WinXP-Cable Modem & "Network Cable Unpluged" error

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terrance Connors
  • Start date Start date
T

Terrance Connors

Recently upgraded to new Dell Dimension 8300. System would
not recognize LAN (Cable modem)connection to on board 10bT
connector and NIC chip on mother board. Service worked
fine with previous computer. Through many hours of
trouble shooting with Dell have done all recommended
procedures (R&R drivers, TCP/IP protocols, etc)to no avail.

I personnally decided to disable onboard NIC adapter and
install a sepearate NIC card in the system rack. System
recognized the new card but I still got identical errors
to those previously experienced with the onboard device.

I finally installed a CATC Netmate adapter which talks
though the USB ports. Using this "channel" I was able to
get good connectivity and internet service.

In talking to Dell about a permanent fix, they say I need
to reinstall the entire OS. According to them this would
take 2-4 hours (not to mention reinstalling all of the
applications I have already installed. I am not so sure I
want to do this without further trouble shooting. I also
feel a full OS reinstall might be risky since I might
really "bugger up" the reinstall.

Anyone else had these problems and have a solution?
 
"Terrance said:
Recently upgraded to new Dell Dimension 8300. System would
not recognize LAN (Cable modem)connection to on board 10bT
connector and NIC chip on mother board. Service worked
fine with previous computer. Through many hours of
trouble shooting with Dell have done all recommended
procedures (R&R drivers, TCP/IP protocols, etc)to no avail.

I personnally decided to disable onboard NIC adapter and
install a sepearate NIC card in the system rack. System
recognized the new card but I still got identical errors
to those previously experienced with the onboard device.

I finally installed a CATC Netmate adapter which talks
though the USB ports. Using this "channel" I was able to
get good connectivity and internet service.

In talking to Dell about a permanent fix, they say I need
to reinstall the entire OS. According to them this would
take 2-4 hours (not to mention reinstalling all of the
applications I have already installed. I am not so sure I
want to do this without further trouble shooting. I also
feel a full OS reinstall might be risky since I might
really "bugger up" the reinstall.

Anyone else had these problems and have a solution?
Click to expand...

I think that your reluctance to re-install the operating system is
well justified. There should be no need to do that to get a NIC to
recognize a cable modem connection. Tech support people sometimes
recommend a re-installation when they don't know what the problem
really is. It gets you off the phone with them, and it might solve
the problem in some cases.

The "unplugged" message really means that XP can't detect a live link
to another device on the other end of the cable. I've listed many
possible reasons (some of which don't apply to your situation), and I
think that #2, #5, and #9 are the most likely ones:

1. The network cable really is unplugged.

2. The network cable is defective.

3. It's plugged in, but there's nothing connected to the other end.

4. It's plugged in and connected on both ends, but the device on the
other end isn't turned on.

5. The cable is the wrong type: regular vs. crossover.

6. The cable is connected to the uplink port on a hub, switch, or
router, instead of a regular port.

7. Some hubs, switches, and routers disable the port next to the
uplink port when the uplink port is in use.

8. The network card driver program isn't working right. Download and
install the latest XP-compatible driver from the manufacturer's web
site.

9. The network card is configured to automatically sense speed and
duplex settings but isn't doing it correctly. Set those options
manually, as shown here:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm

10. The operating system is turning off the network card to save
power. Disable the power saving option in the network card's
properties.

11. You're using a phone line network adapter and there isn't a second
computer, with a similar adapter, running and connected to the same
phone line.

12. You've disabled the radio on a wireless network adapter.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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