Ethernet Port on Port Replicator Not working

Question

Hi there!

I have a Dell Inspiron 8500 which I love. Mostly I use a wireless networking card, but sometimes I need to connect w/a wired Ethernet cable.

When I plug the cable directly into the laptop everything works fine, and I can connect no problem. However when I use my port replicator, the networking lights don't come on when I plug the ethernet cable in. Is it broken?

I use the port replicator every day, and mouse/key/monitor/power connections work fine. This is the first time I've tried the Ethernet port in the port replicator, a year into owning this computer. I can pop the laptop out of the dock and plug in the Ethernet and it works, so the problem is w/activating the port replicator's ethernet port. Any ideas?

Edward

LeifAW · Answer

I have a similar problem with my port replicator for my 8600. When I plug the cable directly into the laptop, the internet connection is fast. When I plug the cable into the port replicator, the connection is extremely slow. Did you find an answer to the problem?

Leif W.

aim8120 · Answer

I actually manage a network in an office where we have several 8500's with Docking stations. One of my laptops stopped working with the docking station. Undocked all ports work fine but when docked in the ports on the docking station do not work. After having me go through all of their hoops they finally came out an replaced the mother board. The 8500 worked with the docking station for 1 day and then stopped again. Now they want me to send the 8500 to them and be without a laptop. Apparently they don't belive in sending temporary replacements. For anyone having this problem good luck calling tech support because they are incompetent to this problem. They say that they will have the laptop for only a couple of days which means minimum of a week. So much for their excellence in service support. I love talking to some heavily accented woman reading a troubleshooting manual having me repeat myself over and over again. Does anyone have an idea of what the problem is?

BratBethie · Answer

I have problem w/ both ether ports...neither one works, with ether cable we established as working. Local Area Connection icon on sys tray always has red X & says "Network Cable is unplugged." Same red X applies to wireless, however, I can use USB connection w/ hispeed online modem, and I'm connected. And, funny thing is that when drivers are disabled for either, the red X goes away! Device Mgr. doesn't detect any conflicts or problems...all devices show working properly.

I think problem is w/ port replicator...especially after I tried to undock from START menu & it changed my display settings!! Tried to reinstall NIC drivers several times to no avail. Anyway I can disable the port replicator to see if NIC will work directly from back of laptop??

If anyone has any other ideas, I too would rather avoid repeating myself to overseas tech "specialist(?)" They already dispatched an incompetent field tech to replace the motherboard, which didn't work!! And, neither phone of field techs bothered to try reinstalling drivers before replacing hardware...UGH!!

ProDriller · Answer

Fast forward to 2014 and still the same problem with my new super computer M6800...

VinOth_VingO · Answer

Hi, Take the snap shot on device manager  window and upload here.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Ethernet Port on Port Replicator Not working

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