My own Ethernet cables don't work in my pc, but the cable at repair shop does. Why?

R

RandomName

Member
Hi. I have 3 ethernet cables, one is brand new. They snap in securely, but the computer says no cable is there. Took the pc to a repair shop to test it, and the cable they had worked, ie, it connected to the internet (which I can't do at home). I noticed their cable looked larger, and it slipped out of the ethernet port too easily, ie, you could pull gently on the wire without squeezing the tab, and it came out, which is unusual. The repair shop guy blamed that on my port being defective somehow. Nonetheless, their cable connected me to the internet.

All 3 of my own cables snap in securely and you can't just pull them out without squeezing the tab. It's just this one port on this one pc. I can hook the cable to another pc, and get internet just fine. I guess the repair shop has a magic, loose-fitting cable that works on everything, right? lol. At my wit's end. Only thing I can think of is to buy one of their cables, lol.

I should mention that this problem started recently, beforewhich all was well.
 

That's a strange one, it works at the repair shop with one of their cables but not with any of your cables. It certainly sounds like it might be a bad RJ45 port. Do you have a USB C port that you can use? If so you can use a USB C to Ethernet cable or an adapter (USB C to Ethernet) and connect to your internet via the USB C port.
USB to rj45 2.jpg
 
RandomName said:
Hi. I have 3 ethernet cables, one is brand new. They snap in securely, but the computer says no cable is there. Took the pc to a repair shop to test it, and the cable they had worked, ie, it connected to the internet (which I can't do at home). I noticed their cable looked larger, and it slipped out of the ethernet port too easily, ie, you could pull gently on the wire without squeezing the tab, and it came out, which is unusual. The repair shop guy blamed that on my port being defective somehow. Nonetheless, their cable connected me to the internet.

All 3 of my own cables snap in securely and you can't just pull them out without squeezing the tab. It's just this one port on this one pc. I can hook the cable to another pc, and get internet just fine. I guess the repair shop has a magic, loose-fitting cable that works on everything, right? lol. At my wit's end. Only thing I can think of is to buy one of their cables, lol.

I should mention that this problem started recently, beforewhich all was well.
Click to expand...
That's kind of like me and my chargers for the rechargeable items I've got like my two tablets phone and two fans. Two chargers will do adequate if I'm sleeping and they'll charge it up but it takes about 10 hours, but I have another one that'll zap my phone or tablet full within 3 hours.

If you plan to buy one test it there at the shop so that way you know that they get it and it was a good one.
 

RandomName said:
Hi. I have 3 ethernet cables, one is brand new. They snap in securely, but the computer says no cable is there. Took the pc to a repair shop to test it, and the cable they had worked, ie, it connected to the internet (which I can't do at home). I noticed their cable looked larger, and it slipped out of the ethernet port too easily, ie, you could pull gently on the wire without squeezing the tab, and it came out, which is unusual. The repair shop guy blamed that on my port being defective somehow. Nonetheless, their cable connected me to the internet.

All 3 of my own cables snap in securely and you can't just pull them out without squeezing the tab. It's just this one port on this one pc. I can hook the cable to another pc, and get internet just fine. I guess the repair shop has a magic, loose-fitting cable that works on everything, right? lol. At my wit's end. Only thing I can think of is to buy one of their cables, lol.

I should mention that this problem started recently, beforewhich all was well.
Click to expand...
The port being on your router? Did you try another port? Do you have another computer to test your router with?
 
Rich said:
That's a strange one, it works at the repair shop with one of their cables but not with any of your cables. It certainly sounds like it might be a bad RJ45 port. Do you have a USB C port that you can use? If so you can use a USB C to Ethernet cable or an adapter (USB C to Ethernet) and connect to your internet via the USB C port.
View attachment 442218
Click to expand...

I have USB-A ports available on my pc. I talked to the repair shop guy about it. That was actually the reason I had my pc at the repair shop. I wanted him to test the TP-link adapter on site there, so he could add any drivers himself. I don't like messing around finding drivers. It never works for me, somehow, lol. He had a TP-link adapter for ethernet to usb-a which I almost bought, before I saw that I might not need it. He said it contained firmware inside that would have any drivers I needed. Supposedly plug and play. Might go back with the pc again and have him test out the adapter fix idea. He wants $30 for the adapter, which is almost 3 times the retail price, but at least he is providing tech support, so I think it's worth it. He says the adapter is plug and play, but It's an old eMachine and who knows what drivers it needs, right?
 
RandomName said:
I have USB-A ports available on my pc. I talked to the repair shop guy about it. That was actually the reason I had my pc at the repair shop. I wanted him to test the TP-link adapter on site there, so he could add any drivers himself. I don't like messing around finding drivers. It never works for me, somehow, lol. He had a TP-link adapter for ethernet to usb-a which I almost bought, before I saw that I might not need it. He said it contained firmware inside that would have any drivers I needed. Supposedly plug and play. Might go back with the pc again and have him test out the adapter fix idea. He wants $30 for the adapter, which is almost 3 times the retail price, but at least he is providing tech support, so I think it's worth it. He says the adapter is plug and play, but It's an old eMachine and who knows what drivers it needs, right?
Click to expand...
It would likely work plug & play but I totally understand your position. Far too many things that should be simple on a PC are not.
 
Nathan said:
The port being on your router? Did you try another port? Do you have another computer to test your router with?
Click to expand...

Thanks, Nathan. The port being on my pc. I don't have a router. Just a coax internet cable coming out of wall into modem, then an ethernet cable going from modem to a pc.

I do have another computer, and all my cables work when I plug them into the ethernet port on it.
 
RandomName said:
Hi. I have 3 ethernet cables, one is brand new. They snap in securely, but the computer says no cable is there. Took the pc to a repair shop to test it, and the cable they had worked, ie, it connected to the internet (which I can't do at home). I noticed their cable looked larger, and it slipped out of the ethernet port too easily, ie, you could pull gently on the wire without squeezing the tab, and it came out, which is unusual. The repair shop guy blamed that on my port being defective somehow. Nonetheless, their cable connected me to the internet.

All 3 of my own cables snap in securely and you can't just pull them out without squeezing the tab. It's just this one port on this one pc. I can hook the cable to another pc, and get internet just fine. I guess the repair shop has a magic, loose-fitting cable that works on everything, right? lol. At my wit's end. Only thing I can think of is to buy one of their cables, lol.

I should mention that this problem started recently, beforewhich all was well.
Click to expand...
I don't know how many slots you have but I always put mine in the first one if it's the only one plugged in. Not sure if it matters. Also you might check for dust in the slots on both the router and the pc.
 
I would break the tab off one end of one Ethernet cable
and try to wiggle it after it is plugged in, if it works when
You lift it, then try and gently wedge the plug in position,
maybe with some folded paper.

Good luck.

Mike.
 
Mike said:
I would break the tab off one end of one Ethernet cable
and try to wiggle it after it is plugged in, if it works when
You lift it, then try and gently wedge the plug in position,
maybe with some folded paper.

Good luck.

Mike.
Click to expand...

That's a resourceful and innovative idea. I could not bring myself to knowingly break a tab off, lol, but, as a result of your suggestion, I tried wedging some folded paper into one side of the port so that the metal strips on the cable would be pushed against the metal strips inside the port. Didn't help, but thanks for the idea. Maybe if I broke the tab off, it would have worked.
 
Mike said:
I would break the tab off one end of one Ethernet cable
and try to wiggle it after it is plugged in, if it works when
You lift it, then try and gently wedge the plug in position,
maybe with some folded paper.

Good luck.

Mike.
Click to expand...
I bet that's what the guy at the store did to his cable. He must plug and unplug it dozens of times day. Bet he got tired having to squeeze those tabs which can get locked in tightly and sometimes can be difficult to access and push.
 
MoBeans said:
I bet that's what the guy at the store did to his cable. He must plug and unplug it dozens of times day. Bet he got tired having to squeeze those tabs which can get locked in tightly and sometimes can be difficult to access and push.
Click to expand...
I reckon that he broke the tab off, in order to be able to move
the plug around in the socket!

I have an Ethernet cable with the tab cut off, I only used it a couple
of times, but it helped to solve a connection problem.

Mike.
 
Mike said:
I reckon that he broke the tab off, in order to be able to move
the plug around in the socket!

I have an Ethernet cable with the tab cut off, I only used it a couple
of times, but it helped to solve a connection problem.

Mike.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I may eventually do that. Hate to 'ruin' a cable, but I suppose it's not really ruining it, if it makes it work right.
 
Your connectivity is wrong ethernet you are connecting to telephone. Buy a cable with the correct connections.
You most likely need a Wi-Fi server. With what you need built into its conectivity and also provide WiFi to your stuff too.
 
old chinese sage he say " many cables look alike and right sizes to fit but no work" - answer?? many cables in the market like identical twins but not same family"?
 
papa tiger said:
Your connectivity is wrong ethernet you are connecting to telephone. Buy a cable with the correct connections.
You most likely need a Wi-Fi server. With what you need built into its conectivity and also provide WiFi to your stuff too.
Click to expand...
No. Read the posts. Someone used an ethernet cable with a modified end (on purpose) to connect to an ethernet port, because it worked better than a normal end. No telephones involved, lol.
 
Rich said:
I have a cable with a broken tab, I've been using it for years šŸ˜¬
Click to expand...
Does it go in any farther than one with a tab ?

Update : I was able to get the tp-link adapter to work. I never did give the store guy $30 for it, if he tested it in the store, because he would not refund my money if it didn't work when I got home.

I got a similar tp-link adapter for $12 on Amazon. I had to download drivers for it from the tp-link website, but after the usual glitches and ambiguities, and guessing what the instructions meant, I did get on the internet with it !

Typing this on my newly repaired computer right now.

Thanks, Rich, and others for all your help !
 
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