After a severe storm-related power outage, my ISP's modem stopped working and had to be replaced. The replacement modem now powers on, and the ISP confirmed that service should be available, but my mini-PC still reports no network connection. I connected the PC directly to the modem and tested two different Ethernet cables, but neither produced link or activity lights. Could the surge have damaged the mini-PC's built-in Ethernet adapter, and is there a practical way to confirm it before replacing the computer?
2 Answers
It’s quite possible, especially since the original modem was also killed. A surge can travel through the cable connection and damage Ethernet hardware. Since you tested the PC directly with two known-good cables and get no link lights, the built-in network adapter may have failed. Check whether the Ethernet port shows any lights when connected; no lights strongly suggests there’s no physical link.
Before replacing the mini-PC, try a USB-to-Ethernet adapter or a USB Wi-Fi adapter. They’re inexpensive and bypass the built-in network port entirely. If one of those works, the computer itself is probably fine and only the internal Ethernet hardware was damaged.
On a mini-PC, replacing the internal network card may be difficult or impractical, but an external USB adapter is usually the simplest solution.
You can use Wi-Fi on a phone or another device to verify that the replacement modem is actually providing internet. If Wi-Fi works, the problem is isolated to the mini-PC or its Ethernet connection.