Why can't my Ethernet/USB adapter decide if it's plugged in or not?
January 15, 2015 9:52 AM   Subscribe

I bought an Ethernet/USB adapter for my Dell laptop which doesn't have a USB port. Every few minutes the computer will make the "usb was disconnected sound", and then after about 3 seconds, it will think it's plugged back in. This causes a disconnect in my internet. Why does it do this? How can I fix it?
posted by crawltopslow to Computers & Internet (18 answers total)
 
Flaky plug and/or connector would be the first place to look. Does your laptop have a second USB port you can try to use and see if you see the same problem?
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:00 AM on January 15, 2015


I bought an Ethernet/USB adapter for my Dell laptop which doesn't have a USB port.

I assume what you mean is that it doesn't have an ethernet adapter and you are using a USB ethernet adapter. I suggest checking USB power settings. Uncheck anything involving "turn off this device to save power" or the like. This is of course assuming you've tried other USB ports, tried the adapter in other machines, et cetera.

If you actually meant your laptop doesn't have USB and you have some weird ethernet to USB adapter, well, you're on your own because that sort of insanity is way outside my wheelhouse.
posted by Sternmeyer at 10:01 AM on January 15, 2015


Response by poster: My laptop has USB ports, it doesn't have ethernet port. Yes I have tried all the other ports, and restarting my laptop. I will try finding this USB power settings now.
posted by crawltopslow at 10:03 AM on January 15, 2015


Response by poster: Ok, I tried that, and restarted, still having the same problem. FYI I have had some days where I use it for 6 hours straight, no problem, but some days where it disconnects every few minutes all day. I have only been using it for about 5 days so far though. The same problem seemed to be happening whenever I would plug my Note 3 into my usb port too FYI. But it doesn't seem to happen with my USB mouse or USB keyboard.
posted by crawltopslow at 10:11 AM on January 15, 2015


Swap USB ports between the Ethernet adapter and the keyboard (or mouse). See if you experience the same problem when the keyboard (or mouse) is connected to the original USB port. If so, then it's a problem with the port. If not, then it's most likely a problem with the Ethernet adapter.
posted by alex1965 at 10:40 AM on January 15, 2015


Response by poster: I swapped the mouse and ethernet, and the mouse continues to work fine, but the ethernet one keeps disconnecting/reconnecting. So it seems to be something to do with the ethernet adapter, but it has gone a full day without disconnecting (while I was streaming the BCS championship football game)
posted by crawltopslow at 11:24 AM on January 15, 2015


Response by poster: By the way in my original post, I meant my laptop doesn't have an ethernet port. It does have 4 USB ports.
posted by crawltopslow at 11:56 AM on January 15, 2015


Try the USB adapter on another system. These things are generally pretty cheap and not all of them are especially reliable.

I haven't bought one in a while so don't have a recommendation to offer. Out of curiosity what adapter and model of laptop are we dealing with? Maybe their is another option.
posted by WillRun4Fun at 1:01 PM on January 15, 2015


Go to the device properties for the Ethernet port and uncheck whatever the setting is that powers it down whenever it wants to. Windows, right?
posted by rhizome at 2:26 PM on January 15, 2015


Flaky adapter (or flaky drivers for same) would be my first guess.
posted by neckro23 at 4:00 PM on January 15, 2015


Move things around or get a longer cable so there's no tension on any connection between your laptop and the ethernet cable.

Also, I would try a second cable.

I agree that the adapter is likely the culprit, though; I've had a few headaches with a coworker's connection, including the fact that his adapter refuses to work with a known good and currently tested cable that's wired into his office.
posted by Sunburnt at 6:14 PM on January 15, 2015


Response by poster: this is the exact adapter and my laptop is : DELL XPS 15 9530 i7-4702HQ. i have used 3 different ethernet cords, and have tried changing the tension and everything, it didn't work. I won't have access to another machine to try it on until tomorrow.

Is there a good brand, or a more reliable adapter that anyone recommends? At this point i'm absolutely willing to buy a new one.
posted by crawltopslow at 6:31 PM on January 15, 2015


Try typing the command ping -n 999999 google.com into a cmd window, then minimizing the cmd window after you start seeing ping responses.

If that works around your issue, take rhizome's advice.
posted by flabdablet at 8:48 PM on January 15, 2015


My crummy cable company (Optimum in the Bronx) regularly provides random short internet interruptions. So maybe your internet disconnections are just that, rather than problems with your USB ports, or with the adapter.

I'm not familiar with any "usb was disconnected sound". My computers don't have that. Maybe what you're actually hearing is an "internet was disconnected" sound.
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:17 PM on January 15, 2015


I'm not familiar with any "usb was disconnected sound". My computers don't have that.

Windows has it. It uses the same sound for VGA disconnection. It doesn't use it for unplugging network cables.
posted by flabdablet at 10:58 PM on January 15, 2015


Best answer: this is the exact adapter

brandless ebay crap, yep. i'm willing to bet there's some kind of actual hardware fault going on here. bad solder joint between the cable and the circuit board inside, slight internal short somewhere that causes the device to reset cyclically, something.

the cheapest i ever go with anything like this is neweggs house brand, rosewill. it always FEELS like cheap plastic crap, but always works, and somehow lasts for years(although my portable dvd writer needs to be smacked to open now, but hey, it still works! going on... almost 4 years now). I've also had totally great experiences with newegg and replacing their house brand stuff, or stuff they personally resell as refurbished really quickly if it's defective or screws up.

alternatively, spend another $10 and buy a real brand name fully above-board one that you know will be good.

try and use ebay buyer protection to get your money back, sorry you got boned. i've gotten way more defective stuff from brandless ebay sellers lately than i ever have in the past.
posted by emptythought at 4:51 AM on January 16, 2015


Best answer: Intermittent fault in the board of the adapter.

This adapter is good and is the universal choice of most technicians I know.
posted by TomMelee at 9:14 AM on January 16, 2015


Response by poster: Thanks, I ordered the pluginbrand one today. Appreciate all the help!
posted by crawltopslow at 3:42 PM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]


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