No lights on LAN port except when in dock

[rjameson]

I have an A20m that always had a PC card (3com) as the internal was only a modem. I recently purchased a 3com combo LAN/Modem MiniPCI so I can free up the PC card.

Installed & XP found it fine, no errors. Modem works fine but when I plug a network cable - no lights, no connection. If I dock it - lights work and it does connect on the dock and oddly - the lights also mirror on the laptop NIC port as well.

Does this mean the MiniPCI is good and somehow the LAn port is bad on the back of the laptop? I think because the dock works - the MiniPCI is good but find it strange it works thru the dock.

Anyway - if you all think the port is bad - would I only need the port & ribbon cable or is it possible it can be the main board?

Hope someone can help direct me to what needs to be fixed.

[frankiepankie]

Did you check the small flatcable that runs to the miniPCI card ?

[rjameson]

Yes - both ribbon cables are connected to the MiniPCI. I even opened it all up and disassembled to the board level to see if something looks obviously wrong or disconnected - it appeared fine - ribbon going to the LAN socket.

Did you check the small flatcable that runs to the miniPCI card ?

[sjthinkpader]

Does the modem work? If it does, then the LAN socket itself may be at fault.

If it doesn't work as well, check and make sure the cable assembly is plugged in to the socket assembly securely.

[sjthinkpader]

Thinking back about how this is connected on the A2x/2628, the flex connects to the daughter board on the connector plate. The daughter board then plugs into the motherboard. So if the dock port works then the flex is connected properly to the daughter board and to the motherboard.

The LEDs light when the LAN card detects a data link since this is controlled by the 3Com card. So both LEDs lighting even with the dock port working is normal.

The RJ45 port on the Thinkpad may have a bent pin or a cold solder joint.

[rjameson]

Yes - modem worked fine on the laptop - network port not.

As I can visualize - the MiniPCi has the ribbon cable attached that goes back to the Network/Modem socket which is attached to the motherboard. There is a part that can be purchased that is the ribbon cable & socket so was thinking I may go that route (part was like $20.00).

I was thinking the socket may be bad but I will look close at the pins in case they are bent/broken...but w/o them ever being used - I think it may be more of a bad socket or bad connection to the board.

Ron

[sjthinkpader]

Check your PM.