Question : LAN - Cable Disconnected when it's not (works on other machines)

I have a curious problem whereby two laptops (different makes) won't pick up my LAN cable connection.  One just says "Cable Disconnected", the other briefly goes to "Acquiring Network Settings" before reverting to "Cable Disconnected.  If I connect a desktop with this same cable it picks up the network just fine.  All machines are set to DHCP.  I've tried configuring a static IP address but this also fails.  I then tried connecting one of the laptops directly into the network switch which did work.

All I can think of is that there is some dodgy wiring somewhere yet why does the desktop work?  Is there some NIC configuration I can change to get this to work - the speed/duplex setting is set to 'auto' currently.  Is this a cabling issue?  It's all CAT5e cable by the way.

Thanks.

Answer : LAN - Cable Disconnected when it's not (works on other machines)

If the laptops have gigabit nics in them and the PC that works does not, it could cabling issue. Gigabit is much more sensitive to line condition and strict cat5e standards. If you get the cable tested end-end from the tip of the patch cable to the tip of the patch cable that connects to the switch, it might well fail CAT5e certification.