[perlie559]

Hi I have 2 laptops at home that i am trying to connect to an Xfinity Broadband ethernet connection. The newer laptops connection to broadband was set up by the cable installer. However I also need my Compaq tc4200 running on Windows xp to connect to the internet as well. So I plugged the ethernet cable into the tc4200 but I keep running into a yellow triangle accompanied by the statement "this connection has limited or no connection" when i try to diagnose it says it cannot find the IP adress when i try to repair the connection it then states it cant repair the problem because "network is not assigning a network address". Someone please help. I'm so confused. When i plug the cord into the other laptop it works just fine so its not the cord or modem. Please help thanks in advance!!

[TerryNet]

What is the brand and model of your router? Are there sufficient addresses in its Dhcp server's address range?

[perlie559]

Hello thanks for replying to my post. I dont have a router. I have the modem that comcast cable set me up with originally. It is a Motorola Surf Board model SB5101 Cable Modem. As far as the Dhcp servers address range goes-- I would need to buy a computers book for dummies. However if you dont mind being patient enough to walk me through each step-- I'm sure I can retrive any info you need. Thanks once again.

[TerryNet]

Guess I shouldn't have assumed that you have a router. Sorry.

Are you remembering to power cycle (unplug for 30 seconds) the modem when switching the computer connected to it? If so, try a longer time--maybe five minutes--as sometimes the typical 30 seconds doesn't work.

[perlie559]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

Guess I shouldn't have assumed that you have a router. Sorry.

Are you remembering to power cycle (unplug for 30 seconds) the modem when switching the computer connected to it? If so, try a longer time--maybe five minutes--as sometimes the typical 30 seconds doesn't work.

no I haven"t but i will give it a shot right now and i will let you know the outcome--hopefully that does the trick!!

[perlie559]

Originally Posted by perlie559

no I haven"t but i will give it a shot right now and i will let you know the outcome--hopefully that does the trick!!

ok i tried it and a change has been made but its not close to being a victory yet. Ok so i waited 3 min then plugged in the ethernet cord I opened up the network connections and a new network appeared named Broadband Connection. This connection had not appeared in the past however it said disconnected/firewalled. I opened up the windows firewall but i dont know how to remove the firewall from this connection if in fact this is the connection that i'm looking for. Anyway I tried to connect to it without removing the firewall but a pop-up window displayed stating it needs a username and password to connect- so im not too sure if that is the connection because i dont have a username or password to connect to broadband. once again thanks soo much for helping me out and please excuse my computer diagnostic ignorance!!

[TerryNet]

While I think it unlikely there is a possibility that Comcast tracks the MAC Address of the computer or device connected to the modem. Can you confirm that is not the case?

Please show for both computers ...

Open a (black) Command Prompt window:
Hold the Windows logo key and press r; in the Run box type cmd and click on OK.

Type the following command:

IPCONFIG /ALL

[Note that there is no space between the slash and ALL.]

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If necessary use a text file and removable media to copy the results to a computer with internet access.

[perlie559]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

While I think it unlikely there is a possibility that Comcast tracks the MAC Address of the computer or device connected to the modem. Can you confirm that is not the case?

Please show for both computers ...

Open a (black) Command Prompt window:
Hold the Windows logo key and press r; in the Run box type cmd and click on OK.

Type the following command:

IPCONFIG /ALL

[Note that there is no space between the slash and ALL.]

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If necessary use a text file and removable media to copy the results to a computer with internet access.

this is the results of the laptop with internet access:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\ADMIN>IPCONFIG/ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ADMIN-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.ca.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.ca.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR8152 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Contro
ller (NDIS 6.20) #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : DC-0E-A1-0F-34-F5
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::3091:b74c:482:c6bc%15(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 98.192.184.191(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.252.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, June 24, 2012 9:20:04 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, June 28, 2012 9:20:04 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 98.192.184.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 69.252.97.5
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 433852065
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-16-37-AA-18-DC-0E-A1-0F-38-EC

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5B125 Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 74-DE-2B-70-58-41
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{9658D20D-A64C-444F-ABF1-02DDFD76FEA8}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.hsd1.ca.comcast.net.:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.ca.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:343e:2aae:9d3f:4740(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::343e:2aae:9d3f:4740%14(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter 6TO4 Adapter:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.ca.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2002:62c0:b8bf::62c0:b8bf(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 2002:c058:6301::c058:6301
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Users\ADMIN>IPCONFIG/ALL

[perlie559]

OK and now something weird is going on with the older laptop with no connectivity--
-when i have the run box pop up it gives me a hard time leaving the cursor in the typing window, when i finally get to spell out cmd and press ok the laptop immediately lo
gs its self off and restarts itself??
-It has done this7 times already!! Super weird whats going on??

[AA1TECH]

Comcast / Timer Warner on the older home cable modems definitely lock the MAC address of the PC that is attached during install. They use to (and maybe still do) wish to upgrade customers to their wireless routers, etc. and this was a method that assisted in that marketing. The symptoms you describe match
exactly what would occur if the MAC was locked in the modem config.

My advise, buy a wireless router that can clone MAC addresses (most can), set it to your PC's mac address which I see in your IPCONFIG information. It will then talk to the modem with that MAC and establish connection to the internet. Then you can put as many PC's on as you wish, wired or otherwise without issues.

Steve

[TerryNet]

I agree with Steve about a router being a good choice (even if you will only use one computer 99% of the time).

However, it sounds like you have some serious issue with that second PC, and I have no clue what it is.

Malware is a possibility. For that I would suggest a fresh install of XP or requesting help in our Virus & Other Malware Removal Forum. If it were me I'd first try some scans with the free Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware or any of the tools listed in this thread. Those tools won't necessarily solve any issues, but at least may show that malware is indeed an issue.

[perlie559]

Ok I will go out and buy one this weekend when I get paid!! and I'm thinking I might also have some sort malware or virus on that older laptop as well so i'll also get that checked out this weekend as soon as i get the router so that i can download the programs suggested above. Thanks soo much everyone- I really do appreciate your time, help and input!! (:

[TerryNet]

Just realize that a router is not going to solve the current problem(s) with the second computer unless it does happen to be the MAC Address issue.

[AA1TECH]

perlie559, Before you buy the router, look it up online to make sure it can clone a MAC address. Hate to have you get it home only to find out that feature is not available. It's not a big selling point, so the info is rarely on the box. Most router mfg. have their user manuals online, so it's easy to find the info.