Computer hardware, networks: can ethernet cable go bad?

Self-tutoring about physical connectivity: the tutor mentions a case of ethernet cable.

The following is according to my understanding.

I recently resurrected an old laptop by loading Linux onto it. That’s likely a topic for numerous other posts. Anyway, while I was getting it going, I used ethernet cable to give it access to the Internet to perform updates, etc.

The first ethernet cable I plugged into the laptop didn’t work: no connection resulted. Yet, I was sure the Linux system had suggested the detection of a network card. Furthermore, I believe that, years ago, that ethernet cable had been in service. I examined the cable; it showed no signs of physical damage.

I unplugged said ethernet cable and replaced it with one I thought to be newer, which worked: the laptop was then connected to the network.

I’ve heard of copper deteriorating, etc, in networks, but always wondered about it. Apparently, ethernet cable can eventually lose its utility, for whatever reason. That ethernet cable, in particular, was possibly decades old.

Source:

truecable.com