Do I need a new "ethernet card"?

Question

After a thunderstorm my ethernet light wasn't lit on my DSL. When I unplugged the ethernet cord from either the DSL modem or the PC itself the ethernet light lit up. Ofcourse it still didn't work though.

Does that mean I ruined the ethernet card? Why does it light up when I unplug the ethernet card instead of when it's in the modem or PC itself??

Answer 1

Could be either the modem or the Ethernet card on your PC.  I'd suspect the modem.

I'd strongly recommend that you get a surge protector that protects your modem.

In my case I have a cable modem - I have a surge protector for the cable coming in before the cable modem, then the Ethernet out of the cable modem before it goes to the router.  Then I have another surge protector at each PC for the Ethernet coming from the router before it goes to the PC Ethernet card.

Lightning surges can travel through the structure of you home and pop into the wiring virtually anywhere.

----ps--------

The light on the modem/PC is called a link light.  It's supposed to be on when you have a good physical connection.  If you have the proper cables connected and everything powered on - the light should be lit.