Network Cable Unplugged - Inspiron 8500

hello,
i'm getting the dreaded "network cable unplugged" on my inspiron 8500 (yes, older computer). i've had it pop up in the past and been easily able to correct the problem, usually by simply disabling and reenabling or unplugging and replugging ethernet cord into back of laptop. For over a year now however i haven't been able to hard connect to my router or modem. fortunately i connect fine wirelessely but i'd really like to have the option to plug in as well.

i've tried a several things such as:
utilizing different cords,
plugging into differrent plugs on router and modem (wife's computer works fine in them all),
deleting utilily and driver and reinstalling original (from disk),
updating to newest driver,
checked for error messages in device manager - none,
disabled wireless while attempting to hard connect,
noticed when cord is plugged in there's a solid green light at hub on back of laptop (i believe that blinks when connection is made),
changed speed & duplex value to each of options listed,
rebooted computer between all conf changes,
etc...

been trying to troubleshoot it but can't figure out what's going on.

any thoughts???

thanks

 

Try getting a wirebrush and scrubbing the connectors on the RJ45 jack in the computer. Then wet the tip of a q-tip with rubbing alcohol and wipe them down. It is definitely a physical problem. Alternatively, perhaps the solder has gone bad, or broken, where the jack is actually attached to the motherboard - probably not fixable on your own.

Just my .02c.

 

@B.J. Johns

Could it be a physical issue at the port? Does it respond to wiggling it?

It's integrated Ethernet?... perhaps a BIOS update would have an affect.

Google " 'Intel Ethernet device' network cable unplugged".

Run Dell Diagnostics.

GK

Good idea... but a Q-Tip with alcohol may be about as close as you can get to using a wire brush.

GK

 

I would try a clean toothbrush with rubbing alcohol and be gentle those contacts are not that sturdy. Or you could purchase a can of contact cleaning spray.

 

A toothbrush will not fit inside an RJ-45 connector. But using contact cleaner is a good idea... on a Q-Tip.

GK

 

thanks for the replies.

so far i've tried cleaning inside the rj45 with a q-tip and alcohol and ran dell diagnostics...nothing yet.

and no GK, it doesn't respond to wiggling. perhaps i should update the bios as you suggested.

 

Given all the physical troubleshooting you've done, it could be functionally dropping the connection for some reason. So firmware at both ends might help.

GK

 

It is almost certainly a hardware failure that you will not be able to address, but to confirm this download an Unbuntu Live CD, burn it, and boot your computer with it.

Then, without connecting the wireless, try to use the Internet with the Firefox browser.

If neither Windows nor Linux can use the network adapter (linus will detect the realtek network adapter on this model automatically), then it is clearly the hardware.

If both fail, visually inspect the port as you already have but pay particular attention of the alignment of the wires. Perhaps one is bent. If they are all straight, then the problem is most likely due to a poor solder somewhere and will not be repairable.

If wired is really needed, get something like this:

Newegg.com - D-Link DUB-E100 10/ 100Mbps USB Network Adapter 1 x RJ45

 

gerry, downloaded ubuntu and burned it to cd, a few different ways on separate cds. could not get it to boot up, only got blank screen with blinking cursor in upper left corner...fun.

not going to focus on it anymore, too much time spent already. will get a usb to rj45 adapter, good suggestion. that's really all i need for the once every year or so i hook up to my router. just wanted to do some minor troubleshooting to see if it was an easy fix.

thnx again all for the input,

peace.

 

That is strange. You burnt it as an iso image file, not just copied it to a disk (don't mean to offend--just always safest to ask).

 

Did you follow the instructions on how to burn a bootable iso on the ubuntu download page

 

i used easy cd creator because upon installing infrarecorder (the software linked to the ubunta site) it wanted to load some extras that i really didn't want to have to worry about removing later. i tried burning it two ways: 1) straight onto a cd as is (drag and drop), 2) as a bootable cd...neither worked.

after reading your posts i figured i'd give it one last shot so i downloaded infrarecorder (even after deselecting like 3 or 4 extras it still loaded on 2 programs and a browser add on) and burned it the way it directed...it worked. so i restarted while booting from cd as directed and the ubuntu began to load. it got to the screen that asked me which language and then try or install, to which i selected try. the small wheel began spinning as if it was loading but it continued to do that for over 45 minutes, at which point i manually powered off, restarted, and that was that. no more time spent troubleshooting this thing, the usb to rj45 adapter will work fine for my needs.

i don't think the problem loading ubuntu is with my cpu (2.4ghz pent 4, 2gb ram), i think it has to do with my disk drive. it can run extremely slow at times. when running large programs (rosetta stone for example) it makes all kinds of noise (that should give u an idea of my computing expertise, lol), sounding like the arm is going constantly back and forth, but it usually loads after some time. this time it didn't, or maybe i just didn't let it do its thing long enough. it's the original 8 yr old drive however, that probably has something to do with it.

anyway, thanks again all for the help, much appreciated.

peace.

 

I suspect it might be something like that (a bad burn)

Both methods you described sound like you burned the image ON to the cd, instead of burnt the image.

The final solution appeared to at least get you to an actual image. (an image is a copy of a disk and has to be burnt a special way).

Either way, it should not have taken that long to try and load linux.

An 8 year old cd rom probably is pretty dirty and cleaning it with a standard cd cleaner might improve performance.

Another option might be to try making a bootable image on a flash drive, but I do not know if that old of a machine would boot from a flash drive.

If you're content to just get yourself a usb-to-LAN adapter, that will work as well as anything.

For others who come after, though, the usb bootable flash is another option

Good luck.