[GRIFFCON]

Hi Guys:

This one is driving me up the wall! A friend has a brand new Westell 7500 Gateway Router (2nd replacement) that she is using with Verizon. Her OS is Win XP Home SP2. For the past 5 weeks, she cannot *directly* connect to the Internet either through IE or Firefox. In order for her to access the Internet, she has to go through a convoluted process that involves creating a "Broadband Connection", (which creates another Internet icon in the System Tray), clicking on her MSN account, and then logging on using this Broadband Connection. In the past, she was always able to simply click the Firefox or IE icons to gain Internet access. Trying to access the router's settings through, 192.168.1.1 only returns "page not found" errors. I've tried ipconfig; ipconfig /release and renew; uninstalling and reinstalling the Intel Pro/100 ethernet drivers; shutting down/rebooting dozens of times; resetting the router by pressing on it's little, red "magic" button 30 seconds at least a dozen times, etc., etc. You name it I've done it. And, being a computer technician myself for over 18 years has not helped me one bit with this.

Calling Verizon's "tech support" has been a total exercise in futility and frustration; as they continue to refer us to Gateway and of all places, Microsoft! Plus, every single troubleshooting method they've suggested I've tried more than once.

BTW, I'm aware that the "Broadband Connection" is *not* the way to go, unfortunately this is the only way Internet access is possible at the moment for this young lady; and *only* through the MSN for heaven's sake! (Talk about adding insult to injury). <g>

If anyone has a possible solution, I'd be more than grateful.

[TerryNet]

Let's try to gather some information before speculating on possible solutions.

Start, Run, CMD, OK to open a command prompt:
(For Vista type CMD in the Search box after Start)

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.

You might also try ...

(From a JohnWill post)

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

Start, Run, CMD, OK 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.

[GRIFFCON]

Hi John:

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated!

Actually, because I am not blessed with a whole lot of patience, I backed up all of her stuff, reformatted, and installed a slipstreamed copy of Win XP SP2. Now, all is well. However, you can rest assured that I will utilize your suggestions if I am confronted with a similar problem in the future (this was a first of this kind in my 18 years as a technician that I was not able to resolve). Once again John, thanks for your wonderful input.

God speed to you.