O
12

Spent 3 hours chasing a ghost NIC issue on a Dell Optiplex yesterday

Client's PC kept dropping network randomly. Replaced cable, switch port, drivers - nothing. Turned out the plastic tab on the RJ45 was broken and it wiggled loose just enough under the desk. $0.25 fix after all that time. Anyone else had a simple physical fix that took way too long to find?
3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
3 Comments
jadew63
jadew639d agoMost Upvoted
Had a buddy who spent nearly two hours troubleshooting a printer that would just stop working mid-print. Reinstalled drivers, checked cables, restarted everything. Finally realized the USB cord was slightly bent where it met the port on the printer. A tiny bit of tension when the printer was pushed back on the desk would cut connection. He ended up just taping the cord to the desk leg with electrical tape and it never acted up again.
3
pat_schmidt60
That electrical tape fix is practically a rite of passage for any office worker. Funny how the simplest stuff always ends up being the culprit after you've torn your hair out over every other possibility.
4
kelly_nelson95
Holy crap @jadew63, two hours over a bent USB cord? That's brutal.
3