[osu99jp]

I just purchased a laptop (Dell Inspiron) and router, set up my wireless network successfully, but cannot establish an internet connection via the network connection.

Does anyone know what might be the issue? In Vista, if I look in the Network and Sharing Center, it says that I am connected to the network, but the network has no internet connection - When I attempted to have Windows set up my internet connection, it successfully connected to the network but not the internet, and said "Windows did not find any problems with this computer's network connection" - so it's quite apparent that it's not a network issue. My desktop computer is connected to the internet just fine via a cable modem from my cable provider - so it can't be a modem issue - and this network connected to the internet just fine using my router (Linksys WRT54GS) in two other people's homes. Also, I have no problem "piggybacking" neighbors' network connections and connecting to the internet thru them.

I am not too tech-savvy, but I think it's pretty apparent that this might be a Vista/Dell issue...am I off base? Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

[TerryNet]

Please describe your network--devices and how they are interconnected.

[osu99jp]

Terry,

I'm not completely sure what info you need, so I'll just share a bunch:

I have an RCA cable modem (provided by ISP) and a Linksys 802.11g router (WRT54GS). The modem is directly connected to the router in the internet port (far left port on the back) via a network cable. The modem is also directly connected to my desktop via USB plug. The desktop internet works fine, no issues.

Is there helpful information I can give you regarding my wireless network? I had an engineer friend configure it for me and trust his work. He encrypted it and let me set it up with a password and all that stuff to make it secure. The network connected to the internet with no issues when I took it down to his house - and also when I took it to my parents' house later that day. At my parents house, I just wanted to test it, so I connected their cable modem directly to my router via network cable - and also plugged their desktop into one of the 4 internet ports on the back of my router - both internet connections worked simultaneously with no problems. Now I'm back at my house, and can't get it going.

Thanks for responding,

Jeff

[steveie85]

Is there more then one ethernet ports on the back of the router? Is it the same modem your desktop is hooked up to as the router? If so plug the desktop into the router, move the cable running between the router and the modem into the port the desktop was on and try that. It is not a Dell/Vista issue. I am on a Dell Ispiron 1501 with Vista Home Prem. Try that and let us know if that works. It maybe simply that the modem was giving priority to the desktop and not the router.

[TerryNet]

While there are exceptions, the most usual case with cable internet and a cable modem with USB and ethernet ports is that you get only one public IP address unless you pay for additional. Now your desktop is getting that one public IP address, leaving none for the router.

Unplug the modem and router. Disconnect the USB cable. Plug in the modem; plug in the router. Connect all your computers (wired or wireless) to the router. You should have internet access on all of them.

[osu99jp]

Stevie, thanks for joining in.

Unfortunately, your suggestion didn't work out. But I checked my device manager on the desktop, and it appears that the "ethernet controller" is not recognized or installed or it's missing drivers...It's a Dell Dimension 8250 and I went to their website and downloaded/installed the two Ethernet drivers listed on their site..both had something to do with "Gigabit Xtreme Ethernet driver" - however, it's still listed in the device manager under "other devices" with a yellow exclamation point on it - so it's still apparently missing a driver. I'm guessing this might have a big part to do with why your suggestion is not working.

Anybody know of another driver I'm missing? Here is what I downloaded:

Broadcom - Driver
applies to:
NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

Broadcom - Diagnostic Utility
applies to:
NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

If you care to look, here is the Dell site for drivers and downloads for the Dimension 8250:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&os=WW1&osl=EN

Thanks again for your assistance,

Jeff

[TerryNet]

Your "ethernet controller" is a "NetXtreme Gigabit"? My guess is that the driver for the ethernet controller is more likely included in the chipset drivers. Download and install them.

[osu99jp]

I only made that assumption because on the Dell site, the only drivers that say anything about "ethernet" are those Gigabit NetXtreme things..I will install the others and reply in a short while.

Thanks,

Jeff

[steveie85]

The proper driver for you ethernet card should be on the CD with all the Dell drivers. You can then go into device manager and get the proper updates for the ethernet card from there. Do you know if the ehternet card is the NetXtreme Gigabit?

[osu99jp]

I can only assume that is the make/brand of my ethernet card - when I checked the Dell page to download drivers for a Dell Dimension 8250, that was the make/brand that the driver referenced. On my device manager, the ethernet controller is listed under "other devices" and when I click on 'properties' it does not have any relevant information, such as make/model/brand. I downloaded the drivers on their page and still haven't solved the problem.

If I try connecting the modem directly to my laptop, the internet still does not work. It seems like the modem is incompatible with the laptop computer, but that seems odd to me - The modem isn't THAT old and was provided by my ISP 2-3 years ago. I know the modem is functioning, because the desktop internet is fine. This is the only thing I can think of, is the modem and laptop being incompatible. If it means anything, the cable modem is made by RCA.

Thanks,

Jeff

[TerryNet]

Does everything in Device Manager have a driver now?

[osu99jp]

Hey guys thanks for your help - everything is finally working.

[TerryNet]

You may mark this 'Solved' using the Thread Tools at the upper right.

[teemant]

Originally Posted by osu99jp

Hey guys thanks for your help - everything is finally working.

hi, new member here.....im having this exact problem at the moment.....i keep reinstalling from the resource cd but still im getting that under the Device Manager the yellow question marks and it just doesn't seem to find the drivers even with the cd in. i've installed chipset drivers, both network drivers and utility and nothing seems to give. the ethernet controller still shows the yellow question mark. don't know where to begin. i've been all over the place searching for answers and your problem is the exact problem i was having with my drivers...just wish you could have posted the solution especially since im not proficient with computers. im assuming most can derive how you did it from following these posts but not sure. just wondering if you could tell me a tip or trick on how you got your drivers installed and working there. again i've installed and reinstalled and still not working. hope u can help. thanks.