Network Problem

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 10:30

Okay, I have a network set up in the house. One of the computers won't connect to the internet, so I check the router and its port light (on the router) isn't lighting even. Neither are the activity lights on the back of the network card. So, I'm thinking hopefully someone just stabbed through the wire in a desperate sabatoge, but with a different wire it still doesn't work. I plugged it into a different port on the router but it still doesn't work, and the activity lights on the network card still don't even blink, which brings me to my conclusion that it's something to do with the actual card. (Sorry if I'm being vague here

)

It's a Linksys LNE 100TX(v5) network adapter (as it says in the system properties) card plugging into a Microsoft MN-100 Wired Base Station.

Thanks in advance

Skanky Burns · July 30, 2003, 10:32

Try another network card in the box in question. Also, test the cables with other (working) connections. Eliminate what isn't broken, and what you have left is the problem.

Richelieu · July 30, 2003, 10:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Try another network card in the box in question. Also, test the cables with other (working) connections. Eliminate what isn't broken, and what you have left is the problem.

Paul Hanson · July 30, 2003, 11:09

If the problem is with just one computer, then I'd say it's the card. If it were with all of them, I'd say the router was to blame.

Harry Seldon · July 30, 2003, 11:38

Did it ever work? It may not have been installed properly to begin with. You should try reseating it, too, in case it got jarred loose.

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 11:42

Yes, it had been working fine for the couple of months I had it. I'll try all this though.

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 18:57

Reseat--didn't work.

Went out to buy a new card (I don't have extras laying all over the place) and try it.

Didn't work.

Any ideas?

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 19:03

The computer recognized the new card; it went through with the "Windows has recognised a new device" prompt that it should.

Fve Crathva · July 30, 2003, 19:16

Is everything plugged in properly?

SP

Paul Hanson · July 30, 2003, 19:17

Have you tried putting it into a different PCI slot?

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 19:17

Yeap. Everything's in alright. The rest of the computer works just fine; it's just this that happens to be ****ed up.

(If anyone else could help me please do, until then this means that family members will be sharking for my computer as it is the only internet-connected one now)

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 19:18

Quote:

Have you tried putting it into a different PCI slot?

That was the next and last thing I was thinking of doing. Just wanted to see if any Apolytoners had any super-duper secret tricks up their sleeve or something.

Paul Hanson · July 30, 2003, 19:19

Not likely.

BustaMike · July 30, 2003, 20:35

I know people have already said this, but it really sounds like the cable itself is bad.

If you wanna test the card by itself, try plugging the computer directly into the cable modem and not using the router at all. If it works, you know it's either the router or the cable. If it doesn't, you know it's the computer.

mrmitchell · July 30, 2003, 20:48

I used a different cable. Also, other computers on the network work fine, so it is isolated to this computer.

Skanky Burns · July 30, 2003, 21:15

Did you use a different cable "that was just a spare one" or did you use one that you already knew was working, such as the one to the other computer?

The two cables you tried could both be broken.

BustaMike · July 31, 2003, 00:06

Quote:

Originally posted by mrmitchell
I used a different cable. Also, other computers on the network work fine, so it is isolated to this computer.

Ok, but I still think you should try plugging it directly into the modem, or at least into a different port in the router that you know works. Then you can be 100% sure it's the computer.
EDIT - Oops, I read more carefully, you did that so it's the computer for sure.

Now assuming it's the computer, does your PC have onboard LAN capability i.e. the network card is built into the motherboard. Older computers don't have this but almost every computer now days does. If your computer has the onboard LAN enabled, plugging in a network card isn't only redundant, but it probably won't work. Check your bios to see if you have one. It should be under built in features or something like that. You might not be able to tell from just looking at the back of the computer because the slot might not be punched out (in which case a screw driver will easily pop out the panel).

Harry Seldon · July 31, 2003, 00:22

I don't know what to tell you if none of the listed tips didn't work. PM me with your contact info and I'll try to contact you tomorrow. I'll be at work between 9 and 8pm CST if it's still not working.

mrmitchell · July 31, 2003, 00:44

Problem fixed. Kinda. I'm going to be getting a new computer for my birthday (all the ones we have are antiquated) so they'll get the one I've got now (which works). It's just a simple contest in fending them away until then now.

geeslaka · July 31, 2003, 02:17

Good luck.