Local Area Connection - A network cable is unplugged

[Abhi]

Hello

First off, let me announce I am a noob at networking, so please pardon my ignorance.

I have a LAN cable running approximately 30 mtrs from my DSL modem to another room. If I plug this cable into my laptop (Inspiron 8500 with Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated LAN), the connection works fine, and it has been for the last year or so.

I just built a new desktop computer with a MSI RS482 motherboard. The motherboard has onboard LAN (Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC). The drivers and BIOS are updated.
The same cable which works perfectly on the laptop, when plugged into the desktop, shows - A network cable is unplugged!

For diagnosis, I tried carrying the carrying the desktop comp right next to the DSL modem and then plugging it in with a 1 mtr. wire, and the connection worked fine!

So, is the integrated LAN on my desktop bad at catching weak signals or something? Any settings I can do to make it work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Atheus]

Those realtek chips are some of the cheapest you can get, plus onboard components like that tend to get underpowered to reduce the overall consumption of the board. Try a PCI NIC if you've got one.

 

[ktwebb]

Try playing with the duplex and speed settings on the NIC. Try 10Mb Half Duplex first. If that works, try 10 Full. If that works, 100 Half and so on. That's a long ethernet run. Did you or one of our buddies crimp the ends? If so it's a small miracle it works with any NIC for a 30 meter cat5 run.

 

[Abhi]

thanks for the replies.

ktwebb, the speed settings did not work.

bump for more opinions.