8600 network port dying?

[jwilker]

Sorry if this has been addressed. On my Firefox the search function wants me to save a PHP file :)

I have an 8600. for the last few months the network port has been acting up. The connection will drop, and if I wiggle the cable a little (Or a lot sometimes) the connection returns. I can go for hours just fine or it'll freak out every 5-10 minutes. I've tried multiple cables. same deal.

Has anyone seem this behaviour?

How dramatic is it to get a new port? I'm guessing that's a send to Dell for help issue.

:(

[Yoob@NBF]

You guessed correctly especially if jiggling is the solution.

[jwilker]

:(

Pretty much figured. Any thought on how long Dell would take to swap a new one in? That's not something I can do right?

[MrEvil]

Definitely sounds like a layer 1 issue (Physical). Dell will tell you the motherboard will need to be replaced. If you're under warranty then they'll take care of it with either mail-in or NBD On-site (whichever coverage you have). If you aren't under warranty Dell's probably going to want $400+ for the board from spare parts. The cheapest I found on eBay was $229 Or I guess you could find a local shop to solder a new NIC jack on the motherboard....failing all that you can always get a PCMCIA NIC.

[jwilker]

ouch! Damn

Sucks that the jack isn't modular for easier replacement. guess that would up the cost a few bucks?

At any rate that sucks. even at 229 that's 1/3 or so toward a new inspiron. Crapola.

In the meantime I ordered a USB nic to hold me over.

thanks for the info

[chevyrulz099]

yea, they make it expensive, and hard on purpose to fix small shit on motherboards.

damn Field replacement units.