I would try using ethtool. It basically does and reads anything your eth cards have or can do. I don't know if its included in Ubuntu or whatever distro you are using but it is in suse enterprise 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Hsu <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 19:18:52 
To: Chris G.<thoth.serath at gmail.com>
Cc: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org>
Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Is my NIC card dead?

I tried that command (ifconfig eth0 up) with the NIC card connected to the DSL modem, and nothing happened.  There were no error messages.  So does this mean that my NIC card died and I need to replace it?  Or is there something else I can do?

On Mon, 5 Oct 2009 19:07:13 -0500
"Chris G." <thoth.serath at gmail.com> wrote:

> ifconfig eth1 up
> (assuming eth1 is your wireless cad)
> 
> 
> On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 5:07 AM, Jason Hsu <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com> wrote:
> 
> > I went into BIOS and made sure that the NIC card was enabled.  I booted up
> > in Puppy Linux, and it now detects my NIC card, which wasn't the case
> > yesterday.  I'm also seeing the LEDs on the Ethernet jack light up.  But I'm
> > still unable to connect to the Internet on the laptop, and the Ethernet
> > light on the DSL modem still remains dark.
> >
> > Assuming that the NIC card is asleep and not dead, how do I wake it up?
> >
> > On Mon, 5 Oct 2009 08:06:44 -0500
> > "Chuck Cole" <cncole at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org
> > > > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org]On Behalf Of Jason Hsu
> > > > Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 6:43 PM
> > > > To: tclug-list at mn-linux.org
> > > > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Is my NIC card dead?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Rebooting with the AC power connected and the Ethernet cable connected
> > doesn't help.  What is the mechanism that turns
> > > > the NIC card on and off?  I have both Windows XP and Puppy Linux on the
> > computer, and I'm unable to connect to the
> > > > Internet with either OS.  How do I tell if the NIC card is dead or
> > merely asleep?
> > >
> > > If that didn't work, you may have the NIC turned off in BIOS.  I can't
> > recall what could do that without you knowing if it had
> > > previously been on, but I think I have experienced exactly that before.
> > Otherwise, Use XP (because I know that has all the
> > > visibility needed, and I didn't locate similar visibility in Ubuntu when
> > I had a problem with Ubuntu's low level setup... it's
> > > probably there, just not in a familiar form.).  I think the options are
> > in advanced power management and/or docking options.  I know
> > > there is a docking option that turns off the NIC sometimes, but can't
> > recall whether that resides in BIOS.
> > >
> > > Chuck
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jason Hsu <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
> > tclug-list at mn-linux.org
> > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list
> >
> 


-- 
Jason Hsu <jhsu802701 at jasonhsu.com>

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