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DIGIT-ARC / Hardware / Hardware Q&A

is my Ethernet dead?

10 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/is-my-ethernet-dead.144627/

vinayan
vinayan Original post #1
Aug 3, 2011 at 9:01 PM
Hi all.. i need your help..
there was a lightning last week when i was not home and my parents said that there was a burning smell from my modem..when i tried to connect to internet, it worked through the USB connector..but the LAN light from the modem is not blinking now...i really want to install linux in my system and i know it is going to be hell without the ethernet connector..please tell me if it is a modem issue or something in the motherboard..my modem is iball baton ADSL2..:sad:
mithun_mrg
mithun_mrg #2
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:12 AM
try a spare set of Ethernet cable or u have to install a new lan card
mithun_mrg
mithun_mrg #4
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Rs. 200-250 normal one but get a Dlink for .4-.5K for better performance
Zangetsu
Zangetsu #5
Aug 4, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Cheap ones are also there as low as 100 but as mithun_mrg said get a genuine brand such as intex,TechCom or Dlink.
P
pimpom #6
Aug 5, 2011 at 10:52 AM
@OP - You're lucky that only the LAN interface was damaged. I've known several cases where lightning rendered the whole motherboard useless. For example, there was this incident about 7 years ago:

Three days after I assembled a computer for a customer, lightning struck their neighbourhood gaming network. The new computer wouldn't even turn on. On checking it, I found that some part of the motherboard was completely shorting the power supply rail to ground. I felt really sorry for the owner and replaced the motherboard for its actual cost to me.

Two years later, I had an idea and checked the motherboard again. Sure enough, the lightning had blown pieces off the top of the LAN chip. I downloaded the chip datasheet and identified the power supply pins. Then I disconnected that from the circuit and Voila! the motherboard came back to life.

I installed a spare PCI network card and assembled a complete rig using other spare parts. That computer is still one of the four in my home network.

Here's a picture of the blown LAN chip:

*i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/keimah/Blown_chip.jpg
xtremevicky
xtremevicky #7
Aug 5, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Woah. That is some damage !
Skud
Skud #8
Aug 5, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Blown away really!!! How the mobo survived, is a massive chunk of luck.
vinayan
vinayan #9
Aug 8, 2011 at 9:05 PM
hi guys..just to inform you..i managed to configure modem through usb itself by running 'lsusb' and adding a file in the rules.d folder..a great feeling solving this..
attached is a screen from my linux..it looks cool..now i have to learn it..

by the way, seeing the motherboard,i have a big sigh of relief..i just escaped..
P
pimpom #10
Aug 8, 2011 at 9:36 PM
Glad to know your problem is solved, and I understand your pleasure in solving it. Congrats.

One thing though. In general, LAN connections are more stable than USB ones. So I suggest you keep the option of fitting a LAN card in mind.