Posted on 12/05/2024 3:06:23 PM PST by knarf
We're forced to use COMCAST . . . (got THAT out of the way)
My wife's computer has been hooked into our internet wirelessly with an etherneg plug for a couple of years.
We had an electrical outage this afternoon for about an hour and a half and when it came back on, after going through some set-up things, I got up and running with no problems.
Then Liza came home.
She cannot get connected and I've tried the shut down and wait thing to no avail.
Diagnostic says the ethernet connection is what has failed.
Can that USB type ethernet plug have been fried ?
Yes, but it is a simple and easy change-out.
Do you happen to have the same type on another PC that you could swap to see if it is the e-net/usb network connector?
I just didn't know if the plug could get fried and it IS an easy fix (above)
You kinda have it wrong if you are connected via ethernet you don’t use wireless. It’s either or. You sure have an ethernet cable going directly to the comcast router?
It's not impossible that the power outage - or more specifically, how the power came back - could have created a brief power surge on the AC line that (somehow) transferred to the USB-to-Ethernet adapter and fried it. The "somehow" is the tricky part. Neither USB nor Ethernet are normally associated with the AC line, so it's not obvious from what you wrote, how that would happen.
However a common cause of adapters frying is ESD - electrostatic discharge - typically from a person's body. The old thing of shuffling across a carpet and touching a doorknob or light switch and drawing a spark. It's winter, humidity can get very low, and dry conditions make ESD much more likely.
So I would place my bet on ESD and a coincidence with the outage. But that's just a guess.
Your ethernet cable will typically be connected from your wife's computer's ethernet plug-in port to an ethernet port on your router.
There is no cable with a wireless connection.
BTW, ESD can kill electronics at a surprisingly low level — too small for you to feel or hear or see. It doesn’t have to be a visible or “feel-able” discharge to damage electronics.
MY computer is connected with an ethernet cable . . . . HERS at the other end of our mobile home is connected via the ethernet plug.
MY computer is connected with an ethernet cable . . . . HERS at the other end of our mobile home is connected via the ethernet plug.
I’ve had dongles burn out before. They new ones are probably 10 times faster running USB-C.
Windows or Apple?
Windows will have tools where you can examine the Internet connection - Settings, Network & Internet.
You might have to turn the WiFi on and sign into your router, if her connection is defaulting to a broken ethernet port.
Ethernet cables don’t get fried. There’s either a short or open and if it’s an older cable it’s probably an open meaning a broken wire. Ethernet cable testers are cheap at a Lowe’s, Home Depot or Walmart but in reality a new Cable is probably cheaper.
Inductive coupling can occur when significant nearby lightning strikes create an electromagnetic field that passes over the cabling. I have seen it take out modems, ethernet cards, fax machines, networking cable drops, etc.
Spikes resulting from a power loss (even with line conditioners) typically damage power supplies.
If the computer powers up, it was probably inductive coupling. If there was no storm activity, it could be component failure due to wear and tear.
It can be replaced.
First things first, check to make sure everything is plugged in correctly. Test the cable on another system.
Could be something as simple as the cable failed...the computer may be fine.
Where does the plug lead to?
I'm a firm believer in the weirdest things are more and more showing up in our lives as we approach His Second coming, revival in America, or Satan is REALLY freaked at what the miracle of President Trump has in store for him.
[MY computer is connected with an ethernet cable . . . . HERS at the other end of our mobile home is connected via the ethernet plug.]
I call it a plug because I don't know WHAT to call it . . . . Ralph ? . . . . Bubba ? (no, can't be . . . . that's our black Lab)
“There is no cable with a wireless connection.”
His is wired. Hers is wireless. No cable.
“First things first, check to make sure everything is plugged in correctly. Test the cable on another system”
She is connecting wirelessly.
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