Ethernet troubleshooting involves several factors. It's rarely easy for a home user to distinguish between Ethernet networking issues and operating system issues, so there are a few basic steps you can take to determine where the issue lies.
Check your Ethernet networking hardware.
Is your Ethernet cable securely plugged into the Ethernet port on both ends? Try jiggling the Ethernet cable in the Ethernet port, and if you get a signal, you know it's a connection problem. Likewise, you could try swapping out the Ethernet cable with another Ethernet cable that you know is functional elsewhere, or a brand-new one. If it works when you swap the cable, it's probably a cable issue.
It's more difficult to check other network hardware. If you have additional Ethernet cards, you could try swapping out the Ethernet card in your computer to see if it's a hardware issue. Likewise, if you have both routers and switches, try removing the router, and just connect your devices to the switch. If the switch lights are indicating that the cables are connected and transmitting properly, it's probably a router or configuration issue.
Refresh or confirm your IP address.
Sometimes people run into Ethernet networking issues with a duplicate IP address. Check the IP address on your computer and any other devices on your network. If any of your devices have the same IP address, you'll need to disconnect the device and reconnect it to get a new IP address, or reboot your router. If you use a static IP address, make sure the IP address is correct.
Test your wireless and wired connections.
Some network protocols cause conflicts when you try to use wireless and wired connections simultaneously. If you're having trouble with an Ethernet connection, disconnect and disable your wireless networking. Try rebooting your computer with the Ethernet cable plugged in, and see if that resolves the issue.
Disable network bridging.
Not all networks are made alike, and some have trouble when your computer is set for network bridging. To see if this resolves your issue, disable network bridging, and turn off multiple connections. This may vary depending on your operating system and computer configuration, so consult your OS help files or manufacturer's documentation for information on turning this feature off.
Inspect the device drivers in your Device Manager.
If you've installed an Ethernet card for the first time, you could have a device driver conflict or installation issues. In Windows, go to your Control Panel, System and Device Manager to take a look at all of the hardware devices installed in your system. Look for Network Adapters under the Hardware tab. You could run into a few potential signs of trouble here.
If your network adapter is present, but it has a yellow exclamation sign or a red X through it, the device drivers are either not present or not working properly. Install the drivers again.
You may also see no network adapters at all, but instead you'll see "other devices" with a yellow question mark. In this case, Windows has failed to identify the device properly, and you'll still need to install the correct drivers.
 | What is Ethernet? Ethernet is the technology that makes office and home networking possible. |
 | How does Ethernet work? Ethernet is both a type of cable and the protocol that it uses, and Ethernet networking is in practically every home today. |
This brief Ethernet definition and description can help you understand why it is so easy to access files on your work or home computer networks. |
Find articles about what is ethernet, ethernet troubleshooting, ethernet definition and how does ethernet work. |
