Inetrnet connection - wired - no connection

[ptbob]

I have 3 old computers with 10/100 ethernet cards all working great. I have a new HP and Dell that will not connect - error message - weak or no connection. I have taken the HP back to circuit city twice, each time they say the computer is fine. I had Verizon come to the house, all is good. They said that some computers will not work on cat5. All the write-ups say cat5e is what I should use. The house is wired with cat5e wire connected to a new linksys router. I also tried a package cat6, that works, but who needs wire on the floor. I was thinking of getting a new ethernet card for the HP and override the mother board. Does anyone think this will solve the connection problem?

[Computer_Doctor]

Hmmm......try uninstalling the network card drivers for the HP and re-installing it again. Also make sure to check the website for any updates. I agree with you on this one too, you can get another network card and install that.

[simpswr]

I had a situation like that last year . . . for some reason, the onboard NIC would not stay connected to the router . . I disabled the onboard NIC and installed a PCI Gigabyte card and it worked perfectly . . Go figure.

[ptbob]

Thanks Tell me if I have this correct. Install the new card go to network connections, local area connections, properties, uninstall the network card (existing card is a realtec RTL 8139/810X family Ehernet NIC#2), then configure the new card. Or should I just disable the existing card at properties? I was thinking of getting the Linksys Ethernet desktop adapter LNE100TX, or the Linksys Gigabit network adapter EG1032, one more, NETGEAR® 10/100 MBPS PCI Ethernet Network Card. I could also spend the extra bucks and go wireless. Just a waste of all that wire and the possible introduction of other things to go wrong.

[simpswr]

Originally Posted by ptbob

Thanks Tell me if I have this correct. Install the new card go to network connections, local area connections, properties, uninstall the network card (existing card is a realtec RTL 8139/810X family Ehernet NIC#2), then configure the new card. Or should I just disable the existing card at properties? That's what I do . . if you uninstall the driver, windows will "discover" it on the next boot and reload the drivers


I was thinking of getting the Linksys Ethernet desktop adapter LNE100TX, or the Linksys Gigabit network adapter EG1032, one more, NETGEAR® 10/100 MBPS PCI Ethernet Network Card. I could also spend the extra bucks and go wireless. Just a waste of all that wire and the possible introduction of other things to go wrong.

Your call . . all those are good options

[ptbob]

Thanks to, computer doctor and simpswr.. UP DATE I put in a netgear 10/ 100 PCI network card FA311v2. Not what I wanted, but close and quick. It works in the Dell, but I can only get it to speed link 10 Mbps/full duplex. If I try auto or 100Mbps it still goes to the no connection status. When I learned computers there was no inetrnet available. I need some help here also. What are these speeds? If the router only goes to 54Mbps what differance does the ethernet card with 10/100/1000Mbps give me ??? I would like to fly at 100Mbps or 1000Mbps. I tried to look this up, but all I get is IEEE specs Not the definition.

[johnwill]

Check the cable. Many times a mis-wired cable will allow 10mbit connections, but not 100mbit.

[ptbob]

I've checked the ends and they match, color to color. What else is there?

[johnwill]

If the cable has been damaged, it could still be an issue. However, the primary reason is mis-matched pairs.

Have you considered a new cable, even as a test?

[ptbob]

Yes, I did try a Cat6 ready made. That worked well, but the wire on the floor is killing me or will. I had nothing before, so I should be happy. I realy had higher hopes, thats why I wired the whole house. Funny thing, two months after I finished, they started to push the wifi. The thought of pulling all that wire again and the repairs is not a happy one.

[johnwill]

OK, if the new cable fixed it, the cable is obviously damaged. Truthfully, CAT5, CAT5e, or CAT6 should yield identical results with standard 100mbit connections, something is wrong with the cable.

Are you SURE they didn't do something stupid with the wiring like daisy chain them instead of homeruns to the router/switch location?

[ptbob]

Thanks - No daisy chain (haven't heard that term in a long time) direct homerun, pulled it myself. It worked fine with the old computers. I was told by the netgear tech that the wire has to be 100t specs. I never seen wire with that kind of specs, but I havent looked lately. I think he is full of it. I bought the wire at Home depot indoor/outdoor. UL Listed
ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B.2
Flame-Retardant PVC jacket
Tru-Mark Sequential Footage Marking
CMR Riser Rated
MFG Brand Name : GENERAL CABLE .

[johnwill]

Interesting that they don't say anything about the actual rating. I just looked and mine says Category 5E right on the cable. It's also 568-A-5, FWIW. 568-A-2 appears to be plain CAT5, which is plenty for 100mbit connections.

[ptbob]

Thanks, I was away. Who "they" are you referring to? That info I posted was from the box. The wire has:"cat 5e General Cable J cmx outdoor-cmr (ul) c (ul)cmg 4pr 24 awg sw--- VERIFIED (UL) CAT-5E 2001 boc 108600feet CAT 5e". I realy don't think it's the wire. I think netgear (India) like HP (India) has no answer, so lets put the blame on something. Netgear-puts it on the wire. HP puts it on the modem. As for me I'm like the smilie icon , I don't know....

[johnwill]

I was referring to your first post, you didn't mention CAT-5e. In any case, I guess this is resolved, since the new cable did the trick, right?

[ptbob]

I appreciate your respondce John. I did say "The house is wired with cat5e wire connected to a new linksys router." in the first post. Resolved ? I am better off, but I don't feel I'm at 100%. What the Netgear card did to the HP system I dont know. I removed the new cat6 wire and I did take the card out and the system still works at 10mbps/full duplex with the old wire. I can't seem to get the systems to run at 100mbps or at auto. I did the same thing with the Dell one step at a time. 1) installed the new card, 2) made a connection to the net, 3) removed the cat6 and placed the cat5e, 4)removed the card, and it also now works. Note, I could never get the systems (HPand Dell) to run at the 100mbps or auto, even with the new card. I would like to get the systeme up to a higher speed or at auto. If I can't, well the wire is off the floor and thats a good thing. Any ideas will be greatly acccepted. If for no other reason gust to prove HP and Dell were wroung.

[johnwill]

You're right, I overlooked that. The symptoms clearly point to cabling issues, it works with a new cable, and not with the existing one. The only real way to test the cables is with a quality cable tester like a TDR tester.