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    ethernet card not lighting up

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by sgogeta4, Dec 17, 2008.

  1. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    So... yesterday morning I was in Grenada, everything was good - my ethernet cable, laptop (Acer 6920G) and internet connection (university) was working. I flew back to Toronto and plugged in my ethernet cable completely (which I tested with a cable tester and is fully working) into several ports on my parent's router (even ones that had my parent's computer connected to) and no LEDs lit up on the laptop ethernet port at all. The connection is enabled in Vista (though this shouldn't affect the LED status of the network card) and there aren't any options in the BIOS for the network card.

    Since the other computers at my parent's house are working, I suspect something is wrong with my computer, more specifically the network card. Is there any way to test this? Could there be any other possibilities? How could it have been damaged since I kept it with me on my carry on (I have a sleeve and my laptop bag). I watched a movie on the plane on my laptop and have been fairly careful to protect it again shocks and drops. Any one know what I can do? Thanks!
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 17, 2008
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  2. applx

    applx Notebook Consultant

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    There is a way of testing your NIC by doing a ping to your loopback address or local host (127.0.0.1) if you get a reply then your NIC is working correctly.
     
    applx, Dec 18, 2008
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  3. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Thanks, I just pinged 127.0.0.1 and it worked. So the NIC works. The internet works and the wire works (tested with different wires on computers connected to the internet). Any ideas why the ethernet light isn't on and the computer can't detect a wire being plugged in?
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 18, 2008
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  4. TheNomad

    TheNomad Notebook Guru

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    Ok, now look inside the UTP port and look closely at the pins next to each other. All should be in line - not one of them crossed. If one pin is crossed, take a small screw driver and hop it into place.

    I had this 2 times, it's a freak occurrence but leaves u searching for hours and hours.
     
    TheNomad, Dec 19, 2008
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  5. applx

    applx Notebook Consultant

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    well as long as you are able to access a network using your wired connection you should be fine, it might be the LED that is faulty. I've never seen this before but it does happen. thanks
     
    applx, Dec 19, 2008
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  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The pins are physically aligned and it's not just the LEDs since Windows also does not detect the connection (the local area connection icon with 2 monitors has an X through it). I've just sent it in to Acer with the reason of faulty ethernet. Hope they have a better idea or most likely they will just replace the ethernet card. Thanks for helping diagnose, everyone.
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 19, 2008
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