[prygo]

Have Dell dimension 4550 with cable modem: something has firewalled our internet connections and we can't figure out how to remove them. Do we need to purchase any specific type of software? Computer is working just fine otherwise. We have reconnected, rebooted, restored, but nothing is working. How can I remove these firewalls? Thanks very much!

[lunarlander]

When you say something has firewalled your connection, can you still surf ? What exactly is not working?

[prygo]

Thanks for replying, We can not surf thru the cable modem at all: either using AOL, or Internet Explorer. The window indicates that these connections are firewalled. We did not firewall them, possibly a virus from the internet? Thanks

[lunarlander]

Open a command prompt and type "nslookup google.com" and see if there is a reply with an ip address. I am trying to see if it is a DNS problem.

[AKAJohnDoe]

Enter ipconfig /all at a DOS prompt. Do you have IP addresses for DHCP and DNS?

[AKAJohnDoe]

And if the cable modem is yours, have you unplugged it (from the power supply), left it for about 30 seconds, then plugged it back in?

[prygo]

thats the problem , we can't renew the ip address for some reason. i am going to unplug again, reboot modem.

[prygo]

i wiill try it again, can't renew are IP address

[prygo]

I know my IP address but the computer fails to renew it, and says to contact the person who manages the network

[AKAJohnDoe]

With DSL or a Cable Modem the IP address is assigned by the ISP. If you are plugging directly into the Modem, then you likely are passing that external IP address through to your PC. Your ISP can, and sometime does, change your IP address without notification. This can cause problems for PCs that are directly connected. This is also one of the reasons to have a router between your PC and the Modem. A router can provide DHCP services and NAT, to obfuscate the external IP address into an internal IP address.

When you do the ipconfig /all command, does it return the same IP address as this page shows? The latter is your external IP address, the one your ISP provides.