Mangled Ethernet Socket on a Dell PC

zoe

I have a Dell desktop PC which has an ethernet socket. I was trying to install broadband and the installation process informed the PC does not appear to have an ethernet socket.

So I had a look at the ethernet socket and I noticed that about three of the metal strips inside the socket have been bent out of shape.

I suppose each of these metal strips has to be in perfect alignment with the metal strips on the ethernet plug? I suppose I can't just detach the bent metal strips inside the ethernet socket?

Is it possible to easily replace the ethernet socket in the PC?

I had a look inside and the socket appears to be connected down into the circuit board. I'm not sure if it's soldered in, or maybe it's only plugged in...

Thanks for any advice...!

Mr. Presentable

You can buy a new NIC (network interface card) and slot it in to a pci slot on the motherboard. They're cheap enough, and you'll often get them for sale on Adverts.ie for €5.00 - €10.00.

Just checked, and classton has some for €5.00 each here http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=40525&cat=8

the_syco

Try reinstalling the ethernet/network drivers first. A common problem is that the drivers become corrupted, but reinstalling them will fix them.

bushy...

If the pins are too badly mangled you can just buy a network card to put into the pc , they're not expensive eg:
http://www.elara.ie/products/enetwork.asp

zoe

Thanks guys for the links. That's brilliant!

There are a total of four PCI slots on the back with one of these unused. So I suppose I just insert one of these cards in here and then no longer use the current ethernet socket which is not in the PCI slot section but further down the PC. The current ethernet socket is connected directly onto the motherboard.

the_syco wrote: »

Try reinstalling the ethernet/network drivers first. A common problem is that the drivers become corrupted, but reinstalling them will fix them.

Thanks. I don't have any CDs for this PC, though I have all the reinstallation CDs for another Dell PC. If one of these CDs has the drivers on it would this do? Even though it's for another model of Dell PC...

the_syco

zoe wrote: »

Thanks. I don't have any CDs for this PC, though I have all the reinstallation CDs for another Dell PC. If one of these CDs has the drivers on it would this do? Even though it's for another model of Dell PC...

Goto here and enter your service tag, and you should be able to get it there.

zoe

Thanks for the link.

The PC is a Dimension 5150 so I went here;

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=DIMENSION%205100&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

There's one section for Communication and one section for Network downloads.

Any idea which section I should download from? These sections are probably most relevant to an ethernet socket, I suppose.

Do I just download those which are marked Recommended, and leave those marked Optional?

the_syco

zoe wrote: »

There's one section for Communication and one section for Network downloads.

Communication is for the 56k modem, Network is for your ethernet. Get the 1MB file under Network as it seems to be for your ethernet.

kaizersoze

This one. "(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection"
The 3rd option in the network section.

zoe

Thanks very much for that.

I downloaded it though it didn't appear to resolve the problem.

I'm just after looking at the ethernet plug again when it's plugged in and I think there should be a light which comes on to indicate that it is connected, though there is no lit light.

So I think this means it's definitely a problem with the metal pins inside the socket connecting with the plug.

zoe

Just wondered...

Would you guys go choose one of the slot-in cards or a USB ethernet adaptor such as these?

http://computers.search.ebay.ie/USB-ethernet-adaptor_Computing_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQfrtsZ50QQsacatZ58058

subway

is your pc under warranty?

zoe

Hi, no it's not.

subway

zoe wrote: »

Hi, no it's not.

nvm then, was going to suggest caling dell to fix it.
the pci one would be the better solution, but since its just for broadband and not anything intesive the usb stuff should be fine.

you should be able to straighten out the pins in the socket if you have a small twezers,
as long as there bent and not snapped they should work fine

zoe

Thanks. One of them is definitely snapped.

As the PCi option is the better, I'll probably just opt for that.

Anti

Just go buy a pci ethernet card 100/1000mbit. They are like 10€ in any pc shop. And why were you people telling zoe to download drivers when the port is physically, as im pretty dman sure ( unless it happened while i was at lunch ) software will not fix a physical hardware problem like this....

Or did i miss something ?

the_syco

Anti: having fixed many "no ethernet detected" ports with a simple driver, it was first on the list. It's simple, and fixes 90% of the calls about that problem.

If it fails, meh, get a €10 PCI card, but if it does, it fixes it for no cost.

subway

the_syco wrote: »

Anti: having fixed many "no ethernet detected" ports with a simple driver, it was first on the list. It's simple, and fixes 90% of the calls about that problem.

If it fails, meh, get a €10 PCI card, but if it does, it fixes it for no cost.

agreed, without testing its impossible to say conclusively that the port is damaged to the extent that its causing the problem the OP is suffering from.

since the only likely fix for a hardware failure is to replace the port, its fairly reasonable to try soft fixes since it is not going to cost the user money or incovenience them extraordinarily.

Saruman

subway wrote: »

is your pc under warranty?

How would this help? Warranty and even consumer rights will not allow for a free repair of damage that was clearly caused by someone sticking something ... If i had to hazard a guess.. someone thought it was a USB slot and was not looking properly.

subway

if the damage occured through normal use, ie, the removal / insertion of a network cable, then it would be covered by warranty.
IME Dell are generally quite good at organising "in warranty" repairs.

if the scenario you suggested has occured then there is a chance for dell to refuse service.
the OP did not clarify what caused the damage, and my next post would have been to outline the type of damage that is covered by a warranty to see if the OPs situation could be resolved that way

Saruman

Subway the problem is, there is no physical way you can mangle these pins through "normal" use... the network connection is rectangular.. it only goes in one way and it goes in straight... Even if you try and put it in upside down or sidewise, it will not make it anywhere near the connectors... So this was not caused by "normal use".

mastermind2005

the_syco wrote: »

Try reinstalling the ethernet/network drivers first. A common problem is that the drivers become corrupted, but reinstalling them will fix them.

highly unlikey....

bent pins are bent pins

subway

I'm not trying to start an argument here so please dont take this the wrong way.

while it can be painfully obvious to you and me that these ports should not become damaged through normal use, without the OP verifying that the part was broken by incorrectly inserting a usb cable into it, you, nor i, have no way to say what caused the damage.

the network cable eircom provided may be faulty, the plastic on the end may be cracked,
the port itself may have been shipped faulty and the OP never realised, the port may have been of low quality and the pins became loose over time.

all i am trying to say is that, while your scenario is the most likely and plausible one, it is not the only one.