Latitude D600: malfunctioning Broadcom 57xx

For more or less one year I own a D600. And a satisfied owner I am. However, since a couple of months my Broadcom 57xx Ethernet NIC stops responding every now and then.

The problem occurs as well with or without using the Dell Port Replicator. XP SP2 reports that the cable is not connected. Most of the time the connection comes up again without any further action. On some occasions disabling the NIC and re-enabling it helps ! Sometimes I have the impression that mechanical intervention helps. Replugging the cable or repositioning the laptop on the replicator just might help. But often it doesn't at all. I tried all the usual stuff like using other cables, other ethernet switches and even swapping the replicator with a colleague. It is starting to become a real pain. The problem frequency rises.

Searching the Dell fora I noticed more users having 'similar' problems.

So any one from Dell: any clue what might be wrong?

I consider letting someone from Dell having come over and repair the thing. I am simply too dependent on my laptop. However I have the impression that I am not the only one having this. The main reason for this post.

 

Daan Stegeman, NL