Network Cable Not Detected

NiX88 · 01-30-2009, 07:51 AM

Hi everyone. I'm new and I'm desperate.

First of all, here was my original working setup:

Broadband Modem to Wireless Router. Network cable from Wireless router to a lone desktop PC. Dynamic IP with automatic assignment, I think. Simple enough, right?

Desktop Hardware: Asus motherboard, with an "Atheros L2 Fast Ethernet 10/100 Base-T Controller" Network adapter.
OS: Windows XP SP3

So here's my story:

Just the other day, I decided to try out some live linux builds, specifically Slax and Puppy Linux. I probably didn't have the proper module but I just couldn't get Slax to detect my ethernet connection. Puppy didn't detect the ethernet connection right away either, but this was quickly resolved by using a DHCP setup wizard.

So after trying both out, I booted to XP again as normal. But this time, XP said that a network cable was unplugged! It wasn't detecting the cable even though it was in the port.

What's odd is that when I load device manager, everything seems to be in order with the network adapters. No X-marks or ?-marks. Under network connections, Local Area Connection is still enabled too.

But when I try ipconfig, it tells me "Media disconnected"! And the LED indicator on the port isn't flashing either even with the cable firmly attached.

It's definitely not the modem and the router because the wi-fi is still working (that's how I'm able to post this). It's also definitely not the cable because when I boot Puppy Linux again and I reuse the DHCP wizard, the network cable gets detected, the LED starts flashing again, and I'm able to go online. But when I boot XP, no response again. -_-

So far, I've tried doing a system restore and reinstallation of the network adapter driver. No luck still.

I hope I'm just an idiot and my problem is much simpler than I think because I don't want to have to reinstall XP just because I tinkered with a cd-boot linux. >_<

I hope you can help a guy out!

Edgedev · 01-30-2009, 09:47 AM

What type of router do you have?

Also, have you tried to use a direct connection bypassing your router? To see if it's something with the router or if it's something with the computer?

Connect the main line the goes into the router from the modem or wall into the computer and see if it recognizes it. If it goes, then it's either software on your router that's not allowing to make the connection, or it's the computer giving a bad protocol.

It took me a bit to think about this, because it's a very strange case.

-EDGE-

NiX88 · 01-30-2009, 10:36 AM

Yeah I already tried doing a direct connection... nada. But the broadcast from the router works fine, and a direct connection from the modem works fine too when tested on my laptop... So I don't think they're the culprits.

It doesn't seem to be the rest of the hardware either because as I said, Puppy Linux, through a DHCP setup wizard, is able to suddenly revive that network adapter. >_< Therefore, it's probably a software issue.

So looks like this thing boils down to XP suddenly having an inability to detect any cable attached to the network adapter. Is it possible that I damaged Windows? What's funny is that I didn't even save any settings while running Puppy and Slax... I ran them straight from RAM.

Thanks for the reply, edge.

Edgedev · 01-30-2009, 11:03 AM

Go to your network connections, right click go to properties. Select TCP/IP and hit the properties menu. What comes up? If you can take a screen shot, or just let us know. If it's on "automatically detect settings" just let us know, if not, take a screenshot and post it.

Also, do you have any type of firewall installed?

-EDGE-

NiX88 · 01-31-2009, 07:33 AM

Okay, the weirdest thing just happened.

I went home today and just decided to give the desktop a go. And you know what? The network adapter worked again.

LOL I have no idea what happened. Maybe Windows was just having a tantrum because of my trying out Linux.

But anyway, thanks for the help, Edge. Much appreciated.

01-30-2009, 07:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
NiX88 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP SP3	Network Cable Not Detected Hi everyone. I'm new and I'm desperate. First of all, here was my original working setup: Broadband Modem to Wireless Router. Network cable from Wireless router to a lone desktop PC. Dynamic IP with automatic assignment, I think. Simple enough, right? Desktop Hardware: Asus motherboard, with an "Atheros L2 Fast Ethernet 10/100 Base-T Controller" Network adapter. OS: Windows XP SP3 So here's my story: Just the other day, I decided to try out some live linux builds, specifically Slax and Puppy Linux. I probably didn't have the proper module but I just couldn't get Slax to detect my ethernet connection. Puppy didn't detect the ethernet connection right away either, but this was quickly resolved by using a DHCP setup wizard. So after trying both out, I booted to XP again as normal. But this time, XP said that a network cable was unplugged! It wasn't detecting the cable even though it was in the port. What's odd is that when I load device manager, everything seems to be in order with the network adapters. No X-marks or ?-marks. Under network connections, Local Area Connection is still enabled too. But when I try ipconfig, it tells me "Media disconnected"! And the LED indicator on the port isn't flashing either even with the cable firmly attached. It's definitely not the modem and the router because the wi-fi is still working (that's how I'm able to post this). It's also definitely not the cable because when I boot Puppy Linux again and I reuse the DHCP wizard, the network cable gets detected, the LED starts flashing again, and I'm able to go online. But when I boot XP, no response again. -_- So far, I've tried doing a system restore and reinstallation of the network adapter driver. No luck still. I hope I'm just an idiot and my problem is much simpler than I think because I don't want to have to reinstall XP just because I tinkered with a cd-boot linux. >_< I hope you can help a guy out!

01-30-2009, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Edgedev Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 81 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Network Cable Not Detected What type of router do you have? Also, have you tried to use a direct connection bypassing your router? To see if it's something with the router or if it's something with the computer? Connect the main line the goes into the router from the modem or wall into the computer and see if it recognizes it. If it goes, then it's either software on your router that's not allowing to make the connection, or it's the computer giving a bad protocol. It took me a bit to think about this, because it's a very strange case. -EDGE-

01-30-2009, 10:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
NiX88 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP SP3	Re: Network Cable Not Detected Yeah I already tried doing a direct connection... nada. But the broadcast from the router works fine, and a direct connection from the modem works fine too when tested on my laptop... So I don't think they're the culprits. It doesn't seem to be the rest of the hardware either because as I said, Puppy Linux, through a DHCP setup wizard, is able to suddenly revive that network adapter. >_< Therefore, it's probably a software issue. So looks like this thing boils down to XP suddenly having an inability to detect any cable attached to the network adapter. Is it possible that I damaged Windows? What's funny is that I didn't even save any settings while running Puppy and Slax... I ran them straight from RAM. Thanks for the reply, edge.

01-30-2009, 11:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Edgedev Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 81 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Network Cable Not Detected Go to your network connections, right click go to properties. Select TCP/IP and hit the properties menu. What comes up? If you can take a screen shot, or just let us know. If it's on "automatically detect settings" just let us know, if not, take a screenshot and post it. Also, do you have any type of firewall installed? -EDGE- Last edited by Edgedev; 01-30-2009 at 11:06 AM.

01-31-2009, 07:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
NiX88 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP SP3	Re: Network Cable Not Detected Okay, the weirdest thing just happened. I went home today and just decided to give the desktop a go. And you know what? The network adapter worked again. LOL I have no idea what happened. Maybe Windows was just having a tantrum because of my trying out Linux. But anyway, thanks for the help, Edge. Much appreciated.