Ethernet cable connected, no internet.

[zaneyk]

Yesterday something weird happened.
I was at a friends house, and and plugged my Ethernet cable from my pc into his router, but nothing happened. I tried resetting the router several times, tried different ports, and also tried 3 different Ethernet cables with no success, yet my other 2 friends had no problems (wireless and cable).
It just said "Not connected" and when I did "troubleshoot" it just said plug in Ethernet cable.

When I came home nothing had changed, I still couldn't connect to the internet, so I tried the usual reset router & modem several times, still nothing, I also tried resetting my BIOS settings to default without any success.
I also noticed that my PC went from taking 2mins to start up to 5mins.

When I went to "Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections" it was blank, and I realized it had to be a software/hardware problem.
When I went and checked "Device Manager" there weren't even a "Network adapters", wondering how the fuck this happed I searched my motherboard, and installed the Network driver: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3010#dl
"Realtek LAN Driver" but during the installation it said:
"Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver
The Realtek Network Controller was not found. If Deep Sleep Mode is enabled Please Plug the Cable."
and ended the installation after.

Now when I press "troubleshoot" I says:
"Install a driver for your network adapter
Windows did not detect a properly installed network adapter. If you have a network adapter, you will need to re-install the driver."

When I look on the back of my computer, the bulb next to the Ethernet port lights solid, even when
I unplug the cable, but there is no flashing light.

So what do I do? Can the problem be solved by re-installing windows, installing other kind of software, buying a new ethernet port or adapter?

My setup is:
CPU: Phenom II x4 965
RAM: 4GB DDR3 CL7
GFX: 5850 CF
MB: GA-MA790XT-UD4P
HDD: WD Black WD1502FAEX 1.5TB

 

[ch33zw1z]

Do you ever get a Link Light on the motherboard port or on the router where you plug it in?

Is it enabled in BIOS?

Sometimes NICs will kick the bucket, what kind of room do you have left in the PCI/PCIE expansion area. If you cannot get the hardware to work, then just get a PCIE NIC if possible. a good PCIE x1 NIC can be found for $20-$30

 

[Blain]

Did you reboot the PC?

 

[VirtualLarry]

When I look on the back of my computer, the bulb next to the Ethernet port lights solid, even when I unplug the cable, but there is no flashing light.

That doesn't sound right. If the ethernet cable is unplugged, the lights on the port should be off too, I think.

It sounds like your ethernet hardware on your motherboard just "went" on you. Time to investigate getting a new ethernet add-on card.

One last thing to try, though - do you have any "Security Suites" installed? Try uninstalling them completely first.

 

[hextet]

Is the router running DHCP, or do you have to statically assign the IP o nyour machine. Swap the Ethernet cable for a known workign cable and see if that works. If you plug it into your router, see if you have local connectivity, this is important as it can help determine whether the problem is on your end, or the public side of your router. Howeve rfrom your description is sounds like the problem is with your hardware. Check the BIOS to make sure the adapter card is working. If you are using a peripheral network adapter, perhaps see if you can buy a new one. If you are using a PCIe network adapter, change the PCIe port it is on and see if that helps. If none of that works, buy a new adapter card and see if that works. I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that it's your adapter working since your other friends have network connectivity.

 

[PliotronX]

Try messing with the Realtek Diagnostic Utility and/or the latest drivers from there. Also try setting the speed/duplex to the lowest speed possible just for troubleshooting purposes (10Mb half duplex). Also disable power management for the NIC while you're in the device manager page, that thing has been a root cause of some issues I've seen.