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Post by laverne on Nov 13, 2015 13:29:39 GMT -5
After working on a friend's computer (Lenovo - G50 15.6" Laptop, I think), I tried to remove the cat5e cable from her computer. It removed just fine from my router but I couldn't get the cable to come out of her computer port. I might mention that it was one of those ports which you must push down to insert the cable.
I've tried to find an answer on the Internet about this problem but yet have to see a definitive solution. There are suggestions
to push in the cable, hold the tab, and then it will remove;
to lift the cable up until you hear a click and then remove it;
etc.
Do you have any thoughts or experiences?
Thank you.
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581 
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Post by drcard on Nov 13, 2015 23:07:46 GMT -5
Hi laverne,
The attaching mechanism for a cat5 cable is a small plastic strip in the middle of the connector on one side of the cable (usually on the top side when plugged into a connection). This plastic strip rises slightly higher than the rectangular portion of the connector. The strip rises from the end of the connector to where the connector meets the cable wire and at the end of the strip it increases in size to appear that there is a plactic ball on the end with a small plastic tab just past the ball. This whole connector is covered in a plastic molding that is part of the covering for the wire of the cable. Where this plastic strip ends with the tab after the ball there will be a bump or rise in the cover molding directly over this tab. It connects and deconnects by pressing this tab down so the ball is even with the rest of the connetor and can fit the slot on the device. Once inserted into the slot, releasing the tab allows the ball to rise and fit into a hole inside the device's connection port. This prevents the cable from slipping out.
When pressing the bump in the connectors molding (pressing the tab down) doesn't allow the cable to be removed, then one of several things could have caused this, and getting the cable out in each situation is about the same.
1) The cable was inserted upside down and the ball isn't in the hole it was designed for and most likely jammed into the housing of the port.
2) The whole plastic strip broke off and still is in the hole, but being broke it no longer moves when the bump in the molding is squeezed.
3) The tab at the end of the strip has broke off and pressing the bump in the molding doesn't press the strip down.
First, that connector on the cable is broken. Since it is broken and can't be used again, then doing what is necessary to get the cable out of the port won't seem so bad.
Use a sharp knife (and be careful) to cut all the molding around the connector off so you can see the plastic strip and determined what happened to it. Use a very small screwdriver (such as jeweler's screwdrivers) or some very small pointy device such as an ice pick or awl (I even have used a large paperclip straighten out). What ever you use you must pry out this strip and ball that is keeping the cable from fitting through the opening and slipping out.
The suggestions you got will work IF the strip is not broke and just misaligned to its hole. If you have tried those suggestions and they did not work, then most likely the strip is broke.
Takes about 10 times longer to write how to do it rather than just show.
Have any problems, let me know.
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Post by laverne on Nov 15, 2015 6:31:17 GMT -5
Thank you, Dana, for your explanation of how a cat5 cable attaches to a computer, in this case a laptop. I have read and reread your comments a number of times. In reading your 3 possibilities, I am thinking that the connection wouldn't work IF the cable were inserted upside down or if it were askew. But the Internet connection did work, i.e., I was connected to the Internet and did a number of tasks which involved the Internet. Also, I don't see that anything is broken on the cable. There is a video of one way to remove a recalcitrant cable. I wonder what you think of it, if you have the time and inclination… www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SJlS97Q5SQAgain, many thanks. I am considering buying an adapter, USB to Ethernet, so as not to run into this problem ever again. |
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581
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Post by drcard on Nov 16, 2015 22:54:22 GMT -5
Hi laverne,
The connection problem in the video is caused by the plastic tab that locks into the port has become bent or weak. Because the end of the tab bends, pushing the end tab as far as it goes does not push the rest of the tab far enough for the buldge to clear the hole The bending action he does pulls the entire connector away from the housing enough to clear the hole. I would not advice this action except as a last resort (get the cable out and not use it again) because it could damage the port enough where even a new cable may not connect properly.
In that situation I would press the tab down and then push a small tapper flat item (such as a very small flat blade screw driver or knife) between the top side of the tab and the port housing. The purpose of this is to get the screw driver tip as close to the buldge as possible so when you push down the strip won't bend and you can push the tab down far enough to clear the hole and allow the connector to come out. This buldge in the housing hole is what keeping the connector from coming out. These plastic tabs become weak when pressing many times from frequent connects and disconnects. When looking at new cables to buy, look at this plastic tab. You will notice that slightly higher in price cables will have larger and stronger tabs on their connectors. These ones with larger plastic tabs on the connectors are best when you expect the cable to have many connects and disconnects...much easier to press the tab when connecting/disconnecting and less likely to bend.
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Post by laverne on Nov 19, 2015 7:27:29 GMT -5
Dana,
You have given me exactly what I was looking for in your replies. It seems no matter what the cause of a stuck cable, using a straight edge device will enable removing the cat5e cable.
Thank you very much.
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