Ethernet not recognising network

[Thrakdain]

Hi all, I'm having a strange issue with my ethernet to my PC recently. I have an ethernet socket downstairs by the router and its connected to another socket upstairs by my PC, when my PC is connected this way it can't recognise the network. However when I connect the same cables to a laptop upstairs it detectes the network just fine, and also when I run a long cable to directly connect my PC to the router it detectes the network just fine. I can't work out why it is only a problemn when my PC connects through the sockets.

 

Any help would be very appreciated and feel free to ask if any other information would be helpful.

 

Ps I'm using windows 11 and have manually updated the ethernet driver already

[Sawa Takahashi]

Please correct me if I'm wrong; you got a wall socket for a network cable (rj-45) close to your router that is wired within the wall to another similar socket near your computer ?

And your computer does not connect when connected through those sockets but your laptop has no issue connecting ?

There can be a few things causing this. First, is your laptop supporting 1 Gbps or more while your laptop only supports 100 Mbps ? Network cables are made with 8 wires and all of them are used in 1 Gbps networks. For 100 Mbps and slower networks, only 4 of the 8 wires are used. So, it is possible that your sockets are only using 4 wires and the other 4 are simply not connected. The workaround is to manually limit the ethernet port on your computer to 100 Mbps speed.

Another possibility is that the ethernet cable in the wall is not rated for 1 Gbps speeds. You need CAT5e, CAT6, or better cable to support speeds of 1 Gbps. Again, if you limit the speed of your Ethernet port on your computer that may solve the issue. Limiting your Ethernet port speed on the router should give the same results too.

Another thing you should check is the Ethernet ports themselves. It is possible that two wires are touching in a socket and that creates a connection problem. Uncross the wires with caution and that should be good.

Good luck !

[Thrakdain]

You were exactly right, the laptop only had 100Mbps so when I tested all the cables and scokets it worked out fine, turns out one of the cables must have had a dud connection somewhere and now that's swapped out it's all working. Interesting that 100Mbps only uses half the cables, the more you know. 

Thank you very much for your help, much appreciated.