Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Boy, do I need a super expert!

Three computers in the house and two can get onto the 'net, mine can't. It could yesterday and can't today. I've changed no hardware or drivers, just one day can next day can't.

I've tried everything:
--direct connect to the cable modem. (to be fair, this is my usual solution and has always worked in the past)
--turn everything off then on again.
--cleared history and Cache.
--checked the ethernet card. It's working properly.
--checked device manager; no joy.
--looked in windows help. Okay, you can stop laughing now; sometimes you get lucky.

I'm just about out of ideas.
--should I clear the cookie file?
--is my IP address a problem? If so how can I change it?

My computer
Dell Dimension running Win XP Home
Netscape 7.1
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller

... and lots more info if you need it.

If you are interested in taking a whirl at this problem tell me what you need and I'll dig out the info.

Thanks
Kim

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ok, how did you check it, and why are you sure it's working?

Try clicking start run, "cmd". In the window that pops up type ping 192.168.1.1. That is usually the LAN ip address of the cable modem. If you get a few lines that don't say "timed out" you are probably communicating ok. If not try swapping ethernet cables? They don't go bad often, but it is possible. Try swapping with the ethernet cable thate you used succesfully with one of the other pcs.

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I would expect you probably don't have an IP on the pc, but it is getting one from the cable modem using DHCP. It's checked and changed in your network tcp/ip properties though. But you probably don't need to do that.

[ February 28, 2004, 23:55: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

On second thought, normally you have three pcs hooked up over the same cable modem? So you probably have some sort of router or something? If that's the case then you might have fixed IPS for the pc's that are like 192.168.1.100, or .101, etc. Or maybe not depending on your router. You could still have no IP specified in the PCs and using DHCP with the router.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

I'm sure the ethernet card is working because it has built in diagnostics. If I disconnect from both the network hub and the modem, I get no packet activity. Connected to the modem or both the hub and modem, I get packets successfully sent and received. Why I can get these packets yet not get onto the net is beyond me. This also seems to eliminate the defective cable problem. One diagnostic appears to be a "ping" and returns a "no response received". All other diagnostics tell me all else is working properly. As well when I disconnect my cable, I get a popup telling me just that.

I tried your ping number and got "timed out". Norton system doctor is getting the same thing.


The IP address on my computer has always been the same (same as on my old computer, now defunct). I'm not sure about the other 2 and it might take a while to be sure if they change or not.

Right now, I think I'll try out that spare cable. And a few other ideas your comments have given me.

And Geo, thanks a bunch for your help, but one more question: if I set my IP address to all zero's, might that help?

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Can you still transfer files between systems?

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">No, I'm sure that won't work. But it might work if you change it to "Obtain IP address automatically" instead of specifing an IP address. But that would depend on how your network is setup. Before you change anything I'd recommend writing down the current settings so you can change it back later if needed.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Could be the router setup. His IP may not have permissions to reach the internet.

My router has security settings that can only one computer can change.

So if your functional enough to transfer files between computers, but can't access the internet, then check the router setup.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Network problems can be funcky to solve. Today, the power in the house went down and i thought "yeah here we go again". Last time i lost a recent harddisk because it's not surge protected. Now, one of my network cards seemed to be messed up. On checking it was not my network card but the connector of the hub (or how do you call the little hole where you put the cable in? plug?). In fact 2 plugs of the 8 stopped working.
I think my next it related buy will be a surge proctected powerthingie.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

My router, a Netgear, has this IP addy:

192.168.0.1

I think that IP is reserved for "home networking".

Try what Geo said in the CMD prompt and ping that. If that isn't right, pull your info on the router out and see.

I know this is basic questioning but it's the way I do business:

Your LAN connection on the back of the PC should show a green light. This light means there is a bonafied physical connection between it and the router. If you see it lit up, you should also see a similar indicator light on the routher lit up.

If you have those lights, you should be able to "see" the router and get a ping response from it.

I'm going to assume you have green lights. (or whatever color)

But if you can't ping the router, then the first and easiest thing to look for is something that happens periodically to my "people" in the area I support...right-click on My Network Places and take a look at your Local Area Connection. Change the display to "Details" if it isn't already on it (usually, it's set on stupid default of Big Icon). Then take a look to make sure the connection is enabled instead of disabled.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I'm going to assume that isn't the case. He could get on yesterday but not today. It's unlikely the router settings got changed somehow. Especially if the other 2 PCs can get to the Internet. I suspect it is isolated to the one PC (or cable).

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Wardad said:
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Never could, still can't, gave up trying. With my new computer now Online, we should try again, in fact I am trying and getting nowhere.

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Router? Hub? Same thing? If so, there seems to be no "setup" utility for this.

Slynky said:
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">The ping times out and I cannot yet verify that is correct for this hub. Nothing in the documentation; I'll try the site. BTW mine is a Linksys, 5 Port Network Hub, only months old.

Geoschmo said:
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Slynky said:
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Geo, Slynky, I can't! For some reason I do not have "View network connections" which leads to "Local Area Connections" which leads to the TCP/IP protocol where I can change this. I can get to it easy on my wife's computer but the selection does not even exist on mine. I tried rerunning the Network setup wizard without improvement.

I checked the physical connection and indicator lights again and tried a different cable. Lights are correct, and other indicators agree. The hardware is fine as far as I can tell. My best guess(though feeble and uneducated) is that the IP address is somehow invalid. If I could just get to it...

Oh, and once again thanks for all the help. At the very least it is steering me away from some of my more useless efforts and toward what might get the job done. Thanks a million guys. ... LOL. I just realized you guys never asked if I called tech support. No I didn't. All they'd do is point the finger at the other guy.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Kim said:

"Geo, Slynky, I can't! For some reason I do not have "View network connections" which leads to "Local Area Connections" which leads to the TCP/IP protocol where I can change this. I can get to it easy on my wife's computer but the selection does not even exist on mine. I tried rerunning the Network setup wizard without improvement"

Well, that certainly has me stumped. I've never seen a PC where the "My Network Places" on the desktop isn't available for right-clicking.

Wish you didn't live in Canada...Last time I called Canada to offer assistance, Tiarra/Tiera (sp?), I think, it cost around $40 and the wife hit the ceiling. Otherwise, it costs me 5 cents a minute (in the US).

If that icon isn't available, do you mean it isn't even on the desktop or that you can't right-click on it? 'Cause, if it's not even there, I suspect, for some strange reason, you need to re-install networking again.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

BTW, router and hub are not the same thing. Hubs are just cheap ways of setting up a home network. Usually through IPX (preferred) or IP.

Routers do much more and if you have 3 PCs that connect to the internet through one cable connection, it's pretty certain it's a router.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

I just read your post again and you refer to it as a hub. There must be a model number on it somewhere. Linksys is a good component. Linksys and Netgear are, IMO, the best two for the home. Get the model number off it and post it here.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Slynky, the model number is NH1005,V2

I was unclear about "View Network Connections". I do have "My Network Places". When I right click on it I get these:

Open
Explore
Search for Computers ...
System Information (a Norton utility)
Map Network Drive
Disconnect Network Drive
Create Shortcut
Delete
Rename
Properties

...but no "view network connections" or "local area connections"

Double clicking on My Network Places or clicking on Open, Explore or Properties give the same result. The tree looks like this

Add network places
Network setup wizard
Entire Network
-Microsoft Terminal Services
-Microsoft Windows network
--Home
-Web client network

MS Terminal and Web client are empty. Home cannot even find my own computer.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Sorry, Kim...MY BAD.

Right-click, then choose properties. THEN you will see what I was talking about in the earlier message.

(hate it when I do that)

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

No, I understood you, the selection I need simply is not there.

But...

Halleluya!!!

I did some more digging. Control panel-- Network Connections takes me where I need to go. The IP address was indeed manually set. I did indeed change it to auto. It does indeed now grant me admission to the world wide web!!!

Thanks everyone! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif I couldn't'a done it without you.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I suspect thanks to Geo more than me.

All's well that ends well http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Glad to have you "back". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

Edit:
Never mind, I'm a doofus. I was reading the other page when I decided to post. Doesn't matter now.

[ February 29, 2004, 13:46: Message edited by: Cipher7071 ]

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Good job Grandpa Kim on figuring it out where to snoop around as well.

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That's a great trick there Geo, I gotta memorize that one. But tell me, if you have a DSL line, what would you type? If I type that on my system with the DSL line, it always times out.

Re: Way OT: Internet Connection
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That's a great trick there Geo, I gotta memorize that one. But tell me, if you have a DSL line, what would you type? If I type that on my system with the DSL line, it always times out. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">It varies from system to system. It's almost aways 192.168.xxx.xxx, but the Last two numebers will vary. You should have some documentation somewhere with your specific hardware that tells you which specific number to use in your case. But a lot of isps wont give you the documentation. I guess they figure it's better if you know noting so you you wont start poking around and mess something up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif In that case you should be able to find a manufacturers sticker on your hub,router, or cable modem and look it up on teh internet.