LAN cable unplugged but it's not

[japmeet]

Guys I need help. I was switching out graphics cards for some testing and while I was putting my card back (ie test card MSI 7770 -> MSI 660ti) I forgot to turn off the cpu mains (the computer was shutdown but I forgot to turn it off from the mainboard/power-wall socket) .
The CPU is running fine and everything is running fine but the onboard LAN doesn't want to work at all. The lights aren't turning on on the back of the motherboard.
I have tried different cables/slots on the router.
I have tried switching my computer and all other related devices off (isolating it from any power for 1.5 hours)
I think the LAN chipset got shorted due to static or something but there is something I can't understand, the LAN controller (broadcom) is showing in the device manager and if I uninstall it and refresh the device manager it is detected again.
But the LAN port doesn't seem to work with the cable in it (inside windows or in the bios, asrock z77 extreme 6) I don't think reinstalling windows would do anything as its not working in the bios either (in the chipset diagram it shows that the LAN port is disconnected)
Any help/advice on what I should do? I know RMA is the best option but I don't have a backup setup to fall to, plus RMA will take a long time.
I could simply buy a NIC and put it on the motherboard but I guess that'll kill the resale value.

Suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[J_E_D_70]

Sounds like you were thorough. I'd get a NIC and try that. Don't see how it would affect resale since the buyer will still have a functioning LAN jack.

 

[JeremyRamsey]

If it's still under warranty, do the RMA. You should consider what else might be broke that is not yet evident, or what has been weakened. Perhaps you can get them to send you the new one first if you give a CC or something so that your downtime is minimal.

 

[japmeet]

If it's still under warranty, do the RMA. You should consider what else might be broke that is not yet evident, or what has been weakened. Perhaps you can get them to send you the new one first if you give a CC or something so that your downtime is minimal.

Hmm, that does sound probable although I'm still optimistic that the light might pop on tomorrow all by itself, though it seems unlikely.
If I give them a CC ? I didn't understand that 🙁 I talked to a friend of mine who has a direct contact in Asrock and he said that it'll take atleast a week for replacement. Oh well, let's see.

 

[mbreslin1954]

I've had a the Ethernet port go bad on a couple of my motherboards, only two out of about 20 motherboards in the past ten years, but it does happen. Since mine were a few years old at the time, I just got a $10 to $15 NIC and everything worked fine. Spending a little on a cheap NIC might be better than spending the same amount of money to take your computer apart and mail the motherboard back, and be without a computer for a week or two (or three). And then have to put it back together again. I sent a Gigabyte motherboard back for RMA soon after I got it, and it took me almost three weeks to get a replacement back. It's up to you, but from what you've described, the Ethernet port on your motherboard is dead and it isn't coming back.

 

[brett1042002]

Can you ping the loop-back address (127.0.0.1)?

 

[mbreslin1954]

The network port doesn't show up in BIOS or Windows, there is nothing to ping. If the hardware isn't there, he can't use it to ping anything.

 

[brett1042002]

The network port doesn't show up in BIOS or Windows, there is nothing to ping. If the hardware isn't there, he can't use it to ping anything.

...but there is something I can't understand, the LAN controller (broadcom) is showing in the device manager and if I uninstall it and refresh the device manager it is detected again.

According to him, the OS is detecting the adapter. Please correct me if I'm wrong, japmeet.

 

[japmeet]

The network port doesn't show up in BIOS or Windows, there is nothing to ping. If the hardware isn't there, he can't use it to ping anything.

...but there is something I can't understand, the LAN controller (broadcom) is showing in the device manager and if I uninstall it and refresh the device manager it is detected again.

According to him, the OS is detecting the adapter. Please correct me if I'm wrong, japmeet.

Exactly, the OS is detecting the adapter in the device manager and I just pinged the loopback server and I DID get a reply. I don't know why or how that is possible if the ethernet port was dead but it's surprising. Also while doing that I disconnected my Netgear WG111v2 modem (I'm using the usb stick as a wifi nic for the time being) so eliminate any doubts.

Also @mbreslin, the network port is showing in the device manager. I can uninstall it and refresh to get it back. It's only not detecting a cable neither in Windows nor at the BIOS (asrock z77 extreme 6) I have tried different cables & slots (on the router)

 

[brett1042002]

The network port doesn't show up in BIOS or Windows, there is nothing to ping. If the hardware isn't there, he can't use it to ping anything.

...but there is something I can't understand, the LAN controller (broadcom) is showing in the device manager and if I uninstall it and refresh the device manager it is detected again.

According to him, the OS is detecting the adapter. Please correct me if I'm wrong, japmeet.

Exactly, the OS is detecting the adapter in the device manager and I just pinged the loopback server and I DID get a reply. I don't know why or how that is possible if the ethernet port was dead but it's surprising. Also while doing that I disconnected my Netgear WG111v2 modem (I'm using the usb stick as a wifi nic for the time being) so eliminate any doubts.

Also @mbreslin, the network port is showing in the device manager. I can uninstall it and refresh to get it back. It's only not detecting a cable neither in Windows nor at the BIOS (asrock z77 extreme 6) I have tried different cables & slots (on the router)

You just pinged your NIC only. It is responding to ICMP/echo requests. The packet did not go any further out. So we validated that your NIC isn't "dead"... at least not completely. Does the adapter show up in your Network Connections, under Control Panel? Assuming Windows 7? (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections)

 

[japmeet]

You just pinged your NIC only. It is responding to ICMP/echo requests. The packet did not go any further out. So we validated that your NIC isn't "dead"... at least not completely. Does the adapter show up in your Network Connections, under Control Panel? Assuming Windows 7? (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections)

Yes it is showing up in the network and sharing center. I also tried removing the Ghost connections by running "SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1" in the CMD.

 

[brett1042002]

Ok, then I'm assuming the adapter isn't disabled in Windows, correct? Is the NIC currently set to Autosense? If so, try forcing it to Speed 100, Full Duplex. If it is currently set to 100/Full, change it to Auto.

EDIT: Before, when you shutdown everything and let it sit, did you also remove the CMOS battery? May not fix the issue, but just trying to rule out a BIOS misconfiguration.

Thanks.

 

[japmeet]

Ok, then I'm assuming the adapter isn't disabled in Windows, correct? Is the NIC currently set to Autosense? If so, try forcing it to Speed 100, Full Duplex. If it is currently set to 100/Full, change it to Auto.

EDIT: Before, when you shutdown everything and let it sit, did you also remove the CMOS battery? May not fix the issue, but just trying to rule out a BIOS misconfiguration.

Thanks.

The adapter is enabled & I've tried changing the speeds too, 10/100 half/full duplex & back to autosense (it was auto by default)
My motherboard has a clear cmos button at the back which I have already tried. I guess removing the battery would do the same thing?
I also have tried updating to the latest BIOS version but that didn't make a difference either 🙁

 

[brett1042002]

Maybe you have already tried this, but have you ruled out the router being the issue? Can another device connect to it via network cable? Do you have another router to test?

 

[japmeet]

Maybe you have already tried this, but have you ruled out the router being the issue? Can another device connect to it via network cable? Do you have another router to test?

The router can connect fine with the same cable to other ethernet interfaces (I have a HP laptop and a macbook pro) so I don't think the router is the issue.

I just observed something right now. When I turn on my computer with the LAN cable in place the lights on the LAN port blink twice (right after I power it on) and then they don't blink/turn on at all.
If it were shorted out they shouldn't light up at all but they DO blink two times (only for a split second though) as soon as I hit that power button.

 

[brett1042002]

Maybe you have already tried this, but have you ruled out the router being the issue? Can another device connect to it via network cable? Do you have another router to test?

The router can connect fine with the same cable to other ethernet interfaces (I have a HP laptop and a macbook pro) so I don't think the router is the issue.

I just observed something right now. When I turn on my computer with the LAN cable in place the lights on the LAN port blink twice (right after I power it on) and then they don't blink/turn on at all.
If it were shorted out they shouldn't light up at all but they DO blink two times (only for a split second though) as soon as I hit that power button.

Odd. Onboard LAN is enabled in the BIOS as well? If so, I'm out of ideas, lol. I believe you have ruled out everything. Yes, the reset button should have factory defaulted your BIOS... same as removing the battery. Last resort is blaming it on defective hardware and RMA'ing the mobo, or throwing in another NIC as a work-around.

 

[japmeet]

Maybe you have already tried this, but have you ruled out the router being the issue? Can another device connect to it via network cable? Do you have another router to test?

The router can connect fine with the same cable to other ethernet interfaces (I have a HP laptop and a macbook pro) so I don't think the router is the issue.

I just observed something right now. When I turn on my computer with the LAN cable in place the lights on the LAN port blink twice (right after I power it on) and then they don't blink/turn on at all.
If it were shorted out they shouldn't light up at all but they DO blink two times (only for a split second though) as soon as I hit that power button.

Odd. Onboard LAN is enabled in the BIOS as well? If so, I'm out of ideas, lol. I believe you have ruled out everything. Yes, the reset button should have factory defaulted your BIOS... same as removing the battery. Last resort is blaming it on defective hardware and RMA'ing the mobo, or throwing in another NIC as a work-around.

I believe so, I'll be giving the board for RMA next week. Will take about a week-10 days. In the meanwhile I'll keep trying. Thanks for your time everyone.