I recently installed a TP-Link Archer AX55 and connected it to my modem. Before that, my PC connected directly to the modem over Ethernet without any problems. After moving the Ethernet cable from the modem to the router, the PC no longer gets a wired connection through the router—or even when I reconnect it directly to the modem. The Ethernet port LEDs on the back of the PC do not light up at all. I reinstalled the LAN drivers through Device Manager and confirmed that Wi‑Fi works normally. I also reseated the cable, which appears to be functional. Could the onboard network adapter or port be disabled, stuck, or damaged?
4 Answers
Check whether the Ethernet adapter is disabled in the operating system or firmware, and look in Device Manager for an error code rather than just reinstalling the driver. A USB Ethernet adapter is also a useful test: if that works immediately, the onboard NIC or its physical port may have failed.
If the port still has no LEDs with multiple known-good cables and different network devices, the PC's Ethernet jack may be dead. Before assuming the router caused damage, test the router port with another computer or adapter and inspect the PC jack for bent contacts or debris.
Power-cycle everything instead of only moving the cable. Shut down the PC, unplug the modem and router, wait a few minutes, then power up the modem first, the router next, and the PC last. Some modems need to be restarted whenever the connected device changes because they remember the previous device.
No link lights usually point to a physical connection problem rather than an IP or driver issue. Try a different Ethernet cable, make sure both plugs click firmly into place, and test another port on the router or modem. If possible, connect a second computer to the same cable and port to see which side is failing.
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