Fix "a network cable is unplugged" message

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
7,680
Hey guys,
I just got a new wifi Epson printer today and proceeded to install it. I got the installation done on my desktop then followed the directions to install it on my laptop so I can do wireless printing from the laptop. Installation went fine and everything was working great.

Then...all of a sudden my desktop started with the blinking warning message that a "network cable is unplugged". I still can connect to the internet on the laptop, but not the desktop. Can still print wireless from laptop as well. I use a netgear wireless router and the light for the desktop ethernet port is blinking. The desktop says that the Netgear router is working fine, but something is keeping me from connecting to the internet on the desktop. My cable modem seems to be working fine, all lights are on.

Does anybody have any idea what the heck is wrong here???:confused:

Thanks,
Jon
 
I would right click the network Icon on the tray and repair the connection, if that fails, reboot the desktop.

I connected a HP wireless printer in much the same manner you did and had some funny stuff happens later. Good Luck,
Jim
 
Thanks Jim,
I already rebooted but no luck. Maybe somebody else can help. It's strange that the laptop with the wireless, more problem prone connection is fine but the hardwired desktop can't connect to the net. I tried some online forums but they all want you to register before you get your "free trial responses":(, and I'm not in the mood. Besides, BF members are smarter anyway;)
 
If you have an additional port on your router, you might try removing the plug for the desktop and plugging it into a different port.

Sometimes, you can just unplug it and then plug it back in and it will work. The plug may not be seated well in the port.

Another suggestion would be to reboot the router. Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.
 
Turn everything off wifi, router, computer, hell even the laptop. Then fire up the computer. Next turn on the wifi base once the computers botted completely. Then turn on the router. I spent hours trying to connect a PC and a mac with wifi and hard wiring, took me forever to find out that I had to reboot the router to get it to have two computers on it.
 
First off if you are getting through to the internet using your laptop, then there isn't anything wrong with your modem, or malfunctioning on the router.

There are multiple reasons for this connection to fail. First please let me know if you are connecting your desktop using WiFi or with a cable (copper). If you are connecting using copper, are you getting any lights on the NIC, the port you use to plug the network cable (copper) in on your computer, you should have two lights a connection light that is on constantly, and a flashing light that shows activity? Are you getting a solid and flashing light on the port of your router that connects to your computer? If you are not getting any lights, first change your network ports, then your CAT 5e ethernet cable. Next check the config on your router, often the wireless router acts as a DHCP server for a home network, and is limited in the number of IP addresses it can hand out, so in this case if your router is setup to give two addresses, then your printer and laptop are using them. Another option could be that you have an address conflict, especially if you assigned an IP address to your printer. Restarting the router might resolve this issue as well. If none of these options work install a new NIC in your PC, this is cheap and easy, just follow the instructions in the box for your OS.

If you are using WiFi, then make sure that the WiFi card is installed properly, by going to device manager, Start>Control Panel>Hardware or Device Manager and make sure that you don't see any devices that have yellow explanation points or question marks next to them, and that all devices are enabled. Next make sure the security setting are correct on your PC. If this all looks good check the router for proper IP addressing, same as above.

Lastly, if you are using a Symantec Anti-Virus product, uninstall it and re-install it after booting. If you can't uninstall it, Symantec has an uninstaller on their website free for download.
 
estanaway said:
First off if you are getting through to the internet using your laptop, then there isn't anything wrong with your modem, or malfunctioning on the router.

There are multiple reasons for this connection to fail. First please let me know if you are connecting your desktop using WiFi or with a cable (copper). If you are connecting using copper, are you getting any lights on the NIC, the port you use to plug the network cable (copper) in on your computer, you should have two lights a connection light that is on constantly, and a flashing light that shows activity? Are you getting a solid and flashing light on the port of your router that connects to your computer? If you are not getting any lights, first change your network ports, then your CAT 5e ethernet cable. Next check the config on your router, often the wireless router acts as a DHCP server for a home network, and is limited in the number of IP addresses it can hand out, so in this case if your router is setup to give two addresses, then your printer and laptop are using them. Another option could be that you have an address conflict, especially if you assigned an IP address to your printer. Restarting the router might resolve this issue as well. If none of these options work install a new NIC in your PC, this is cheap and easy, just follow the instructions in the box for your OS.

If you are using WiFi, then make sure that the WiFi card is installed properly, by going to device manager, Start>Control Panel>Hardware or Device Manager and make sure that you don't see any devices that have yellow explanation points or question marks next to them, and that all devices are enabled. Next make sure the security setting are correct on your PC. If this all looks good check the router for proper IP addressing, same as above.

Lastly, if you are using a Symantec Anti-Virus product, uninstall it and re-install it after booting. If you can't uninstall it, Symantec has an uninstaller on their website free for download.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer:thumbup: I just got home and it's late, but I'll look into all of these things in the morning. Hopefully I'll get it figured out, because I hate it when the wife bugs me to use my laptop:D:D

Thanks again,
Jon
 
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