Ethernet connection trouble

Question

I've been using an ethernet connection to connect to the internet for a while now.  I'm using an Inspiron 6400 notebook.   Suddenly its telling me a network cable is unplugged.   I have tried various cables so there is nothing wrong with the cable itself as they all produce the same result.  The lights above the network socket on the back of the laptop appear to have gone off and I can't seem to get them to go back on.  I have re-installed the driver for Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller yet this hasn't solved it.   I have checked the Internal Network Card Power Management and this shows my network card is On.   Any ideas?   Thanks in advance.

volcano11 · Answer

Can you get the link light on the ethernet port to come on if you wiggle the RJ45 connector in the socket?  So far it is sounding like a bad connection on the motherboard.   Steve

chrisc_20 · Answer

Hi Steve, thanks for the help I appreciate it.   I did try wiggling the cable in the port as I was suspicious of something like that myself, however nothing happened.

volcano11 · Answer

It still sounds like a bad connector.  If you are still under warranty, call Dell Tech Support and they should repair it.  If not under warranty, you will have to find someone who can repair it.   Steve

boomerT99 · Answer

I have a Dell Dimension 4500 and I have experienced similar problems. I've run diags on it and it appears that the ethernet card is bad. Although, for this computer, is there a separate ethernet card or is it a part of the motherboard. If it is a part of the motherboard, can I just get an additional PCI ethernet card and plug it into a PCI slot?

boomerT99 · Answer

Oops, sorry, thanks anyway Len

volcano11 · Answer

boomerT99,   Please note for the future - when you have a new problem, please start a new thread rather than replying to an existing thread.  Trying to deal wih two people's problems in the same thread usually gets very confusing and it's like interrupting someone else's conversation.   Some 4500s shipped with an Intel ethernet adapter integrated on the motherboard, others shipped with a PCI ethernet adapter.  If your is integrated, you can add a PCI adapter.  If it is a PCI adapter, you can just replace the bad one.   Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Ethernet connection trouble

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