Damn Hardware - Need some Network help

[Merusk]

We had a storm pass by earlier today with a relativly close lightning strike. (The TV downstairs got a lovely 'halo' around the picture from the magnetic effect until we turned it off.)   We also lost power about 10 mins after the strike, and I'd forgotton to turn-off my main machine.   Since then I've been unable to get it or my wife's machine (she always leaves it on) to recognize they're plugged-in. 

Windows sees the network card, but simply refuses to acknowledge that it's plugged in.  The light on the NIC won't light-up regardless of what I do.  Obviously the router and cable modem are working fine, as is the laptop and my kid's computer (my old machine) which were turned off at the time.

I know we've got some network know-how out there.  Any advice as to what I might do to fix this problem?

[Trippy]

We had a storm pass by earlier today with a relativly close lightning strike. (The TV downstairs got a lovely 'halo' around the picture from the magnetic effect until we turned it off.)   We also lost power about 10 mins after the strike, and I'd forgotton to turn-off my main machine.   Since then I've been unable to get it or my wife's machine (she always leaves it on) to recognize they're plugged-in. 

Windows sees the network card, but simply refuses to acknowledge that it's plugged in.  The light on the NIC won't light-up regardless of what I do.  Obviously the router and cable modem are working fine, as is the laptop and my kid's computer (my old machine) which were turned off at the time.

I know we've got some network know-how out there.  Any advice as to what I might do to fix this problem?

Swap the network cables and the ports they are plugged into on the router/switch with known working ones.

When you say Windows "sees" the network card what do you mean by that? If you type "ipconfig /all" in a command window does it show you information about your Ethernet controller?

[hal]

If its DSL the Network may be down. Of course it could be a personal problem as well. LAN cards are cheep as in $10. dollars. Your gonna have to start swapping stuff out to try to change the problem. May as well start on the cheep stuff. Also your network card saw a huge spike so it is a likely candate.

[Merusk]

I should have mentioned I already tried the cable swapping.  Ones that don't work on the 2 computers, do work on the laptop and other machine and those cables won't work with the 2 that aren't connecting.

IP config says:

Windows IP COnfiguration

  Host name ...:(my hostname)
  Primary DNS :
  Node Type.. : Broadcast
  IP routing Enabled.. : No
  WINS Proxy Enaled..: No
 
Ethernet adapter Loacal Area Connection 9:
  Media State.. : Media Disconnected
  Description..: Intel(R) 82566DC Ggabit Network Connection
  Physical Address.. : 00-19-d1-1d-1e-1c

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
....

All of the TATTPI stuff is no, blank or disconnected since it can't see the router.


When I say Windows can "See" the adapter, I mean it recognizes the hardware is there.  Running the hardware's diagnostics says that everything's A-ok.  The adapater simply refuses to recognize that a cable is plugged-in.

[Selby]

No lights means you aren't getting a signal through the cable, which is verified by your ipconfig posting (media disconnected).  Does the router recognize that cables are plugged in to the ports they are?  Have you tried rebooting the router?  I had a terrible time with routers randomly losing 'net connectivity on a handful of ports that was only solved by unplugging and re-plugging in the router.  Have you tried different cables or checked the cables for continuity?  I did have two cables both lose a line after some movement in the lab once, which was annoying to troubleshoot.  Barring that, there's always the "swap the network card around to another slot" tricks to try.

Sorry if these are basic dummy questions, but I have to ask ;-)

[Merusk]

It's an integrated card, so I can't swap it around, unfortunatly.  No light on the router, no light on the card.  I think the fucker's just burned itself out, which is irritating the hell out of me.   Windows sees it just fine, it's diagnostics say "Hey i'm A-ok" it just simply won't work.

I've tried 3 different cables, on this laptop to make sure they were working, and then in my PC. Nada on the PC, fine on the laptop.   

[Trippy]

Yeah, it sounds like you zapped the Ethernet port, which is a little odd since the router and cable modem seem to be okay.

Poke around your MB BIOS and see if any of the Ethernet settings seem odd. Some can even check the status of your cable though that doesn't seem to be your problem.

Another thing you can try, if you have the motherboard drivers handy, is to remove the Ethernet controller from the hardware device list, reboot to let Windows rediscover it, and see if that changes anything.

[Merusk]

I just tried the other router ports with the laptop.. (it's a 4-port)  I hadn't swapped this machine to the ports my wife's & mine's machines had been on. (dunno why, just hadn't yet)  Turns out the router's ports are fried too.  Joy. Looks like I pick up some new NICs and a router tomorrow.

[Trippy]

You might want to pick up a surge protector that has a coax connector as well.

[Cheddar]

If it is Windows XP remove the NIC driver, reboot, and let Windows re-install it.

[Merusk]

You might want to pick up a surge protector that has a coax connector as well.

Good idea.  I'd rather it had blown-out the modem.  That I can get replaced for free.

If it is Windows XP remove the NIC driver, reboot, and let Windows re-install it.

Done it.  Didn't work. =\  The card hardware is obviously ok, since Windows sees it fine.  The actual plug must be fried.

[Cheddar]

Probably.  Onboard NICs are notorious for dying.

[Merusk]

Final update:

The NIC was indeed fried, as were the 2 ports on the 7-year-old router.  Dell sent someone out to replace the Mobo for me gratis today, since the machine's only 4 months old. (See, this is why I don't build my own.  )  I simply swapped out an old Netgear card on the wife's machine for the time being - no sense in buying another if it works fine - and bought a new router.  They were out of stock on the surges w/ coax adaptors tho.. that'll be a trip elsewhere this week.

Thanks for the assistance.