Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit network connection Issue

I support a Dell Latitude E6400 ATG laptop with an Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit network connection.  When I try to connect it to my network with a custom made network cable there are no activity lights whatsoever.  When I plug the same cable into another computer it works fine.  So I tried connecting the computer to a commercial made cable and it worked fine!!  What is even weirder, when I connected a commercial cable to my custom cable via an adapter it also worked!!!!  Has this happened to anyone else?  If so, is there a fix?  I have all the latest drivers installed so I don't know what else to do.  Thanks