lightening strike blew out my ethernet

Limenote

Limenote

Limenote

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21 Jul 2005
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as title, my ethernet connection on the mobo has a constant orange light and is not even seen by windows anymore, anyone had this before? any solution to fix this or is it just gone forever?
 
You could try downloading a NIC diagnostic tool. Realtek, for example, have one here:


Failing that you could try using a loop-back plug or try another NIC card just to be sure it is just a failed port on the mobo.
 
Does the network adapter show up in device manager? (Assuming you're using windows).

It does sound like a dead port though (although it might not be your motherboard, it could be your router).
 
doesnt show in device manager at all, first ethernet on the router is dead too but the others work fine, this is why i think the port is dead
 
Oh dear seen this before.. Actually it was modems on 5 machines at a company.. There was a lightning strike and it took out all the modems and as the soundcards were in the next slot it fried them too.. you could even see the burn marks where the arcing had occured.. Get a new Nic for about a tenner.. Use a different port in the router or claim on the insurance for a new mobo and router...
 
well its a dual ethernet mobo but ive been sharing my connection with the 360, im posting off the pc now but im a bit ****ed off about it as its a new mobo! its not a big enough deadl to bother replacing tho, just thought id post in here to see if there was an easy solution to something like this as it has never happend before!
 
It sound's like it's a dead port, do you have home contents insurance you could claim off for a replacement?

I feel your pain though. no one likes their shiny new kit to go pop.
 
yeah i could put in a claim, ill see how i feel, i might just live with it so long as nothing else is damaged, anyway thanks all but guess its dead
 
Network cards are pretty cheap if you really need the second connection and have a spare PCI slot.
 
Weve had onboard NICs stop responding like that :/ Disabled them in BIOS and then re-enabled them and thats got them working in the past!

Unfortunately weve also had some that have just died after a storm lol :/
 
disabling, and full showdown etc often fix these sorts of problems, but not always. Was it + the router plugged into a surge protector?
 
Lightning forces are very complex! They do not flow in one direction but seek ALL means to neutralize. Even a Ground-wire can pick up harmful surges to upset the balance of forces in any setup.
This case of yours seems to be caused by inter-port potential-difference.
How awesome forces of lightning can be safe by creating a safe-island for each group of equipment in a setup can be found HERE. Have a try reading!
 
Edward78 said:
I had that happen to, odd how it went through the modem-router without doing a thing.
Click to expand...
Routers deal with the WAN tech which for ADSL lines involves up to 48 ~ 50V which is considerably more than Ethernet networks. This would be why the modem side is fine but the Router LAN port and the NIC would be damaged.

You can get surge protectors for Phone lines which will give you some protection in the event of a "near miss" i.e and indirect hit to the line via another attached system or magnetic induction from a nearby strike grounding but unfortunately there's little that will protect delicate kit from a direct hit as in the time it takes for either the surge arrestors to kick in or the line to melt the voltages to ground will exceed several thousand volts with ease. It's possible but very expensive for an end user and direct hits to a paricular telegraph pole is pretty rare.
 
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