then it started working again, and now it's dead again.
Does anybody have any idea as to whether there is anything else I can do? As this is a laptop, I believe the NIC is integrated into the motherboard and cannot be replaced. Perhaps I'm wrong?
Any help is appreciated.
Here's the issue: I have a Dell Studio 1737 Laptop. The network card is not responding to any Ethernet cable that I plug in. I've tried several different cables, 3 different routers, 1 hub. Nothing. No lights when I plug the cable in. The device manager says the device is working properly, and I've uninstalled the NIC and Windows automatically re-installs it. No luck.
Ordinarily I would think that the NIC was dead, but I had this problem before, and then suddenly after a reboot everything started working fine. In both cases this trouble started after I switched from one router to another. Yesterday, I was able to have some success with plugging my computer into one router, but then I would get nothing when plugging it into another. Then it started working again, and now it's dead again.
Does anybody have any idea as to whether there is anything else I can do? As this is a laptop, I believe the NIC is integrated into the motherboard and cannot be replaced. Perhaps I'm wrong?
Any help is appreciated.
ckbhupen
When you mention "Routers", May I know what kind of routers? Unless you have auto midi-x, when you connect laptop to router directly, you have to use " crosover" cable.
ASKER
I've used the following routers:
1. Cradlepoint MBR-1000
2. Cisco E-3000
3. Sony Ericsson W35
4. Hub (not a router) - Netgear DS104.
I doubt that the cabling is the issue since I can plug one computer (I have 3) into the same Ethernet cable and it connects to the router with no issues. Then I unplug from that computer and plug the same cable into the NIC port on my laptop, and I don't even get any lights indicating a connection. This has worked in the past.
1. Cradlepoint MBR-1000
2. Cisco E-3000
3. Sony Ericsson W35
4. Hub (not a router) - Netgear DS104.
I doubt that the cabling is the issue since I can plug one computer (I have 3) into the same Ethernet cable and it connects to the router with no issues. Then I unplug from that computer and plug the same cable into the NIC port on my laptop, and I don't even get any lights indicating a connection. This has worked in the past.
Three options:
Look for updated drivers / BIOS
Use wireless network connection
Add a network adapter using the Express slot or an external USB network adapter
Look for updated drivers / BIOS
Use wireless network connection
Add a network adapter using the Express slot or an external USB network adapter
Dell has excellent support. They've saved me many times.
I assume your machine is under warranty. So, I would just call them. Dell can be quite helpful.
I assume your machine is under warranty. So, I would just call them. Dell can be quite helpful.
1.) Update the drivers
2.) Test on known good line
3.) run a line to another computer to test if the router is the issue. (Plug Laptop into another laptop)
2.) Test on known good line
3.) run a line to another computer to test if the router is the issue. (Plug Laptop into another laptop)
ASKER
Hello All,
Thanks for the suggestions. I have further information now related to this issue:
1. All drivers are up to date including the latest BIOS.
2. The computer is not under warranty, so I cannot get any help from Dell.
I have found that the network card works with some Cat5e cables, but not others. For example: a Cat5e cable that works fine with one computer will not even be recognized when I plug it into my laptop (no lights come on).
Can anyone explain why this may happen? I have tested every possible thing I can think of (I'm not using any crossover cables or anything like that). I inspected the physical opening for the Ethernet plug and it looks fine. Another very strange thing is that if I have a "good" cable running between my computer and the router, and then insert an additional "bad" cable between the router and the "good" cable (so the "bad" cable is plugged into the router, then there is a coupler joining the "bad" cable to the "good" cable"), and then plug the good cable into the laptop, no lights come on. But this same configuration of cables will work with any other computer. And both cables work fine independently with any other computer. It's just that one of these cables works fine with my computer, and the other one will not.
Why is this?
Thanks for the suggestions. I have further information now related to this issue:
1. All drivers are up to date including the latest BIOS.
2. The computer is not under warranty, so I cannot get any help from Dell.
I have found that the network card works with some Cat5e cables, but not others. For example: a Cat5e cable that works fine with one computer will not even be recognized when I plug it into my laptop (no lights come on).
Can anyone explain why this may happen? I have tested every possible thing I can think of (I'm not using any crossover cables or anything like that). I inspected the physical opening for the Ethernet plug and it looks fine. Another very strange thing is that if I have a "good" cable running between my computer and the router, and then insert an additional "bad" cable between the router and the "good" cable (so the "bad" cable is plugged into the router, then there is a coupler joining the "bad" cable to the "good" cable"), and then plug the good cable into the laptop, no lights come on. But this same configuration of cables will work with any other computer. And both cables work fine independently with any other computer. It's just that one of these cables works fine with my computer, and the other one will not.
Why is this?
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