Ethernet port thingy

amyb_2

Hi Guys,

After an answer to a question please.

But please be aware I am technologically inept so any explanation will need simple words and hand movements for me to understand.
Basically I am going o try an set up a new broadband setup thingy on my laptop but problem is that to set it up you need an ethernet (?) port thingy anyways my flatmate dropped my laptop and the bit where you plug the cable in sorta cracked and I can’t get any cable to fit in there – meaning I can’t connect my laptop to the router thing to set it up.
Anyways my question is – is it replaceable in a laptop (as it doesn’t look like it is) or do I need to buy a whole new laptop (which I can’t afford and I like this one as it’s a nice blue colour)
Any responses greatly appreciated.
Thanks

backatthepostbox

Hi there,

In general, on laptops, these things are built onto the main board so you would need to be handy with a soldering iron, get and fit a new mainboard or get a new laptop to rectify that way, all quite expensive options.

However, if your laptop has USB ports (most do) you can get a USB to Ethernet adaptor which should sort your out.

Something like this.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46792&doy=2m4&C=SO&U=strat15

If you need any more help with it, just let me know.

Regards
batpb

C_Ronaldo

Whats been suggested would suffice until you come to the time where you change your laptop

BillScarab

Or you should be able to get PCMCIA ethernet adapter if your laptop has a PCMCIA slot. Alternatively is your laptop wireless? If so use it with a wireless router.

It's normally best to set routers up via a LAN cable but you could borrow a laptop to do that.

isofa

I'd go for the PC card/PCMCIA card option suggested by Bill, you should be able to find them for a tenna, Netgear, 3Com, Kingston etc - popular brands, and it's direct so you won't have any hassle with USB drivers, and nor will you have a dongle hanging off the laptop. But only if you have a PC card/PCMCIA/cardbus card slot!

This is the quickest I could find for £24 is this Netgear one from Dabs, but much cheaper ones if you do a search, and try eBay too!

BritBrat

isofa wrote: »

I'd go for the PC card/PCMCIA card option suggested by Bill, you should be able to find them for a tenna, Netgear, 3Com, Kingston etc - popular brands, and it's direct so you won't have any hassle with USB drivers, and nor will you have a dongle hanging off the laptop. But only if you have a PC card/PCMCIA/cardbus card slot!

This is the quickest I could find for £24 is this Netgear one from Dabs, but much cheaper ones if you do a search, and try eBay too!

Not much good if you can't access the router to setup the wireless or even turn it on.

Go for a wired connection first them look at wireless later.

EDITED:

Sorry never noticed.
NetGear 10/100 CardBus Ethernet Card with built in RJ-45

amyb_2

BillScarab wrote: »

Or you should be able to get PCMCIA ethernet adapter if your laptop has a PCMCIA slot. Alternatively is your laptop wireless? If so use it with a wireless router.

It's normally best to set routers up via a LAN cable but you could borrow a laptop to do that.

Hi. thanks everyone for the answers. My Lappy is wireless but i need the cabley thing to set it up apparently?? Not got anyones i could borrow either. The PCMCIA slot is knackered as well (it was that corner that got squished!)

So best bet is to go for one of those USB adaptors then. £25 - guess thats not as bad as it could have been.

Thanks again.

isofa

BritBrat - I meant wired ethernet PC Cards not wifi...

amyb - £25 is a lot, have a look on e-bay (only buy new from good sellers), and dabs.com, I'm sure you can get them for £10 to £15, also try Amazon and MyMemory.com

vyseyboy

I can always set up my router by accessing it via wireless... it defaults to an open security-less network at first. Sure yours isn't the same? After you set it up, you would of course have to remember / write down wpa / wep passwords so you don't forget and block yourself from your own wireless.

totalsolutions

you can also set them up with a prog called "telnet" via a serial cable, but I wont go into that. As an engineer I would replace the rj45 socket. Wireless should work, do not update any firmware over a wireless link though.