Laptop network card issue

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bit

19 posts

Geek

#90274 18-Sep-2011 15:45

Hi all, been struggling with this for a few months now, wondering if anyone could suggest what might be causing this? I've got about 300GB to get off it, and at 100Mb it's slow going!

The issue is my Elitebook 8530p (approx 2 yrs old) will not connect at gigabit speed. Running Win7 x64, latest windows updates, latest bios, latest nic drivers from intel (tried from hp site too).

The nic is an Intel 82567LM (Gigabit Network Connection).

Whenever it's set to Auto Negotiate on a gigabit network, it connects at 100/Full.

If I set it to Gigabit/Full it reports no network cable connected.

My desktop (atheros card) and another laptop (Intel 82579LM) using the same cable and same switch port connect at gigabit with no trouble.

Cables I'm testing with are cat5e. Have tried direct connection between laptops, as well as with the switch, symptoms remain the same.

I have the intel proset features installed and run the diag tests on the properties of the nic, comes back with no issues.

Checked all the advanced properties compared the laptop which works fine - all the same.

I have checked through the bios in case there was a limit set there - can't see anything.

I do have vmware workstation installed, which of course hooks into the network stack but I can't think that it would be the cause.

One strange thing I have come across is that if I go to safe mode with networking, I can't get to the properties of the nic - device manager freezes when I try.

My next step is to reinstall windows, or can someone suggest a (linux?) OS on a cd that I can boot and easily check how the card is behaving?

webwat

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#523241 19-Sep-2011 20:42

Are you using the same cable that tested ok on the other gigabit links? It does sound like the NIC might be running the gigabit stuff properly, or not connecting all 4 pairs. Or perhaps its set to a different frame size?

Time to find a new industry!

richms

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#523246 19-Sep-2011 20:51

Have seen this before on a friends computer. Not sure if it was software or hardware because it broke before we bothered to troubleshoot it.

One thing to watch out is that some gig nics will work at gig on a crossover cable, some will only do 100 meg. Check you have no crossover cables around the place.

Richard rich.ms

bit

19 posts

Geek

#523299 19-Sep-2011 22:51

Thanks guys. Yes using the same cables that tested ok on other gb nics.

I suspect it's not connecting on all 4 pairs. The pins all look straight, but maybe they're dirty. I'll need to try cleaning them.

Definitely no crossovers in the mix (although I tried with and without one - I suspect my crossover is only 100Mb so it's not a viable test anyway)

If it's not dirty pins, the card could be half dead? - is that a possiblity?

bit

19 posts

Geek

#523766 20-Sep-2011 21:14

Gave the pins a clean with IPA - still the same.

I guess it's half dead? Are there any network port diagnosis tools readily available that could tell me if it's connecting with some pairs and not others?