Member Avatar for hailsontherocks

Hi all,
this must be the most absurd inquiry in the history of inquiries.
i cannot, for the life of me, locate the plug for the internet networking cable on my tower of my PC computer. it runs ME, and veiwing the help files I came accross a vague suggestion of it being on the "expansion plug of the motherboard". Unfortunately I dont have a screw driver... or maybe fortunately because I cant even remember how grounding the tower works (am i supposed to be touching the comp + the ground, or not so?) AND if i did have a screw driver id probably damage something....

so what i was wondering is... is the plug internal or external, because I sure cannot find it.
Thanks,
Hails

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Godsp3ed

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Generated

As described, the laptop accepts the cable while the tower does not. Building on observations from , and , below are clear diagnostics and safe options that were not covered in the replies.

To confirm what hardware is present in Windows ME: open My Computer → Properties → Hardware → Device Manager. Inspect the "Network adapters" section for a LAN device and the "Modems" section for any dial‑up modem. Devices listed with a yellow exclamation mark usually need drivers. This check determines whether the tower lacks a network interface or only has a modem (which uses smaller phone-style jacks).

Short-term options for a one-off connect: use the laptop to download the required content and transfer it on a USB flash drive, tether a smartphone if available, or move the network cable to the laptop for the few minutes needed. Modern USB-to-network adapters exist, but driver availability for Windows ME is limited; verify ME drivers before buying.

Safe workflow to add a PCI network card (longer term):

  • Power down and unplug the PC; press the power button once to discharge residual power.
  • Ground by touching the metal case; an antistatic wrist strap is preferable.
  • Remove the side panel (some cases have thumbscrews; a small screwdriver is usually required).
  • Locate an empty PCI slot, remove the matching metal blank plate from the back, seat the card perpendicular into the slot, secure the bracket with the screw, replace the panel.
  • Boot and install drivers from the card’s CD or from another machine.

Safety notes: never work inside a PC while it is plugged in; avoid touching gold contacts; avoid static-prone clothing or carpet. For an immediate, low-effort route, a USB flash drive transfer or asking a friend/tech to install a NIC is often the quickest solution.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for gerbil

Most usually external, hails. And you do not say what connection you have from your modem, or whether your modem is internal.. ie a card. But if so, it would have a socket on it protuding to rear. So. Some modems use USB, or Ethernet cables, some offer both. If yours is USB, just plug it to any USB port. Ethernet is just like a slightly larger phone connector.
Grounding yourself means occasionally touching the bare metalwork of the tower.

Member Avatar for Godsp3ed

Its external...IF you have a new motherboard then the network adapter or 'LAN card' will be integrated but the input for the RJ45 (net cable) is always external...If you have an old motherboard and have seperately put a 'Lan Card' on one of the 'bus' slots, you'll have to insert the cable into the 'Lan Card' whose RJ45 port is also outside...So in any case the port where you have to insert the cable is always outside, else you don't have a Lan card...

Member Avatar for hughv

Hi all,
this must be the most absurd inquiry in the history of inquiries.
i cannot, for the life of me, locate the plug for the internet networking cable on my tower of my PC computer. it runs ME, and veiwing the help files I came accross a vague suggestion of it being on the "expansion plug of the motherboard". Unfortunately I dont have a screw driver... or maybe fortunately because I cant even remember how grounding the tower works (am i supposed to be touching the comp + the ground, or not so?) AND if i did have a screw driver id probably damage something....

so what i was wondering is... is the plug internal or external, because I sure cannot find it.
Thanks,
Hails

If you haven't found it, you probably don't have one. It looks exactly like a telephone jack, but larger.
They (PCI Nics) cost about $15.00 and are easy to install.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3350631&CatId=200

Member Avatar for hailsontherocks

Oh dear. the cable (its a network cable, so im guessing ethernet) doesnt fit in any of the jacks. it does fit into my network jack on my laptop(which is the slightly bigger phone jack jack), but there are no network jacks on my computer. there are what seems to be two phonejacks though. one suspects they were for the faxing function which used to be popular. Its a pain because I only need the internet on that beastly machine for about 5 minutes.

Member Avatar for hailsontherocks

I think your on to something here

Member Avatar for Godsp3ed

Oh dear. the cable (its a network cable, so im guessing ethernet) doesnt fit in any of the jacks. it does fit into my network jack on my laptop(which is the slightly bigger phone jack jack), but there are no network jacks on my computer. there are what seems to be two phonejacks though. one suspects they were for the faxing function which used to be popular. Its a pain because I only need the internet on that beastly machine for about 5 minutes.

Well that probably means that you don't have a LAN card but a MODEM which has jacks the size of a phone jack...

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