DComTalk.com

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:

Recently, I was using the computer and surfing on the Web. Then, all the
sudden Windows XP Professional SP2 (all updates) said network cable was
unplugged. I checked the CAT5 ethernet/network cable cable, and it was
fine. I tried another cable, and the onboard network didn't detect it
either. I checked both cables on my old Apple PowerBook G4, and they had
no problems.

I even tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and upgrading the VIA VT823x PCI
Fast Ethernet Adapter (from Windows Update). Also, reinstalled VIA 4in1
Hyperion driver. None of them helped or changed anything that I noticed.

Does this sound like the onboard network died? :( I am currently using
wireless USB network which isn't very stable and slow. Thank you in
advance. :)

Some things to check. First, is whatever goes on the _other_ end of the
cable OK? Second, inspect the connector on the machine with a good light
and a magnifier and make sure that nothing has gotten lodged in it or bent.
Third, look inside the machine with that same magnifier and good light and
make sure nothing metal has fallen on the circuit traces--check the entire
board, not just near the network connector. Also blow it out with canned

air and turn the machine so that the motherboard is facing down and slap

the back a few times and see if anything dislodges. While you've got the
machine open, plug a cable into the network port and make sure that there
is continuity from the traces on the motherboard to the contacts at the
other end of the cable--I've seen the wires in the jack get bent just
enough that they don't line up with the grooves in the plug and so don't
make contact with the cable, or there might be a bad solder joint. If none
of those reveal any problems then odds are that the port has died.

Recently, I was using the computer and surfing on the Web. Then,
all the sudden Windows XP Professional SP2 (all updates) said
network cable was unplugged. I checked the CAT5 ethernet/network
cable cable, and it was fine. I tried another cable, and the
onboard network didn't detect it either. I checked both cables
on my old Apple PowerBook G4, and they had no problems.

I even tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and upgrading the VIA
VT823x PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter (from Windows Update). Also,
reinstalled VIA 4in1 Hyperion driver. None of them helped or
changed anything that I noticed.

Does this sound like the onboard network died? :( I am currently
using wireless USB network which isn't very stable and slow.

It is quite possible your port died :( but they usually don't do
that without reason. (MS-Windows is not viewed by all as sufficient
reason :) Was there any electrical noise going on at the time?
A nearby thunderstorm? Static electricity from dry carpet?

Does the router port still work with that Powerbook?
Router ports are also known to die. How are the link-lights
on both ends?

J. Clarke <jclarke.usenet@snet.net.invalid> wrote:
ANTant@zimage.com wrote:

Recently, I was using the computer and surfing on the Web. Then, all
the sudden Windows XP Professional SP2 (all updates) said network cable
was unplugged. I checked the CAT5 ethernet/network cable cable, and it
was fine. I tried another cable, and the onboard network didn't detect
it either. I checked both cables on my old Apple PowerBook G4, and they
had no problems.

I even tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and upgrading the VIA VT823x
PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter (from Windows Update). Also, reinstalled VIA
4in1 Hyperion driver. None of them helped or changed anything that I
noticed.

Does this sound like the onboard network died? :( I am currently using
wireless USB network which isn't very stable and slow. Thank you in
advance. :)

Some things to check. First, is whatever goes on the _other_ end of the
cable OK? Second, inspect the connector on the machine with a good light
and a magnifier and make sure that nothing has gotten lodged in it or
bent. Third, look inside the machine with that same magnifier and good
light and make sure nothing metal has fallen on the circuit traces--check
the entire
board, not just near the network connector. Also blow it out with canned

I will have to check later.


air and turn the machine so that the motherboard is facing down and slap

The motherboard isn't that old so no dust to blow out yet. :)

the back a few times and see if anything dislodges. While you've got the
machine open, plug a cable into the network port and make sure that there
is continuity from the traces on the motherboard to the contacts at the
other end of the cable--I've seen the wires in the jack get bent just
enough that they don't line up with the grooves in the plug and so don't
make contact with the cable, or there might be a bad solder joint. If
none of those reveal any problems then odds are that the port has died.

OK. Will look at those too.

Static electricity, maybe -- how can I determine that?

Yes. The network light between the EPS motherboard and the
router: The router's light for that cable was not on. However,
I did notice the green light on the motherboard near the
network jack. It is ALWAYS on regardless if cable is connected
or disconnected. Maybe a clue?

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:

J. Clarke <jclarke.usenet@snet.net.invalid> wrote:
ANTant@zimage.com wrote:

Recently, I was using the computer and surfing on the Web. Then, all
the sudden Windows XP Professional SP2 (all updates) said network
cable was unplugged. I checked the CAT5 ethernet/network cable cable,
and it was fine. I tried another cable, and the onboard network didn't
detect it either. I checked both cables on my old Apple PowerBook G4,
and they had no problems.

I even tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and upgrading the VIA VT823x
PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter (from Windows Update). Also, reinstalled VIA
4in1 Hyperion driver. None of them helped or changed anything that I
noticed.

Does this sound like the onboard network died? :( I am currently using
wireless USB network which isn't very stable and slow. Thank you in
advance. :)

Some things to check. First, is whatever goes on the _other_ end of the
cable OK? Second, inspect the connector on the machine with a good
light and a magnifier and make sure that nothing has gotten lodged in it
or bent. Third, look inside the machine with that same magnifier and
good light and make sure nothing metal has fallen on the circuit
traces--check the entire
board, not just near the network connector. Also blow it out with
canned

I will have to check later.


air and turn the machine so that the motherboard is facing down and slap

The motherboard isn't that old so no dust to blow out yet. :)

I meant blow out the connector but I see I wasn't clear.

the back a few times and see if anything dislodges. While you've got
the machine open, plug a cable into the network port and make sure that
there is continuity from the traces on the motherboard to the contacts
at the other end of the cable--I've seen the wires in the jack get bent
just enough that they don't line up with the grooves in the plug and so
don't
make contact with the cable, or there might be a bad solder joint. If
none of those reveal any problems then odds are that the port has died.

OK. Will look at those too.

Recently, I was using the computer and surfing on the Web. Then, all the sudden Windows XP
Professional SP2 (all updates) said network cable was unplugged. I checked the CAT5
ethernet/network cable cable, and it was fine. I tried another cable, and the onboard network
didn't detect it either. I checked both cables on my old Apple PowerBook G4, and they had no
problems.

I even tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and upgrading the VIA VT823x PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
(from Windows Update). Also, reinstalled VIA 4in1 Hyperion driver. None of them helped or
changed anything that I noticed.

Does this sound like the onboard network died? :( I am currently using wireless USB network
which isn't very stable and slow. Thank you in advance. :)

I tried that idea for 30 seconds. I even turned off with the PSU switch. I powered the system
back on, and it worked!! Woah! What the heck? Why did this work?

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:
I tried that idea for 30 seconds. I even turned off with the PSU switch. I powered the system
back on, and it worked!! Woah! What the heck? Why did this work?

Because the drivers are poorly written, and do not fully initialize
the network chip. Some bit is set to zero on power-up, when it gets
set to one the chip doesn't work, and the driver doesn't bother to
clear it. Therefore it won't work till it gets a full power cycle.
Happens all the time in these days of careless programming, limited
testing, and "time-to-market" trumping all else.

Glad you got it sorted out!

Intereting. I might had spoke too soon. After 30 minutes of
usage, the network device lost the cable connection. Had
to repeat. Right now, I am trying low speed (10BaseT
Half Duplex). So far, it seems to be working after two
hours. We'll see... All I have to say VIA network sucks!

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:
Intereting. I might had spoke too soon. After 30 minutes of
usage, the network device lost the cable connection. Had
to repeat. Right now, I am trying low speed (10BaseT
Half Duplex). So far, it seems to be working after two
hours. We'll see... All I have to say VIA network sucks!

Perhaps. Is your cabling good Cat5 factory crimps?

Umm, no. They're homemade (add jacks, cut cables and wires, etc). If they had issues, then they
wouldn't work on other computers' network cards. Beside I tried multiple cables.

So far, lower speed seems to be holding my cable. I wonder why faster speed cause problems.

ANTant@zimage.com wrote:

(snip)

Umm, no. They're homemade (add jacks, cut cables and wires, etc). If they had issues, then they
wouldn't work on other computers' network cards. Beside I tried multiple cables.

So far, lower speed seems to be holding my cable. I wonder why faster speed cause problems.

Mispaired cables will often work at 10baseT speed and fail at 100baseTX.

It MUST be that pins 1 and 2 are a twisted pair and pins 3 and 6 another
twisted pair. If you didn't wire them that way, such as by using one
of the standard pinouts then it is likely that they are wrong.