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January 11th, 2009 18:00
Ethernet port not recongizing cable modem?
Hello all I am new to this forum.
I have a cable modem that is connected via USB to my desktop. I am trying to hook up a wireless router. I want to switch the cable modem over to a ethernet connection, but my desktop ethernet port will not recongize the modem. I have powered down the modem and desktop to reset them and for it to pick up the ethernet connection but no success. I cannot even get the desktops newtork lights to come on. It seems like it is not seeing the port. Any help on this would be greatly appriceiated?
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Davet50
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January 11th, 2009 18:00
Hi lance8383 and welcome to the Dell forums
lets get started by stating your system model and your operating system.
No lights means either the nic is bad or disabled.
First boot into your bios and make sure that the NIC is enabled in the bios. Then open up device managere and make sure it is listed there under the network adapter and there is no ! or X next to it.
lance8383
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January 11th, 2009 19:00
Vostro 200 Windows Vista Home Basic
lance8383
3 Posts
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January 11th, 2009 19:00
Not for sure exactly what setting the NIC is in the BIOS.
Under the the network adabpter it is there. with no x or ! next to it.
Davet50
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January 12th, 2009 05:00
HERE are the instructions on how to check the NIC in the bios. It is under the intergrated peripherals section. My feeling at this point though is that it is enabled as you are seeing it in device manager.
THIS LINK is to the driver which you can try reinstalling download and just run the file.
Again with no lights on at all I have the feeling that the NIC is bad. Since this is built inot the motherboard you cannot replace it. You next best option would be to pick up a very inexpensive PCI ethernet adapter card and add it into the system. You only need a card that will function in the 10/100 range. These can normally be found for around $20
Larry R
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January 12th, 2009 13:00
Make sure the modem is powered off (preferably with the power cord physically disconnected) for at least 10 minutes. I've seen some that need 30 minutes or longer to properly reset and forget that it was using a USB connection. There is also a chance that the modem is configured to only use USB, in which case you (or your ISP) will need to reconfigure it before it will use the ethernet port.
Make sure the USB connection to the desktop is removed.
With everything powered down, I recommend getting the desktop (and other computers) connecting to the router. Once you get all that working (usually a 10 to 30 minute job per computer) the modem should have had enough time to fully reset. Then power down the router and connect up the modem to the router WAN (internet) port. Power up the modem, let it sync, then power up the router and let it initialize. At that point the computers should be connected, but might need to be rebooted (usually only the wired connections).
Davet50
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January 12th, 2009 15:00
Larry
The lack of network lights on the adapter plug to me indicates a dead nic.
Larry R
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January 12th, 2009 15:00
It definitely indicates a lack of link, but that could be the NIC in the computer, the cable or the port on the modem or router (depending on what its plugged into). The best test there is, of course, to try connecting the computer to a different port to see what happens, and try another computer using that cable to verify it works (or even loop the cable between two LAN ports on the router).