A warning about the network jack on the laptops

[Ioman]

While I was in Las Vegas attending CES back in January I left the ethernet cable plugged into my 200A5 laptop while I was away at the show. When I got back to my room, I was not able to get the cable out of the ethernet port. Since the cable was the hotels and therefore attached to the wall, I had to force it out of the laptop. It damaged my port and now I cannot get any ethernet cable to stay attached to the port, it is not clicking in correctly.

Since this is my first laptop I was not aware that if you left the computer on and the cable in the ethernet port for extended periods of time, the plastic on the jack can actually expand. This is the reason why I had to force it out. I could not wait for it to cool because I would have missed my flight. Apparently this happens to most laptops and is not limited to our VPR brand.

Just a warning guys! Right now BB is working on "fixing" the problem. Apparently they had to order some parts. It will be a 2 week wait or me.:(

[Angus]

Originally posted by Ioman
Since this is my first laptop I was not aware that if you left the computer on and the cable in the ethernet port for extended periods of time, the plastic on the jack can actually expand. This is the reason why I had to force it out. I could not wait for it to cool because I would have missed my flight. Apparently this happens to most laptops and is not limited to our VPR brand.

Oof, bummer. I had noticed that phenominon happening to me also. I thought maybe it was just my cable or something. I've found that you gotta depress the little tab on the RJ45 plug COMPLETELY before you even have a chance. This usually means pinching the **** out of your fingers. I also found if you squeeze it, push in slightly, then back out straight i can get mine out without too much tugging.

Gotta be careful though, and find out for yourself. Word of advice though... if your network cable has a shielded plug (with a metal jacket over the sides of the plastic RJ45 connector) then it will conduct heat and make it particularlly tight fitting. Mine has this.

[llbbl]

It is either that or carry some plugs around with you and the device you need to crimp the cable. You can always rewire it. I don't know if this is going to be faster for most of you, unless you have a good amount of practice wiring ethernet than it is not going to save you any time.

[Murthunder]

To deal with your too-hot-to-remove-safely-in-a-timely- fashion RJ-45 problem, here is an idea: Perhaps you could make an adapter of some kind that you could carry with you.

For example, take a really short run of Cat-5 (say, 6 inches?) with RJ-45s at each end, then put a coupler on one end.

That way, you would only ever attach the external cable that you cannot take with you (in your case, the hotel's cable) to the coupler while the exposed RJ-45 end of your adapter mates to your computer. If your adapter gets stuck in the computer, you should still be able to detach the external cable at the coupler.

This is just an idea, though - I don't even have a vpr yet! :)

I have been reading through your excellent forum tonight (my wife thinks I am nuts to have been reading so long!) as I try to decide what machine to get. :confused:

I hope no one minds my pre-purchase posting on the forum.

Later,
Mike

[llbbl]

Hey welcome to the forums, Mike. Feel free to post in the other threads that interest you as well.

[aguynamedace]

I'm not even sure if anyone will ever read this, but i'll say it anyways, and hopefully save to some guys some heartache. I recommend using an ethernet cable, it would have be your own of course, but get the metal RJ-45 connectors. Thats what i use and i havent had a problem w/ it yet. Hope this helps someone.

[ECA]

Did you know they have both silicone and teflon sprays.
Coat that sucker 1 time a week/month and you wont have that problem.