I've been trying to connect to Xbox Live so I can redeem my Gold Code, but when I try I keep getting a message telling me to plug in the cable even though it's plugged in. I've tried with three different cables and I got the same problem with all of them, which leads me to believe that it's a problem with the input where the cable is plugged into the Xbox. What can be done to fix this?

Ah, Xbox networking...got to love it. Tell me do you use a router?

Have you tried connecting your Ethernet directly to your modem?

Also, are there any link lights activated on the router/switch port that the Xbox is connected to?

Yes, I use a router. I have tried plugging it directly into my modem, but I got the same message.


The link light doesn't go on, on the router that it's plugged into.

Well..thats not good.

Have you tried resetting your 360 to network factory settings?

Upon selecting Network Settings I'm given the choice of wired or wireless, picking wired tells me I need to plug in the cable.

is the cable broken

So how far do you get when you do the network connection test?

He already said he has tried multiple cables, so that's probbaly not it.

EDIT: I assume you have tried other ports on the router, including ones that you know work for other devices?

I can't even test my connection cause my Xbox isn't picking up the cable that's plugging it into the router, it's as if the cable isn't even there.

The room I kept it in was very dusty, is it possible that dust got into something it shouldn't have and caused this?

When you plug it into your xbox and pc, do you see a LAN connection pop up in your network settings on the control panel (on your pc)?

edit: if you're not doing that try plugging it into your computer and bridging the connection from your computer's wireless card.

thats not likely to interupt the ethernet ports but you could try blowing into the port to test that out

did you check to see if the IP settings were manually set? if it has bad settings it won't work

I would love to check that, but you can't change Network Settings without being connected to the router, thus the problem.