Network cable unplugged msg- but it's not

Hi Everyone,
I have 3 computers I am trying to network. Two will connect to the internet fine but my Dell desktop is giving me the message "network cable unplugged". It is a brand new cat5e cable and it is not unplugged. Here are some details:
Using cable modem
Linksys 4 port router
I have powered down both several times in the last week, then powered back up the cable first (waited for the lights, etc) then the router. No luck.
I have tried switching cables and ports.
I have tried to ping the isp -cannot read host
I have tried ipconfig - ip address is 169. etc.
And finally I tried connecting the Dell directly to the cable modem, bypassing the router completely and it is not connecting. Doesn't this narrow it down to a problem with the computer and not the router?
Also, I pinged the router and the DHCP is enabled and was set for 2 users, so I changed it to 4. Said the change was successful so I thought maybe that would be it but - I was wrong again! I called my cable company and they said their are no limits on the number of addresses pinged to their system. They told me a couple things to try but I had already tried them.
If anyone has any ideas I would sure appreciate the help - there will soon be a hole in my wall from me banging my head against it
Thanks, DYP

 

So you are saying you have taken one of the cables that works with the two other computers and plugged it in from the router to the dell that doesn't work, and after doing this you still recieve a cable unplugged message? If that is exactly what you did then the problem is with the NIC in the dell computer.

As far as plugging the modem directly into the computer well, that may have failed simply because you were using a cross over instead of a straight through cable. In fact that could be were all your problems are coming from.

Either way, it's either, you're using the wrong type of cat5e cable or the NIC in the dell is not working correctly.

 

If this is the first time you're plugging cat5 into the computer, the ethernet card may not have the drivers loaded or they've become corrupted or outdated. Try checking in the Device Manager for Network Adapters. You may want/need to visit the support area of the Dell website to find the updated drivers if it's an onboard card and not in an expansion slot. If it's in an expansion slot, you may need to visit the manufacturer's website for drivers.

 

You can not take literally the message what it means that there is No network connection on a hardware level.

Start with the Computer Network related hardware installation and Up.

 

Thanks for the info. the NIC is the one that came with the Dell, I have not added anything to the computer so I don't think there is anything in the expansion slot. It is a Broadcom440K Integrated Controller. There is an icon in the Control Panel for the Broadcom Suite and it has a test area. When I run the test it says "cannot retrieve link status" - failed. Under the vital signs tab it says: Driver: Loaded. Normal operating mode.
Also, under Network Connections (control panel) - right click on LAN Connection - properties - click configure under the Broadcom440K and under the General tab it says - This device is working properly.....

This morning I tried (again) to use an extra (regular) cat5 cable I had laying around to plug directly into the cable modem and computer - cannot find server.


I thought maybe a little more background might be helpful. The Dell is a 4600C only about 6 months old, winXp home edition. I was using a regular cat5 until I decided to move the system across the room then I needed a longer cable so I bought a 25' cat5e. Did my rearranging and plugged it all in and it was working fine with the new cable and had no problem with the laptop either. Then we inherited an HP(it's about 1 year old) from my husbands work. We decided to put it where the Dell had been. Plugged it in to the router and at first couldn't get it to connect to the internet but the other 2 computers were fine. Did the power down thing a couple times and eventually the HP connected but that is when my Dell stopped connecting and so did the laptop.
I went to the Linksys website because I noticed the Link/Act light blinking on the laptops port. Found the answer to that in their knowledge base - changed the dup/speed to 10Mb half and the blinking stopped and the net popped right up. But my Dell hasn't connected since. Could the change in the laptops connection have anything to do with the Dell's problem?? Doesn't seem like it should. Could the HP be interferring in some way?
Do you think I should try downloading a new driver to a disk and reinstalling?
Sorry this is so long but I have tried so many different things it's ridiculous.
I really appreciate your time! Thanks so much. DYP

 

You could try changing the connection speed like you did with the laptop on the Dell. With the onboard connections, though, you may not get an activity light. It looks like the onboard is fine. I'm hoping that on your router there are lights blinking that signal a connection and activity, because I had a port that just stopped working, switched ports and it worked. The port has since begun working again, but that was a quick fix that I was trying.

 

I tried that too So I just brought up the router info and tried disabling the DHCP. Didn't work for the Dell but the HP & Laptop now are both getting the address conflict message. Checked the ip addresses and both were the same. I went back and enabled the DHCP again. Both are connecting ok, but still not the Dell.

I do have lights on ports for the HP & Dell. The laptop only has the green Link/Act light ever since I changed the speed. I have never been this stumped. I even called a guy in the newspaper that advertises helping with networks. The best he could do was find some sites to research on the net. He didn't offer to come out, I guess because he didn't have a clue!! Thanks for replying and I'm open to anymore suggestions!!! DYP

 

I have good news!!!! I used the System Restore and set a checkpoint back 2 weeks to Aug. 1. That is as far back as it was letting me go. The computer was working back then. It worked, I am now sending this message from my Dell. Thanks for your time and input it is very much appreciated. Now maybe my head will stop hurting from all the banging against the wall!! a happy DYP

 

Good thinking. I wasn't even thinking of that since I haven't had to use it.