A major storm-related outage recently took down my internet service. When service returned, my modem would not power on, so my ISP replaced it. The replacement modem powers up and the ISP confirmed that my connection should be working, but my mini-PC still shows no wired network connection. I tested two Ethernet cables while connecting the PC directly to the modem, and neither produced link or activity lights. Is it likely that the mini-PC's built-in Ethernet port was damaged by the surge, and would it be better to use an adapter or replace the computer?
3 Answers
First test the computer over Wi-Fi, if it has Wi-Fi available, to confirm that the new modem and internet service are actually working. You can also check whether the Ethernet port shows any link or activity lights when the cable is connected. No lights strongly points to a failed network interface, but Wi-Fi or a USB network adapter would be a practical workaround.
It’s quite possible, especially since the original modem also died and the PC is connected directly to it. If there are no link lights with two known-good cables, the Ethernet adapter may have been damaged. Before replacing the mini-PC, try a USB-to-Ethernet adapter; it’s usually inexpensive and avoids having to repair the built-in port.
The damage could have come through the wired network connection during the outage. Since you tested a direct connection with multiple cables and the modem has already been replaced, the PC’s Ethernet hardware is a reasonable suspect. I wouldn’t buy a new computer solely for this—the external adapter is generally much easier and cheaper than replacing a mini-PC motherboard.
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