problems connecting

[TooTallT]

I have a computer wired to a router. The internet worked fine on it under Win XP. However, the computer was running very slow so I decided I needed a reformat, though I couldn't find my WinXP disc and just put Ubuntu linux on it until I could find my disk. The internet worked, for a couple days. Then, it stopped working. However, I found my WinXP disk and reformatted again and reinstalled XP, hoping it would be the end of my worries. However, I still can't connect to the internet, thought the only change was the OS and reformats. I can't think of anything to do to fix the problem, any suggestions? Thanks.

[glengels]

Sometimes XP doesn't have the proper Ethernet driver, so you may have to download it from the web (hopefully you have another computer that has access) or from the computer manufacturer's install disk (which would have been separate from the XP disk). To check for this, go to the System area of Control Panel, click on Hardware tab, then Device Manager, then click on Network Adapters and see if you see your card. If it has a symbol with a yellow exclamation point, something is wrong and it is probably the driver.

If the Ethernet driver is okay, the next thing to check is the network connection. It has been awhile since I installed XP, and I don't remember if it creates a network connection automatically during the install or if it asks you what kind of connection you have. To see the current status, go to Network Connections. Do you see a Local Area Connection? If not, you need to create one (see Network Tasks on the left side of this screen). If you have a Local Area connection, click on Properties. Is it connected? If so, click Properties, then click on TCP/IP and click Properties for it. Is it set to "Obtain an IP address automatically"? Is this correct for your network? (It probably is, but there are exceptions). Is it getting an ip address, subnet, gateway? (Open a Command Prompt and do "ipconfig".)

If you still have a problem, post some data about whether you are getting an IP address, etc.

[TooTallT]

Okay, the device manager recognizes and correctly names the ethernet adapter (on my motherboard), with no ? or ! on it.

The network connection says connected, in Local Area Connection, and it is set to obtain an IP address and DNS automatically. In ipconfig, I get:

Connection specific DNS suffix:
Autoconfiguration IP address: 169.254.115.16
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway:

[Variable]

An APIPA adress like you get, means the client (PC) is set to use DHCP and it cannot find a DHCP server. It is probably a cable, or the device that gives DHCP addresses (router) is not giving out addresses. Try a new cable first.

[TooTallT]

switching cables worked, I'm glad it was so simple. Thanks for the help!

[Variable]

You bet. Simple is good.