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Yesterday, I vacuumed and blew out the dust in my computer (using compressed nitrogen for the blowing). Since then, the connection provided by the onboard Atheros L1 Gigabit ethernet controller has declined into not working at all. I'm not sure it's related, but their correlation makes me lean towards the possibility.

That night (last night, as of now), I hooked up my new external HDD and transferred important files to it, and reformatted the main drive to prepare for the installation of the Windows 7 RC (64-bit). It installed without a problem, but once finished, Windows was very unstable, getting many BSODs within a short span of time. At this point, I was able to get an Internet connection, but there was a system notification of a hardware/driver problem with the L1. I figured that this was what was causing the instability, so I installed the L1's latest drivers from ASUS (the manufacturer of the motherboard, P5L-VM 1394). I also installed avast!, after which the system was restarted.

After this, Windows simply wouldn't start; I couldn't even access safe mode for whatever reason. So I had no choice but to try reinstalling Windows 7. This time, the installation wasn't flawless -- upon the testing of the video performance, it froze, and after a while ceased to send a signal to the display. I restarted, and this didn't seem to be an issue; Windows started up fine. But the connection that was once there was gone, along with the BSODs. (I should note: Network Diagnostics does detect the hardware and displays its information, but says it is "experiencing driver- or hardware-related problems".) I then tried Kubuntu, then openSUSE... none of them picked up a connection from the cable. I tried switching to a different CAT5 cable, that didn't work. Then I disabled the wireless on my Eee PC, and hooked up that cable; it connected and accessed the Internet just fine, so it wasn't an issue at the modem/router or anywhere in between. It was the L1 in the desktop.

With this conclusion, I checked the motherboard for any loose connections, but everything seemed fine. At this point, I'm completely lost. Could Windows, software, have somehow messed up hardware? I've heard of it happening before, but that doesn't make sense to me. I've got nothing else, though, so what can I do about this? Is the L1 dead, or... What is the deal here?

EDIT: In the meantime, is there any way of installing Portal and HL2 from my Orange Box, and playing 'em, without an active connection?

Hang on, did you really say compressed nitrogen? I hope that you meant compressed air, because that would be your problem right there.
Despite what you hear from overclockers, nitrogen and computer components do not play well together.

Also, Asus can go blow me.

Cuyval Dar said:

Hang on, did you really say compressed nitrogen? I hope that you meant compressed air, because that would be your problem right there.
Despite what you hear from overclockers, nitrogen and computer components do not play well together.

Also, Asus can go blow me.

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Wait - really? I thought Nitrogen was inert - what does using it on electronic components do?

Well, fairly inert, now that I think about it.

I thought nitrogen gas was fine with electronics, at least for the few seconds that it was in my computer. It (the nitrogen tank) is actually my dad's, he has it for his work with a service company (A/C, heating, plumbing, computer-controlled climates, etc.). He blew the dust out while I used the vacuum (shop vac) to suck it up. I figure since he uses it somewhat often, likely in and around electrical systems, without problem...

Heh, inert.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cS18yG8DJI:27frgb5v][/youtube:27frgb5v]

while it may be inert gas, but still cool VERY quickly. some component freeze/damage if it actually touches. Liquid cooling doesn't actually touch any of the component. If it is compress nitrogen, you may have "frozen" some of your parts and broke it

There is still a chance of blowing cool gas in a warm/humid room that you could hit your components with condensation.

When you say you vacuumed out your computer... did you use a teensy little soft-vac designed for the purpose, or did you just stick the narrow attachment on your upright and vacuum the shit out of yoru computer? I've known other people who have killed their computer by vacuuming it out with the full sized house vac. That thing is a big whirring, spinning static electricity generator.

GasBandit said:

When you say you vacuumed out your computer... did you use a teensy little soft-vac designed for the purpose, or did you just stick the narrow attachment on your upright and vacuum the shit out of yoru computer? I've known other people who have killed their computer by vacuuming it out with the full sized house vac. That thing is a big whirring, spinning static electricity generator.

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oh yea... static....

Its been a long long time I had issue with static. I am always careful with my equipment

Chibibar said:

while it may be inert gas, but still cool VERY quickly. some component freeze/damage if it actually touches. Liquid cooling doesn't actually touch any of the component. If it is compress nitrogen, you may have "frozen" some of your parts and broke it

Click to expand...

sixpackshaker said:

There is still a chance of blowing cool gas in a warm/humid room that you could hit your components with condensation.

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I was outside, where it was reasonably warm (~25 C). I know gases have higher phase change temperatures at higher pressures, but that doesn't effect the actual current temperature of it, does it? Seems like it should still be around room/outside temperature.

GasBandit said:

When you say you vacuumed out your computer... did you use a teensy little soft-vac designed for the purpose, or did you just stick the narrow attachment on your upright and vacuum the poop out of yoru computer? I've known other people who have killed their computer by vacuuming it out with the full sized house vac. That thing is a big whirring, spinning static electricity generator.

Click to expand...

Well, I was trying not to actually touch any of the parts directly with the end of the hose, thus the nitrogen. And of course, it wasn't plugged in. I just find it strange that, if nitrogen or static electricity did cause a problem with the board, it only damaged one very small part of it. Not that I can think of any other explanation...

YAOMTC said:

Well, I was trying not to actually touch any of the parts directly with the end of the hose, thus the nitrogen. And of course, it wasn't plugged in. I just find it strange that, if nitrogen or static electricity did cause a problem with the board, it only damaged one very small part of it. Not that I can think of any other explanation...

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So it WAS a full size vacuum cleaner. I think we have our winner, personally. It doesn't matter that the PC wasn't plugged in, your sister isn't "plugged in" when you scuff your feet across the carpet and touch her, either. Also note that you don't have to actually TOUCH anything for there to be a static discharge.. the electrons can jump narrow gaps. And your vaccuum cleaner can generate much more static than your socks ever could.

As for it only hitting the ethernet controller, electricity is often a funny and capricious thing when it comes to doing damage. I myself once experienced a power surge that only killed the modems, routers and ethernet cards (both PCI and on board) in my network and left most everything else untouched.

I'm with GB, sounds like you may have static-charged your motherboard.

Try grounding yourself (VERY important), pull out the wall chord from the comp power supply (and turn off the breaker switch on the power supply if it has one), open the computer up, then while touching the metal frame (make sure you're grounded), hold down the power button for 30 seconds.

If it's a minor static-charge, this will clear it.

static are funny stuff and totally unpredictable. That is why Wafer maker have a totally clean static free room (it is insane of all the stuff they have to do before going into a room)

TeKeo said:

I'm with GB, sounds like you may have static-charged your motherboard.

Try grounding yourself (VERY important), pull out the wall chord from the comp power supply (and turn off the breaker switch on the power supply if it has one), open the computer up, then while touching the metal frame (make sure you're grounded), hold down the power button for 30 seconds.

If it's a minor static-charge, this will clear it.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't hold my breath for this to work. In my experience even an ESD you don't even feel causes permanent damage.

GasBandit said:

TeKeo said:

I'm with GB, sounds like you may have static-charged your motherboard.

Try grounding yourself (VERY important), pull out the wall chord from the comp power supply (and turn off the breaker switch on the power supply if it has one), open the computer up, then while touching the metal frame (make sure you're grounded), hold down the power button for 30 seconds.

If it's a minor static-charge, this will clear it.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't hold my breath for this to work. In my experience even an ESD you don't even feel causes permanent damage.

Click to expand...

You're probably right, but this worked for my laptop a few years ago. And then I never used my on-board speakers again.

Well then. Time to start looking for a cheap ethernet card. (EDIT: Bought it.) Thanks for the help!

GasBandit said:

It doesn't matter that the PC wasn't plugged in, your sister isn't \"plugged in\" when you scuff your feet across the carpet and touch her, either.

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...how did you know I have a sister...? Or did you just guess...

YAOMTC said:

Well then. Time to start looking for a cheap ethernet card. (EDIT: Bought it.) Thanks for the help!

GasBandit said:

It doesn't matter that the PC wasn't plugged in, your sister isn't \"plugged in\" when you scuff your feet across the carpet and touch her, either.

Click to expand...

...how did you know I have a sister...? Or did you just guess...

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Because I SEEEEE YOUUUUUUU