Mac Mini not seeing ethernet connection, options?

[Pnoder]

I'm trying to get my father's Mini back up and running for him, his connection has been slow recently but acceptable for his needs until I could get here. As of this morning the mini has no connection at all.

This post is from my macbook made using his ethernet connection.

He had a problem a few months ago which was resolved by taking the wireless router out of the loop. Now that I'm here it seems like the router died at some point. A direct cable modem to mini ethernet connectio worked. Now, on the mini only and only since yesterday I'm getting an error message about having a self assigned IP and have no valid connection. Here is what I've tried.

I verified a good cable. All three that I've tried work fine with my macbook, not at all with the mini. So the modem and the ethernet cable are not it.

I reset the pram.

I created a new location.

I turned off IPv6.

I checked the pins in the mac mini ethernet socket.

I restarted with and without the cable attached. I've confirmed the connection over and over.

The status lights at the port on the modem look the same with the macbook or the mini. Flashing green activity, solid green 100mb/s.

I can't find the hardware test disk if it came with one, are they machine specific or can I try one from an iMac of around the same age?

This is a 1.25ghz G4 with 1gb or RAM running OS X 10.4.11

I'm only here another 24 hours and I'd really like to get this solved before I leave if possible. I don't use Terminal much but I'm not afraid to use it if I can get some specific instructions.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[mikebw]

You could try connecting the two macs together with an ethernet cable, see if the mac book can see the mini. The port could be dead.

[btfc]

Try a new user.

[Forrest]

Try unplugging the cable modem POWER cable for 5 minutes and then plug it back in. If the mini's ethernet is still not functioning, then it sound like a hardware issue. Quickest way to fix this is to buy a new wireless router for the cable modem and connect wirelessly with the mini. You should be able to find a 802.11g Netgear router at Staples or Best Buy for $40.

[mikebw]

If the Ethernet jack is in fact dead then you could also get a USB network adapter, although I have never used one I hear that does work.

[Paul F.]

(short on time, my reply will be brief)

HW test disks ARE machine specific... have to use the original disk set disk, hopefully you can turn it up.

Try creating another user on the computer, logging in as that user, and seeing if things work. That will help narrow down if it's hardware, or software.

See if you can boot (via target disk mode) from another Mac, and test... this will also confirm whether it's hardware or software.

Hope this helps!

[Janit]

I'd turn off and reboot everything. Then verify function with your macbook, and read the IP information assigned to the macbook by the modem. Then try assigning the Mini's IP manually.

[anonymouse1]

Try a new user account.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Have you reset the CUDA/PMU? Have you tried a direct networking connection between the mini and the Macbook?

[Jimmypoo]

I had to go the FireWire and/or USB adapter (wireless) route. Had to use two routers because Airport won't stay connected to the USB 802.11b/g transceiver sold here.