WAN Miniport won't activate for hard-wired connection

[Squidward]

Since shortly after buying my Dell Inspiron laptop, I can get online with the wireless only. I cannot use the hard-wired ethernet connection. I can find the WAN Miniport under control panel/change adapter settings, but cannot get it to turn on. If I turn off the wireless, I cannot find a way to get online. This is W7 Home Premium.

Any ideas?

 

[GokAy]

Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) - expand Network Adapters - check whether Ethernet adapter is disabled or have any issues (yellow exclamation or similar)

Then Network and Sharing Center - Change Adapter Settings - see if "Local Area Connection" is there and enabled (right click).

Also when you have the cable plugged in, write in cmd:

ipconfig -all |clip

It will not display anything, but will copy the results to the clipboard. Paste here (CTRL+V).

 

[Squidward]

network connections

On the device manager, there are two listed. Wireless Network Connection Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN and Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter. There is no yellow exclamation point.

The network connections screen shows 2 devices. First is Wireless Network Connection Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card with all green bars lighted.

Second is Wireless Connection 2 Not Connected Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter with all green bars lighted and a bold red X. When I right click on this, it shows enabled. Under Properties/Networking/Configure it shows "This device is working properly."

 

[Squidward]

ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name BLUE
prinaryu dns suffix __
Node type broadcast
IP routing enabled no
wins proxy enabled no

witeless lan adpater wireless network connedction
media state media disconnected
connedction specific dns suffix ____
description dell wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card
physical address 00-26-5E-7D-02-0B
DNCP enabled yes
autonciguration enabled yes
(WIRELESS)

Wireless LAN adapter wireless network connecdtion 2
media state media disconnected
connection specific DNS suffix ___
Description Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Physical Address 00-26-5E-7D-02-0B
DHCP Enabled yes
Autoconfiguraton Enabled Yes

 

[GokAy]

You seem to be missing the Ethernet card. Never heard of such a thing, but can you check Fn key combos for Ethernet? It may also be disabled within BIOS (Setup menu when you first start the PC).

 

[Squidward]

Bios

Running Setup/System Configuration/Integrated NIC shows
enabled=The internal LAN is enabled

 

[Squidward]

Ethernet card

How would the ethernet card be shown in these various menus--I mean what should I be looking for that will identify the ethernet card?

 

[GokAy]

Do you have any unknown device in Device Manager?

In Device Manager it should show as the Manufacturer and model, for example mine show as "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller".

But in Network Connections it is supposed to be (can be renamed) "Local Area Connection" however it should also have the card name visible. The left-most in screenshot..

 

[Squidward]

Thanks so much for all your great help!

The network connections screen shows only these 2 devices--Wireless Network Connection Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card and Wireless Connection 2 Not Connected Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter.

I will look further for something like Realtek and controller.

It appears that this is not a W7 issue, but when I try to create a new broadband connection, I get Error 651: Your modem (or other connecting device) has reported an error. Researching this, I find a lot of references to it occurring commonly in W7, with no real clear single answer yet a lot of different approaches.

Gary

 

[GokAy]

Well, you don't create an Ethernet connection like that. And your card may have a different name. I gave that as an example. There are many network interface card manufacturers and as many models of cards.

What is the exact make/model of your PC?

 

[Squidward]

Dell Inspiron 1545

 

[Squidward]

Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop

 

[GokAy]

According to Dell site, your card is "Marvell 88E80XX 10/100 Ethernet Controller".

Anything remotely close in Device Manager (better yet screenshot Device Manager and post here).

Enter BIOS (Setup Menu) How to enter the BIOS or CMOS setup. (it is supposed to tell you which key when you first start the PC) and check the menus for an LAN/Onboard LAN/NIC or similar name and enable if disabled.

 

[Squidward]

Done. It showed enabled.

 

[GokAy]

Well, can you post a screenshot of Device Manager then? Unhide devices in the upper menus and expand Network Adapters too please. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html (Step 1 for how to screenshot)

 

[Squidward]

I don't know if this is readable.

I did download the Marvell driver and tried to set up a broadband connection. The connections screen now shows 2 Broadband Connections, but when I try to go online without wireless I still get the Error 651.

I ran a Belarc profile just now and it is a little different from one in 2011. I see 3 things appearing in the 2011 profile that are not there today.

Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface


Then and now it shows these controllers:
Controllers
Intel(R) ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
Bus Adapters
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C

 

[GokAy]

I don't know if this is readable

It is perfect. However, you are lacking a network card. And broadband set up is for something else, you are wasting your time with those. Nothing can be done as long as the card is missing in Device Manager. Since it is enabled in BIOS and missing in Windows, I believe it is somehow damaged. When was the last time you used it?

Run as Admin (right click the exe and select admin) - NetAdapter Repair All In One Download
See if "Enable LAN adapter" makes any difference.
Then go back into BIOS and load the defaults How to Clear Your Computer?s CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings

Also there is one final check you can perform to test the hardware. Download and make a bootable USB/DVD of Linux Mint MATE (use Rufus to make bootable USB). Boot the PC with it (no installation needed), when the desktop loads, the connections icon is next to the time (lower right corner). See if LAN is registered.

If everything fails you can perhaps acquire a USB Ethernet card.

 

[Squidward]

I have had only wireless capability for many years.

Thank you so much. This is very helpful and explains everything. I will follow these steps and reply again. I see there are cards available on ebay called charger DC boards, that include the ethernet jack; do you think this would include the bad part? Or would it have to be a dongle kind of thing?

 

[GokAy]

I don't know what kind of device are those, can you give a link to one please? I was thinking of a USB dongle.

 

[Squidward]

<http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charger-DC-Board-for-Dell-Inspiron-1545-Power-USB-VGA-Lan-Ethernet-Port-00835-/271532685293?hash=item3f389bf7ed>