strange nic lights working/not working

[browolf]

what does this mean, makes no sense.

 

3 computers in a room, wont log on

check behind no light on network card

plug them into the nearest working socket in the room, still nothing.

tried a 5 port switch, no lights on. must be the computers

brought computer to office, just across the hall.

plug it in, oh look nic light is on now.

take it back.

oh look they work fine now.

did the same with the other 2.

[plexer]

What make/model PC

 

What motherboard do they have?

 

We have had the same and different with some SCL pc's and when they originally exhibited the fault SCL had one back for a week or so and we also changed some motherboards.

 

They have MSI m/b I think.

 

I had one the other week exactly the same as this I think what cures it is completely disconnecting the psu.

 

The other fault we had was the activity light would just flash at a constant rate, there were no network loops or anything last time I had this happen pulling the power also worked.

 

Ben

[SYNACK]

Dodgy network cards, have you updated the BIOSes in the affected computers. Perhaps the complete power drain while you moved it to the other location reset the NIC back to a non-confused state.

[browolf]

they're fujitsu siemens ones. Another tech here says u can fix them by leaving them unplugged for 5 mins. seems like the power drain is what fixes it. we're wondering if its "something kids do" causing it. Edited December 10, 2008 by browolf

[Daleus]

Probably not browolf, Turning off for a few minutes would fix them.

 

If you don't want the issue you can swap out the network cards, but its not too bad tbh, just turn it off for a few minutes if it ever happens.

[plexer]

Can you have a look and see what motherboard is in them and what nic they are? would be interesting to compare.

 

Ben

[PeterW]

It would be interesting to know if they are VIA Rhine II with a Realtek PHY.

[plexer]

Is that what was in mine with the trouble?

 

Ben

[PeterW]

Yes the Lan MAC is in the VIA chipset southbridge (al la VIA Rhine II) and the PHY interface is a Realtek chip.

[SYNACK]

I've had this issue with a Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet adapter but it happened much less after a BIOS upgrade.

[browolf]

ours are onboard broadcom not sure which version. we havent done any bios upgrades or pushed out any windows updates for a while but its just started happening in 1 room.

[danrhodes]

Hi,

 

If the machines are Fujitsu Siemans, then they have problems with the BIOS.

 

If you have a power Blackout / Brownout / Surge, for some reason the BIOS detects this and it shuts of the NIC card.

 

Follow the steps below to solve the issue:

 

1. Start the PC up and access the BIOS

2. Set BIOS defaults

3. Disable the NIC

4. Restart PC

5. Access the bios once again

6. Enable the NIC

7. NIC will now work

 

D

[TechSupp]

Funny justr had this happen this morning on a Fujitsu PC. Was not finding the network, limited connection and all that. Shut it down, restarted, hey presto all working OK:doh:

Don't you just love it!

[danrhodes]

Hey Tech, that might be the same issue I described above, you will never know.

 

My first port of call now is to always disable and enable the NIC in the BIOS for any job like that.

 

D