• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Did a corrupt registry file take out my laptop's internal ethernet adapter?

PowerRanger

PowerRanger

Senior member
First, I'll start with a series of events that led to the problem at hand:

1. Saw there was a driver update for my laptop's internal (Asus F8v) ethernet controller from Microsoft's auto update, as well as some other updates, and thought "what the heck" and proceeded to install.

2. I'm not positive if I did this before or after the driver update, but I did use CCleaner to clean my registry. I did not make a backup unfortunately (stupid me).

3. Everything was fine for the time being. The next day, I experienced intermittent LAN "outtages", where the LAN icon (2 little monitors icon) would quickly show disconnected, then reconnect immediately, without my internet actually "dropping out".

4. Today, it happened again, except it did not reconnect, and the LAN icon proceeds to disappear completely. I look into Network Connections, and nothing besides my WLAN, and 1394.

So now, I check my device manager, and lo-and-hehold my Ethernet Controller has disappeared from under "Network Adapters"! :Q Again, only my WLAN and 1394 appears here.

I uninstalled the driver (from Add/Remove programs) and reinstalled to no avail.

I googled, and all the answers basically point to a hardware problem. However I did find a thread, where the OP said his was OK after a reformat.

I've also read to check the BIOS to see if its detected there, however I do not see an option for enabling/disabling the onboard LAN in the BIOS. However, uner "I/O Interface Security", there is an option for "LAN Network Interface", which can be LOCKED or UNLOCKED, in which "If LOCKED, the LAN controller will be disabled". I'm not sure if this indicates that the mobo/BIOS still recognizes there's indeed a "functional" ethernet controller.

So...does anyone have any insight? Am I looking at a toast internal ethernet adapter, or did CCleaner somehow screw up the registry that causes Windows to not detect it? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT:
-------
Just want to add that the corresponding channel light on my router still light up when the network cable is plugged in, and if I unplug it (either on the router end or the laptop end) the corresponding router light goes off. Does this mean the router can detect the ethernet controller? Or is this irrevelant to whether the controller is functioning or not?
 
"Just want to add that the corresponding channel light on my router still light up when the network cable is plugged in, and if I unplug it (either on the router end or the laptop end) the corresponding router light goes off. Does this mean the router can detect the ethernet controller? Or is this irrevelant to whether the controller is functioning or not?"

Lights are not much of an indication as far as function. I've has a few blown ethernet cards where the light never does go out.
one other painless way is to boot into a live cd that supports your hardware. In the old days knoppix was good, but times have changed and I don't know what is best, so google will be your friend. IF the live cd documentation says it supports your hardware and it can't connect, I would go with bad hardware.
 
JackMDS: Unfortunately the link you gave me did not provide any answers for me. In fact I couldn't even get started because the Ethernet Controller does not appear in Device Manager (only 1394 and my WLAN appears under Network Adapters).

Skyking: I actually have an old copy of Knoppix on a CD, so I tried booting up with that. I don't really know how to use it, but I think I stumbled upon something along the lines of Network Configuration, and when I clicked on it, it said No Supported Network Cards Were Found. 🙁 I'll try to look for other live boot CDs.

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I look forward to hearing more.
 
The process as describe on the link and Skyking advice lead to a conclusion that your computer does not have a good active Network Card.

Either you are not configuring correctly the BIOS, or the card is Busted.

I would suggest that you contact the Laptop's manufacturer and find out what they have to say.
mean time if you really need a wire card try a PCMCIA card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...et&bop=And&Order=PRICE
 
JackmDS, thanks for the advice and the link. I'm going to call Asus tech support in the next couple of days, I'm still under warranty so that's good. I've also downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu, so I'm gonna test that out beforehand...maybe my old copy of Knoppix is too outdated to support my ethernet adapter...hopefully...
 
Hmm I tried Ubuntu 8.10, and still no go with wired network connection. Wireless works fine. I guess its hardware problem then...damn... 🙁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top