P965 ethernet...just stopped working all of a sudden?

[elwoodh]

So I was just sitting here, watching a movie on my computer. Heard a loud pop, but we were having a lightning storm so I figured it was a tree branch falling outside or something. A few minutes later, I realize my internet connection is down. I've actually narrowed it down to my computer, now, and I'm wondering if my onboard LAN is shot somehow (other computers using the same connection, such as the one I"m using right now, are fine). The two LED lights on the ethernet jack are flickering on and off, simultaneously. Every time they're off, I get the message "A network cable is unplugged." Then when they're back on, that message disappears and I get the "connected" icon in my taskbar. But it switches back to "disconnected" every second or so.


Is there any way to diagnose whether my ethernet jack is now kaput? It didn't "look" any different when I inspected the board just now.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Sounds like it's bad. You can get a PCIe network card for about $25. I don't know if there's a way to actually test a NIC directly.

 

[postmortemIA]

it didn't just stop working for no reason. it was thunderstruck.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

Anytime there's a bad lightning storm and I absolutely have to use the computer - the ethernet cable always gets disconnected, and I'll switch to wireless for a bit. It's never the power cord I'm worried about lightning coming through, it's those unprotected internet cords.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I have a whole house surge protector hooked up to the main power comming in to the box outside. Had to get FPL to come out and install it. Basically it will protect from lightning. Here in FL we get thunderstorms quite often.

 

[elwoodh]

I guess the good news is that the damage was just limited to the board's ethernet capabilities (again, as far I can tell, no scorched areas of the board). Gotta love mother nature. I'm gonna grab a PCIE card today and hopefully that will work.