Ethernet adapter not working

Question

Level 1

16 points

Ethernet adapter not working

I can't get the Thunderbolt Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (MD463LL/A) to work on my 2014 15-inch Macbook Pro (11,2).

When I plug the device into either thunderbolt port I see nothing on the screen. However, when I look under the "Thunderbolt" section in System Information, I see the following:

When I look in network preferences, I see nothing:

And when I try too add a new network interface, Thunderbolt ethernet is not listed:

I have searched around on this problem, and some have recommended deleting all interfaces, killing the networkpreferences plist and rebooting. I've tried this, and it didn't help.

I also returned the dongle assuming that I just got a bad copy and purchased a new one. Same problem.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 14, 2016 6:48 PM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

203,378 points

Jul 14, 2016 8:57 PM in response to Luapski

Did you turn wifi off and move Thunder bolt to the top of the list. Reboot if necessary

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Answer 2

Luapski Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 14, 2016 8:57 PM in response to leroydouglas

I tried it. Still no joy.

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Answer 3

whosjose

Level 2

164 points

Jul 14, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Luapski

What does console show?

Disable/Unplug

Open console

Clear console

Plug and wait till it stops moving

Unplug and wait till it stops moving

Share🙂

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Answer 4

Jul 14, 2016 9:29 PM in response to Luapski

Have you tried an SMC reset?

http://osxdaily.com/2010/03/24/when-and-how-to-reset-your-mac-system-management- controller-smc/

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Answer 5

leroydouglas

Level 10

203,378 points

Jul 14, 2016 9:33 PM in response to Luapski

Luapski wrote:

I tried it. Still no joy.

If the Ethernet connection on your Mac stopped working recently - Apple Support

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Answer 6

Luapski Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 14, 2016 10:23 PM in response to Eddie Jasmine

Tried it twice. Didn't help.

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Answer 7

Luapski Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 14, 2016 10:31 PM in response to leroydouglas

OK. So, I followed this guide, looking in system information under software>installations for "Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data"

Not listed at all.

But what was listed was Realtek USB Ethernet Network Adapter

This reminds me that I loaded the Realtek driver when I tried to use a Realtek USB Ethernet driver.

I got rid of it when it proved spotty at waking from sleep and bought a genuine Apple thunderbolt ethernet adapter instead.

Do you think this driver could be causing a problem? Seems like I should remove it. But, googling around, I can't seem to figure out how.

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Answer 8

Luapski Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 14, 2016 10:43 PM in response to whosjose

Here's what pops up when you plug it in:

7/14/16 10:39:44.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration begin ]

7/14/16 10:39:44.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration end, bridges 12, devices 13 ]

7/14/16 10:40:05.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleThunderboltNHIType2::prePCIWake - power up complete - took 1 us

7/14/16 10:40:05.000 PM kernel[0]: AppleThunderboltGenericHAL::earlyWake - complete - took 0 milliseconds

7/14/16 10:40:05.000 PM kernel[0]: IOThunderboltSwitch<0>(0x0)::listenerCallback - Thunderbolt HPD packet for route = 0x0 port = 11 unplug = 0

7/14/16 10:40:05.000 PM kernel[0]: IOThunderboltSwitch<0>(0x0)::listenerCallback - Thunderbolt HPD packet for route = 0x0 port = 12 unplug = 0

7/14/16 10:40:05.000 PM kernel[0]: IOThunderboltSwitch<0>(0x0)::listenerCallback - Thunderbolt HPD packet for route = 0x0 port = 3 unplug = 0

7/14/16 10:40:08.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration begin ]

7/14/16 10:40:08.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration end, bridges 14, devices 13 ]

Here's what happens when you unplug:

7/14/16 10:43:03.000 PM kernel[0]: IOThunderboltSwitch<0>(0x0)::listenerCallback - Thunderbolt HPD packet for route = 0x0 port = 3 unplug = 1

7/14/16 10:43:03.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration begin ]

7/14/16 10:43:03.000 PM kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration end, bridges 12, devices 13 ]

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Answer 9

whosjose

Level 2

164 points

Jul 14, 2016 10:45 PM in response to Luapski

The default location for 'drivers' (although there's not really such a thing in OS X) installed by the user is
/Library/Extensions
. I suggest looking in there for any .kext bundles which are related.

Unload the kext with
sudo kextunload /Library/Extensions/kextname.kext
, move the kext out and reboot. If everything is ok, delete the kext. If the machine kernel panics, boot into single user mode with ⌘S and move the kext back.

Most Driver Packages come with an uninstaller. Download the driver and act like you are installing it again see if an option shows up. Sometimes you can check in the Application folder for the name of the driver and maybe there is uninstall file.

What are the results of the console?

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Answer 10

Luapski Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 14, 2016 11:15 PM in response to whosjose

Went through the installer and no uninstall option.

checked /library/extensions but no kext by that name

No uninstaller inside the .pkg

Posted the console on your request. Here it is as well: