[frank1492]

I have a Westell 6100 modem with a direct Ethernet connection to my laptop, and Verizon DSL service. Everything was working perfectly until the other day when, during a thunderstorm, the modem started losing sync. (I really don't think the storm had anything to do with it, but thought I should mention it anyway.) After awhile, the sync was restored. All four LED's on the modem are now solid red indicating that I have power, DSL, and both an Internet and Ethernet connection. Only problem: Nothing works!
When I bring up the Verizon control pad, it tells me I'm offline. It doesn't even appear to be checking because when I close and reopen, it immediately restates that I'm offline. (No "checking connection" message.) What is also strange is that when I type the modem's IP address into the browser (192.168.2.1) it doesn't bring up the control page. It's really as if I don't have any connection at all.
Is it likely that I have a malfunctioning modem even thought the LED's indicate that it's fine? Or is the problem in the computer settings that have somehow gotten changed. I did have a malicious script that was misdirecting the links in Google, but that was fixed by SpySweeper. I just did complete Norton and SpySweeper scans BUT I have SpySweeper turned off completely and Norton auto-protect is disabled.
BTW my dialup service (also have Worldnet) works just fine. Could some kind soul please advise as to what might be the problem? Obviously I'm trying to avoid a call to Verizon because I have a heart condition!
Thanks very much.
Frank

[JohnWill]

I'd think the modem is the top suspect, but let's see this:

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt:

Type the following command:

IPCONFIG /ALL

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

[frank1492]

Hello John!
(Love your cat!)
Here is the ipconfig you asked for. Anything strange? I did try 192.168.1.1 and that didn't work either, BTW.
Thanks for your quick reply. This is a wonderful forum and I have made monetary contributions in the past!
Frank




Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : D947Z321
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : myhome.westell.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet
Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-DB-14-BD-C8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
192.168.1.1

PPP adapter AT&T Connection Service:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 12.76.176.60
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 12.76.176.60
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 204.127.129.4
12.102.244.4

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>

[frank1492]

Whoops, where is the IP address?

[JohnWill]

Let's try a fix on your network, just to make sure.

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows XP with SP2.

For these commands, Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

[frank1492]

Will do but before I do, was there anything that appeared out of order in the ipconfig?

[JohnWill]

The IP address of 0.0.0.0 is what triggers me to think the stack may be corrupt. The repair won't hurt anything anyway.

[frank1492]

Here are the results before I reboot:Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>netsh winsock reset catalog
The following command was not found: winsock reset catalog.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>netsh int ip reset reset.log


C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>

[frank1492]

Never mind the Microsoft stuff- my mistake

[frank1492]

Here are the results after reboot. I noticed the IP is still all zeros? Is that because the first command I typed was "not found?"

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : D947Z321
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : myhome.westell.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet
Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-DB-14-BD-C8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>

[frank1492]

I have learned that I apparently need SP2 to use the "netsh winsock reset catalog" command that wasn't found.
When I type "winver" at the cmd prompt, I'm told I have SP1, but when I go to the Microsoft site, there is a message that I already have SP2 installed! So which is correct?
I guess we can't go farther unless this question is answered. I don't look forward to having to download SP2 using dialup!

[JohnWill]

Well, the WINSOCK entries are different for SP2 over previous versions of XP, so we would like to know which one we're fixing. You can install SP2 over itself.

I suspect that some repair has removed SP2, that's the only thing I can imagine.

[TerryNet]

For a third opinion on service pack you can right click on My Computer - Properties - General tab - the 4th line under "System:" shows service pack.

Doubt it will help, but since it's easy try going into Device Manager and uninstall your ethernet adapter. Restart and Windows will find the adapter and reinstall it.

If you have another computer, or a friend who owes you a favor, you can download SP2 and get it to the crippled PC via CD or flash drive.

(If I'm allowed to make a guess--that lightning zapped your NIC. )

[JohnWill]

I'm with you Terry, that can't be a coincidence.

[frank1492]

I was told by the boys at Verizon to reinstall my Ethernet card which was supposedly "working properly" at the time. When I went to reinstall, it couldn't find
el90xc5.sys, but that has been fixed and it is supposedly working properly again. This
was not a severe electrical storm and there were no close hits and no loss of power. I realize it probably wouldn't take much but I'm cautiously optimistic.
Around about that time I got into a malicious script but that just seemed to affect Google's ability to llink to the proper sites and that has been corrected.
Verizon put me through every hoop possible short of testing the modem from their end and I may want to have them do that.
Insofar as the SP version, I have tried both going into "system" and typing "winver" at the command prompt. All tell me I have SP1 whereas the MS site says SP2.
Any other ideas?
Frank