This issue is indicative of an 'open' fault, where there is a break or disconnection within the cable run, specifically affecting the wire associated with pin 1. An open fault prevents signal transmission, which is consistent with the absence of LED indicators on the NIC. A 'short' would suggest that two wires are electrically connected inside the cable, which would not typically be indicated by a discontinuity on a single pin. Incorrectly wired connectors or a faulty cable tester would likely present different symptoms or error messages not consistent with a single wire showing discontinuity.