CAUTION: Before disconnecting your Ethernet cable, please reach out to a Help Desk technician at (615)230-3302 to determine if it is a necessary procedure or not.
While working over the phone with an IT Technician at Volunteer State Community College, you may be directed to unplug the Ethernet cable to your office desktop. This Knowledge Base Article will cover the steps in identifying and properly disconnecting Ethernet cables from your device as an end user.
Ethernet cables may be one of several different colors. The most common colors are Blue, Black, and Yellow. Both ends of the cable terminate to a clear, plastic piece, one of which connects to your device.
For reference, here is an example of an Ethernet cable:
Most Ethernet cables have some sort of shrouding to protect the tab at the end of the cable. As shown in the picture above, the shroud is a protruding bit of PVC (blue) which overlaps the tab of plastic (clear) coming from the end of the cable. This is just one example of shrouding, but there are different varieties. Keep in mind that some Ethernet cables do not have shrouding.
The Ethernet cable should be connected to the Rear I/O of your Desktop PC. Below is an example of what the Rear I/O on your Office Desktop may look like, with the Ethernet port highlighted.
Once you have identified the cable, you can disconnect it, if instructed. Please follow the steps below to disconnect the cable:
1. Press down firmly on the clear tab to compress the cable.
2. Then, gently pull the cable out of socket.
There should be no significant resistance pulling the cable out of the socket, as long as the tab is pressed down completely. Do not attempt to exert force, or "yank", the cable to remove it. If you are unsure, please wait for a technician to arrive on-site to remove the cable for you.
Once the cable is removed, please await further instructions from an IT Technician.