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General discussion

Computer Networking Problems...

Jun 25, 2004 9:02AM PDT

I just reinstalled a spy ware ridden Dell 4300 running Windows XP, with a Cnet NIC card. Upon reinstalling XP, the computer can no longer see the linksys 8-port router or connect to the internet, even when directly plugged into the cable modem.

I have tried installing the latest drivers listed on the Microsoft Windows Update Driver Database, reinstalling the NIC in the hardware database, configuring everything known to man, and nothing has worked. The lights on the NIC and the router both light up when the cable is in, and when unplugged from the router, XP gives me the nice little notification that a network cable has been unplugged. When plugged directly into the cable modem, I still cannot connect to the internet. I also cannot see anyone on the network. When I ping the Linksys router, it does not even detect it and times out each time. I tried switching ports, and this makes no difference. I also have not received any packets, save 1 (immediately after reconnecting to a different port).

I don't suspect that it is the hardware, as it worked before reinstalling XP. I suspect that it is some sort of software settings. I have not released the DHCP over the entire network, as the computer doesn't even see the network. All other 4 computers on the network see everything else just fine.

I am at a loss for what to try. Any suggestions? I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Computer Networking Problems...
Jun 25, 2004 11:18AM PDT

Using drivers from MS can be problematic. Try the drivers offered by the manufacturer.

While you are in Device Manager check that the NIC is installed properly.

Try another NIC.

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Re: Computer Networking Problems...
Jun 25, 2004 12:17PM PDT

I did use the drivers from the manufacturer. Microsoft offers a database of drivers <a href="http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp">here</a> with drivers from different companies. I also tried the driver provided with the Dell disc they had. Everything seems to be installed properly.

I havn't tried another NIC, althought it worked fine right before I reinstalled. I never did anything to the hardware itself. Just a clean install of Windows. It also recgonizes when a cable is plugged in or unplugged, and Windows notes that everything is working properly and installed correctly.

What confuses me is that I cannot ping the router although windows knows when it is or is not plugged in. Everything suggests there is a configuration problem with the software on the computer itself. Unfortunatly, every thing I look at seems in place, save that the ip address assigned by windows is a 169.x.x.x instead of a 192.x.x.x as needed for the Linksys router. However, DHCP would fix that, were it to find it, in theory.

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Microsoft doesn't do drivers.
Jun 26, 2004 3:10AM PDT

And the Windows Update you noted is still the last place I would try for a driver.

In short, go get drivers from the makers, not Microsoft.

Bob

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Re: Computer Networking Problems...
Jun 28, 2004 12:16AM PDT

Well, that solves your problem. IP addressing beginning with "169" is for private use only. As long as you are on the 169 range of addresses, you won't get anywhere. Change it to the correct range.

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Re: 169.x.x.x instead of a 192.x.x.x, this worked for me
Jul 20, 2004 4:05AM PDT

I, too, had the same problem. I have WinXP and I was just adding a wireless card to my already functioning desktop PC.
In doing so, I lost all communication to my router from that PC. I even removed the new items and couldn't get the darn thing working again!
I did NOT try to do a restore ... I was determined to try and find out what I can do to fix this. Besides, I really wanted that wireless card to work.

Now, I knew that my router was still working fine, SINCE my other computer, a laptop, was still communicating to the router and getting out to the internet.

So I spent a lot of frustrating time, trying to find out why my DHCP was no longer assigning a valid IP address to my desktop computer. That is where my desktop was forcing itself to a 169.x.x.x address, instead of getting a 192.168.0.x from my router.
(By the way, that is typical when a client can't find a DHCP server. MS calls that APIPA, Automatic Private IP Addressing. That's when you get an IP of 169.x.x.x)

On the internet, I came across a message about removing the Winsock and Winsock2 entries from the registry, located at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
then re-installing TCP/IP protocol (can't remove TCP/IP from WinXP - so just install over top of the existing).
I did that, and rebooted.
Darn, if the PC didn't just come right up and start communicating again!

Whew! Thank you un-named source from the Internet!

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Look up LSPFIX and what it does.
Jul 20, 2004 4:17AM PDT

Your post reads like a parasite dameaged the Winsock.

Bob

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Re: Look up LSPFIX and what it does.
Jul 20, 2004 7:36AM PDT

When I get home tonight I'll look at the reg files I saved before deleting the Winsock reg entries, and compare to what I have now. My guess is that there will be no difference there, but I will check anyway.

I believe the simple act of re-installing the TCP/IP protocol probably would have resolved the issue, by itself. But the act of deleting those two branches was a quick and simple task - couldn't hurt.

This is the first I've heard of LSPFix, sounds interesting. I don't believe I have any sort of parasite on my system, I keep very current on protections and updates. The problem was probably caused by some confusion of adapters and installation I had. I was installing the wireless PCI adapter along with the already functioning hard-wire PCI adapter, which should have worked anyway, but somehow something got confused. Anyway, my wire-less is working now.

I'll keep LSPFix in mind. It might have saved me a lot of work, had I known of it sooner. Thanks.

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Re: comparing those Winsock & Winsock2 reg entries
Jul 20, 2004 8:22PM PDT

Wow, I was wrong!
There was a tremendous amount of difference, or at least a whole lot of entries in the old entries, that my newly re-built reg entries just didn't have.

Most of the entries in the new reg branches were in the (not good) old branches.
But there were dozens, many thousands of bytes of extra entries in the old branches.

Curious. I wonder how some of them get entered?
Ah, ... doesn't matter, I got it working now.
Just something to learn by.

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I need help ATOMOX
Jun 27, 2004 10:15AM PDT

I posted this problem on other sites and in different
programs on this site. I see that you are usingLINKSYS so I think that you can help me--



WINME
DSL
LINKSYS-Wireless G-214

I have a PC connected to the Internet with DSL which works fine.

For Father's day my son bought me a Laptop which I also want to connect to the internet along with my PC.

I tried to connect my LT to the Internet using my LIINKSYS, but I just can't do it using my DSL Modem and my LINKSYS.
Please explain to me in simple language how I can connect my LT to the Internet along with my PC?

Thanks

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Re: I need help
Jul 22, 2004 8:46AM PDT

I've looked all over the Linksys website trying to figure out what a "LINKSYS-Wireless G-214" is.
I still don't know.

Does it have some letter designations to go along with that, like WET..., or WMP..., or WUSB..., anything?
I could not find the numbers 214 anywhere, are you sure that is what the model number is?

But, in trying to bypass that for the moment... If by "LT" you mean "laptop" then I assume you mean the laptop has some sort of Linksys wireless card (the 214?) in it. If so, then what do you expect that card to wirelessly connect to?
Do you have something else in your house that connects to the internet that is wireless also?
It doesn't sound like it from the list you included. The DSL (you probably mean your DSL modem) probably doesn't have any ports out of it other than the one your already connected PC is using.

So, what you need to also have is somehow share that one port on the DSL modem to your two computers. For that, the simple choice would be for you to get a router. (There are other ways, like using ICS "Internet Connection Sharing" software on your one already connected computer to share it with another computer. Don't do it. It is problematic, and you sound like problems with networking might be something that you don't need right now.

If both of your computers have ethernet ports (a wired outlet that looks like a slightly wider telephone jack) then any router that has at least two corresponding ethernet ports will do (that jack is referred to as an RJ-45 connection, and all routers will likely have at least three of them).

If you want to go wireless, then you will need to get a corresponding wireless router. And, good news, all the wireless routers I've ever seen, also have wired ports on their back too, so you can choose either method with a wireless router.

You can also go wireless with your current PC, which currently connects to your DSL modem. You just need to get a wireless adapter, a PCI interface card, for it as well.

(There are other methods as well, some people get wireless interfaces that connect through the USB port, you might consider that too.)

So, get the router, have it connected to your DSL modem. Then your PCs connect to your router.

Sorry to bring this up, but if your DSL is something that AOL is supplying to you, then I will expect you will have some (many) more problems in trying to get a router connected to share your internet connection. It can be done, it is just more difficult.

Good luck. Have fun.