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I have a new Windows 10 desktop computer that I ran a brand new CAT6 line from my network switch. Before I got said computer, I tested this new connection on an older Toshiba laptop (also running Windows 10), making sure Wi-Fi was off, and got a full speed connection (verified with Speedtest.net). But when I plugged the new desktop in, it cannot find any connection.
To rule out a bad network adaptor, I ran a longer Ethernet line from another port I had previously installed in another part of the house. To my surprise it worked perfectly. I took this longer CAT6 cable, unplugged it from the wall, and plugged into my new wall plate, and again no connection. I then unplugged this Ethernet cord from the desktop, and plugged it into the old Toshiba laptop, and again the laptop found the signal, and connected to the network.
I have also tried switching this wires at my patch panel, so rule out any issues with my switch not liking this new computer on a specific port, but it seems that this new desktop just doesn't like this wire I ran.
I terminated this new line with a CAT6 keystone jack. Thinking maybe the keystone was defective, I cut the line and terminated with a new keystone.
I have switched out patch cables multiple times (each time the Toshiba laptop accepts the connection, but the desktop does not).
To me this makes zero sense. I could be (probably am) completely wrong, but doesn't a technology like Ethernet either work, or not? How can one computer say the connection is good, and a second later, another computer say it isn't.
Can anyone offer any other tips I could try to make this work? I feel like I have tried all possible troubleshooting steps can think of, but hopefully someone has something to offer.
Thanks in advance! :)
steinikekevin
Posted 2018-04-11T22:46:33.960
Reputation: 1
"and plugged into my new wall plate, and again no connection." - So the problem is the wall plate or the cable running to the wall plate. – Ramhound – 2018-04-12T01:06:04.663
1Have you used a cable tester to check that all wires pass through ? Also, how long is the cable ? – davidgo – 2018-04-12T03:09:57.527
@Ramhound The wall plate and the cable both work with one device, but not the other, I replaced the keystone jack that the wall plate holds, and still the laptop works, but the desktop doesn't. – steinikekevin – 2018-04-12T15:31:09.077
@davidgo Sadly I do not have a cable tester currently, but am planning on picking a new one up. The run from the switch to this new wall plate is about 35', and the patch cables I have tried from the wall to computer range from 3' to 15'. My thinking is something is wrong with my run of cabling from the switch to the wall plate, but to me it doesn't make any sense, because literally any other computer/printer that I plug into this works just fine. Like this new desktop is picky about this specific connection. – steinikekevin – 2018-04-12T15:34:23.780
1I wonder if it could be a faulty wire/pair combined with the way the devices does gigabit negotiation. Gigabit requires all 8 wires, 100 megabit only 4 of them. – davidgo – 2018-04-12T17:45:27.173
You will need a cable tester in order to determine the cause of this behavior and/or provide us enough information, to answer the question. – Ramhound – 2018-04-12T20:57:31.137
If your switch is of the managed variety, alot of the newer Soho switches have a layer-1 (physical) test in the web gui. Some of the Linksys/cisco small business switches even have a TDR test. If you have checked the pins on the wall Jack and switch, and feel they are infact terminated properly, turn off "green ethernet" features in the problematic computers network adapter. It can fail to accurately determine wire length properly. – Tim_Stewart – 2018-04-14T16:37:04.383