[onebao]

Hey all!

There are 4 computers running in my home. After recently moving to a new place and activating internet service, I found that now 3 of the computers are unable to correctly connect to my home network. The only one that is working is my computer, and by "working," I mean I'm not receiving a Limited/No Connectivity message from Windows and I can connect to the internet. All the computers are running Windows XP Professional.

I'm using a Belkin 802.11g router, but I've also tried switching to a Allied Telesis (Telesyn) AT-FS705LE router. Both routers have given me the same result as mentioned above. I also plugged my network wire into the other computers to see if they would work then, but to no avail; still the same Limited/No Connectivity message. After exhausting the normal quick fixes, such as rebooting the routers, modems, using different wires, I thought that both my routers may possibly be broken in some way. However, I tried connecting the afflicted computers directly to my cable modem (Motorola SBV5121 from Time Warner Cable: Road Runner) and I still have a 169.

Honestly, I have no idea what's wrong or what to do at this point. I'm thinking of buying or borrowing a router just to see what would happen, but I posted here first to see if anyone had any ideas. Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[dlsayremn]

Did you have a cable connection before?

With a cable ISP, the problem could be MAC authorization issue.

Some cable companies use MAC autorization, where the MAC number of the first device connected to the modem is registered at the distribution point. Once that is done only a device with that number is allowed access unless the registration is reset for another device.

I am assuming that your computer was used to set up the modem when you moved into your new place.


If the Belkin has a setting for it, clone the computer's MAC address.


Other option:

1. Turn off and disconnect leads for computer, router and modem. If the modem has a backup battery, remove it.
2. With the modem connected to the cable lead, turn it onand wait about 4 minutes for connection to stabilize.
3. Connect the modem to the router and turn the router on. Wait about 4 minutes for the connection to stabilize.
4. Connect the computer to the modem and turn it on.

[Couriant]

Is DCHP on the router enabled?

[JohnWill]

Maybe you need to start with a working computer and a non-working one and let's diagnose what's going on.


Connect the working computer directly to the modem, and post the following information.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt:

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following command:

Note that there is a space before the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the / in the following command.

IPCONFIG /ALL

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

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.




Next:

Disconnect the working computer from the modem.
Power down the modem for 30 seconds and then turn it back on.
Connect one of the non-working computers to the connection, boot it and post the same information as above.

[onebao]

I've determined that the source of my problem originates from someplace in my LAN setup. This morning, I gave the computers another go at a direct connection to the modem, but this time rebooting the modem between each try. This time, each computer was able to go online while directly connected to the modem. I guess what dlsayremn said about the MAC addresses applied here.

However, without connecting the modem, I hooked up my computers to the router. All computers, including mine, gave the Local Area Connection X (where X is a number depending on the computer) is connected message for a second, and then reverted to the Limited or No Connectivity message/icon. Below I post my ipconfig information on my computer when it's plugged into the router with the modem connected, next when it's plugged into the router without the modem, and the ipconfig of a laptop (DELL Latitude D600) when it's plugged into the router without the modem:

My computer when successfully connected:

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2bao
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : nyc.rr.com
　
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : nyc.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-17-43-6A-1A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 74.73.29.116
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.248.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 74.73.24.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.37.192.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.103.15
24.29.103.16

My computer when unsuccessfully connected:
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2bao
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-17-43-6A-1A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.115.70
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Laptop when unsuccessfully connected:
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ROBERTFROST
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 5:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-56-7D-90-4E
　
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : nyc.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : ADMtek AN985 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-6C-2E-73-5E
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.173.238
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel<R> PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3A Mini PCI Adapter
Physical Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 00-04-23-A3-51-59

[JohnWill]

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows XP with SP2/SP3.

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt:

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands, each followed by the Enter key:

Note: Type only the text in bold for the following commands.

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

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults, type: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reboot the machine.




Post another IPCONFIG /ALL from the non-working computer.

[onebao]

Sorry, for the delay.

I resetted the tcp/ip stack and the WINSOCK entries. The ipconfig info looks the same as I posted above for the laptop except the Autoconfiguration IP address is now 169.254.33.212.

[JohnWill]

If you are SURE that the cable and port on the router is working, my guess would be a problem with the network drivers or a defective NIC at this point.

One last test, boot the computer in Safe Mode with Networking using that wired connection and post a new IPCONFIG /ALL here.

[onebao]

Hey, thanks for all your help!

I finally bought a new router and got everything hooked up and it worked perfectly.