Why is my Ethernet port red?

Hello everyone! I just installed a new motherboard and cpu (gigabyte b450m ds3h... Ryzen 5 3600) and I’m having a bit of a problem. When my Ethernet is plugged in, it recognizes my WiFi, and I can hook up just fine, but it runs horribly slow. The only thing I have to go off of is on my IO Shield, the lan port flashes orange, and has a solid red light next to it as well. Please help!! I’m hoping it’s not a motherboard issue, but I’ve tried everything software related! ( downloading drivers, tuning up connection settings, etc) please help thank you!

When you see a red light on your modem, it typically means your modem doesn’t detect an internet signal and can’t connect. Red can be used to indicate a device is on, but it isn’t a color you generally want to see on your modem. To fix a red light on your modem, you’ll need to run through a handful of troubleshooting steps.

Every manufacturer places a slightly different set of indicator lights on their modems, and the colors of those lights can mean other things from one model to another. Most modem lights tend to be green, and a red light usually indicates a problem or fault.

While most modems use a green power light to avoid confusion, some have a red power light just like other electronics. If your power light is red, check with your manufacturer. It may be expected. 

When you see a red light on your modem, it typically indicates:

• No cable or DSL signal detected on the line: Your internet may be out, or there may be a connection problem.
• Failed authentication with your ISP: The modem can connect to the internet, but your account isn’t recognized. Try entering your credentials again if your modem has that option, or contact your internet service provider (ISP).
• Modem failure: If the power button blinks red and the modem isn’t working, it may have suffered an internal fault. Contact the manufacturer if you own the modem or your ISP if you rent the modem.

To fix the red light on your modem, you can go through the following troubleshooting steps and attempt each one. If the red light turns off or changes to green or amber after performing one of these steps, check if your internet works. If it does, you don’t need to perform any additional steps.

Here’s how to fix the red light on a modem:

1. Restart your router. Unplug your modem/router from power, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait while the lights cycle, and see if the red light goes away.

2. Check your connections. If you have a cable modem, check the coaxial connections at the modem and the wall. Make sure they’re tight and not corroded. If you have DSL, check the phone line connections at the modem and the wall, and make sure the wires aren’t frayed. If you find a loose connection, tighten it. You may also need to restart your router after fixing it.

3. Try a different cable or phone outlet. If your house has multiple phone or cable outlets, connect to a different one. If none of them work, there may be a problem with the wiring in your walls or the connection where the cable or phone line enters your house.

4. Try a different cable or phone cord. If you have another coaxial cable or phone cord, try swapping it out with the existing one.

5. Check your internet credentials. If your modem admin portal has a place to enter ISP login credentials, make sure they’re entered correctly. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to contact your ISP to ensure the modem is correctly provisioned.

6. Contact the manufacturer of your modem. The red light may indicate an internal fault. If it does, the modem will require service or replacement. The manufacturer will be able to tell you if that’s the case.

7. Contact your ISP. If you’re still having trouble with the red light, contact your ISP. They’ll be able to tell you if there is an internet outage, noise on your line, or any other problems outside your control. If you rent your modem from the ISP, they can replace it.

FAQ

• Why Is My Wi-Fi not working?

  If your modem has internet, but you can't connect wirelessly, you need to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi network. Most importantly, make sure the modem is securely connected to your router with an Ethernet cable.

• What do the lights on my modem mean?

Thanks for letting us know!

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

Tell us why!

If you're using Ethernet to network your computers, you know how important it is for your network to be available all the time. If the Ethernet goes down, your business could come to a grinding halt. Determining if your computer has an Ethernet connection is often the first network troubleshooting step and is done by physically checking the cables to look for breaks and loose connections, as well as by accessing your computer's network configuration to search for the root cause of a problem.

1. Press the Windows Start key, type "cmd.exe" into the text field and press "Enter" to open Command Prompt. At the prompt, type "ipconfig" without quotation marks and press "Enter." Scroll through the results to find a line that reads "Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection." If the computer has an Ethernet connection, the entry will describe the connection. However, if an entry exists but it reads "Media disconnected," the computer has an Ethernet port, but it is not connected to anything.

2. Check that an Ethernet cable is plugged in to the correct card on the rear of the computer. The Ethernet card may have up to four sockets on the same card. These sockets look similar to phone jacks but are slightly larger. Fit the plug on the end of the Ethernet cable snugly into the socket. Press the plug into the socket all the way until you hear a click.

3. Check the status lights on the back of the Ethernet card. On most Ethernet adapters, a steady green light means that the Ethernet connection on the computer is active and connected to a valid partner at the opposite end.

4. Follow the Ethernet cable from your computer to the device where it terminates -- such as a hub, router or switch -- and check the status lights on the device. A solid green light usually means a good connection, while a flashing green light, or amber light, indicates that there's a problem. See the documentation on your device for specific information about the status lights.

5. Click the Start button, then click "Control Panel" and type "network status" in the search field at the top right of the window. Click "Network and Sharing" to see a readout of your current network status. Click "Change adapter settings" in the left pane of the Network and Sharing Center to see a list of all network interfaces and their statuses. If your computer has an Ethernet port, it is listed as "Local Area Connection." A red X by the entry means nothing is plugged into it, or that it's malfunctioning. Right-click and choose "Diagnose" to have Windows tell you more.

6. Use an Ethernet diagnostic testing device to check the Ethernet cables. Your computer and the device at the other end may be perfectly fine and giving out the proper Ethernet transmission signals, but if the cable is bad, data won't transmit. Ethernet diagnostic testing tools operate by sending out test signals over the Ethernet wire. Plug the Ethernet cable into the tester according to the manufacturer's instructions and run the diagnostic tests. A failed result means that the Ethernet cable is faulty and should be replaced. If the cable passes, the problem could lie with either the Ethernet network card in the computer or the device at the opposite end.