network problem

[Murphie]

Hello again!
A pretty new computer (Acer Power FG, P4 3.0, 512 RAM, on board network interface). Until last week was connected to a workgroup and the internet--DSL--through a Linksys firewall/router; networking and internet worked all the time, no problems.
Then we decided to add wireless to the combination in order to add other machines to the network, so we bought a Netgear WPNT834 router and a Netgear USB (WPN111) wireless adapter. Setting up the router was quite a hurdle, since the wired network quit working when we got it. 4 calls to Netgear didn't really help. A call to Earthlink helped somewhat--she walked me through resetting the TCP/IP (netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt). That, with a new connection, got us online again, for a while.
Then the USB wireless adapter stopped working (error 10, device could not start), although the rest of the network was OK, and the remote computers could get online.
Then I reinstalled the USB adapter--and that machine can't get on the network again. The other 3 machines can see each other, and get online, but can't see the problem machine, and can't print to the network printer that is installed on the problem machine.
I uninstalled the USB adaper, but that didn't help. I was told by techs from Netgear and Earthlink to disable the firewall (TrendMicro), because supposedly the router is a firewall, but that makes me nervous, and it doesn't help anyway.
When I try to connect with the new connection I get error 720. (PPP not configured correctly) I tried the TCP/IP reset again a couple of times, with restart in between. The light on the router for that cable is on. I did change cables at one point, but it didn't help. All the lights flicker most of the time.
I'm stumped, this is new to me. Can anyone tell me what to try next?
I'm sorry for the long post!
Murphie

[classicsoftware]

Pretty long post, but mostly unintelligible.

Can any of the PC's get on line?

If so, can they get on line at the same time?

Is the problem PC the one with on-board Ethernet or the USB Ethernet adapter?

Please be very specific.

List Each PC on your network and what it can and cannot do.

Did you upgrade in order to get more ports or to avoid running more cable?

If you only needed more ports, you should have gotten a 16 port hib or switch and plugged that into the Linksys router.

We need a whole lot more information in order to help you.

[Murphie]

OK, here goes. The information is really mostly there, but I'll restate it.

Upgrade was because it's just not practical to run cables in our large and complex building.

Networking worked without problem until the router was replaced.

Computer #1, relatively new machine, directly connected to router (because it's physically close) can no longer access internet or network. (See first post for details of troubleshooting to date)

Computers 2,3, and 4, connected by Ethernet via a hub to the router, can all get online, at the same time, and can access each other, but none of them can access #1.

No printer can print to the printer which is connected by Ethernet directly to the router.

I don't know how the USB wireless adapter comes into the picture but I related what happened to it in case it's relevant.

I'm thinking to try replacing the old, wired-only, router, to see if that helps.

Is that better?
Any ideas?
Thanks much!
Murphie

[Variable]

On the problem machine go to Start, Run type CMD and in the resulting box type ipconfig and hit enter. What is the ip, mask and default gateway. Go to a working machine and repeat the process. What are the results. Different routers can use send the PC's different DHCP information.


When I try to connect with the new connection I get error 720. (PPP not configured correctly

PPP connection is for dial up. This is not what you would use to connect a PC to a router. If the problem PC is connected directly to the router and is set to Obtain IP address automatically in the TCP/IP Properties of the LAN (right click My Network places and Properties, right click LAN and click properties. TCP/IP conenction to a network does not use PPP) then it will get tcp/ip addressing information by default from the router, this is called DHCP. In this case, the internet is connected directly through a LAN connection. If your default settings in IE are set to try a dial up connection you will want to reset them. Open IE , Tools, Internet Options , Connections, remove any associated Dial up conenctions and then click Setup to run the wizard.

[pangea33]

I'm still getting some cognitive dissonance, especially when I read:

Networking worked without problem until the router was replaced...
I'm thinking to try replacing the old, wired-only, router, to see if that helps...

In my mind, it sounds like you've got one computer connected to the Netgear router, which is then plugged into the Linksys router. The 3 machines on a hub are connected to another port on the Linksys, which is also connected to the dsl modem. The Linksys authenticates the dsl connection, and the machines on the hub get connectivity.


When I try to connect with the new connection I get error 720. (PPP not configured correctly) I tried the TCP/IP reset again a couple of times, with restart in between. The light on the router for that cable is on...

Variable may have correctly identified that you're using PPP rather than a direct LAN connection, but this machine never could have connected to the router previously with those settings. Does the message possibly say PPPoE? Which is the typical protocol for dsl. I'm confused by that one, but I am not positive that you're using two routers at the same time.

If you are, the two network segments would be unable to communicate because they're firewalled, and the devices are doing their job. I suspect this is what the techs were talking about when they told you to disable the firewall. They didn't mean your software firewall, they meant the NAT redirection (firewall) of the NetGear.

Once that is turned off, you're still going to run into problems because both routers have DHCP servers running. The NetGear must because it needs to assign IPs to the wireless connections. Since the workgroup hub has connection, that tells me the Linksys is what's assigning their IPs.

Can you give a little clarity and let me know if I'm onto something here, or if I misunderstood your network topology? If I'm headed in the right direction, there are definitely some network conflicts that we need to resolve. They would result in a lack of connectivity, while...

All the lights flicker most of the time.

[classicsoftware]

First we need to know what is going on the one PC.

1) Do what variable suggested and post back with results.
2) Check device manager for conflicts.
3) What does it say when you rt click on my network places and choose properties? Does it say connected?

[Murphie]

I'm sorry for causing confusion--it wasn't my intention. I have to admit to being awfully confused myself.

There is and always was only one router at a time. (I was considering switching out the new wireless one and putting back the old one, to see if that was the cause of the trouble.)

One confusing thing was the "new" connection the Earthlink tech walked me through--that was what was giving those odd messages when I tried to connect with it. Later I deleted it (before I was able to get your answer, sorry).

But the "Local Area Connection", which said it was connected, wouldn't connect either.

The NIC showed up in Device Manager fine, there was no question mark or exclamation point, its properties said it was working.

I was getting messages about needing to install and configure a NIC, so I uninstalled it in Device Manager, and rebooted so it reinstalled itself--and got online right away. We've been online for a few hours now.

Now the IP address is 192.168.1.104, the mask is 255.255.255.0, and the gateway is 192.168.1.1. I'm sorry I couldn't look it up earlier when it wasn't connected. (It's been an interesting evening....)

I'll see what happens--I think this is the 3rd time I thought this problem was fixed. I still wonder if the wireless is causing a conflict somehow.

Many thanks to you all for answering, and I apologize for the confusion.

Murphie

[classicsoftware]

The answer was the NIC driver was corrupted. The real answer is NEVER let your ISP mess with your network. They are NOT network trouble shooters. They do more harm than good.

Glad you are up and running.

Now make sure each PC has a firewall and up to date AV definitions.

[Variable]

Yes, the general answer for them is to reinstall the tcp/ip stack : )
Good support is hard to find. People say they want it but don't want to pay for it. We have so many people comign out of tech schools with certs and degrees and no practical experience. Tech support is a great way to get experience. They just don't pay well enough and often hire off the street and give them scripts to work from. For any real problem they are useless, they have the same knowledge as the people calling for help - not much. If it ain't in the script they will tell you it is not their products fault but something else.