Troubleshooting a LAN connection

[PtBetsie]

Donated laptop is a Dell Inspiron 6000 now with a clean install of XP. All works fine except the LAN connection. Hardware appears okay, driver is installed but the laptop fails to pick up the connection. I believe it is not seeing the correct IP (?) or DNS (?) Talking to the provider was of no help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[classicsoftware]

Need more information.

Have you checked device manager?

Any messages in the task bar?

What is the IP address of the PC?

Have you check the TCP/IP settings for the adapter?

[PtBetsie]

No messages in the taskbar. Device manager, no yellow exclamations The address showing when using cmd line instructions given to me by the provider is incorrect according to the local provider but I can't seem to get the info of what to change it to or how to do that. The TC/IP settings are for automatic which works fine on three computers attached to the same router.

[LochLomonder]

Have you tried plugging it in directly to the modem to see if it'll connect that way?

I would suggest plugging it in that way, opening a command line, and then entering these commands:

IPCONFIG /release

IPCONFIG / flushdns

IPCONFIG /renew

Any connection after that?

[classicsoftware]

Please go to a command prompt and type ipconfig/all>ipconfig.txt

Then post the contents of the file here for review.

[PtBetsie]

Note to add: Prior to formatting the hard drive and installing a new OS (XP) the LAN was working

I went to cmd line and typed ipconfig/all>ipconfig.txt but nothing comes up, just the user info C:/Documents and Settings/USER 1 In searching MS, I came up with what I thought was a clue as it mentioned this problem occuring with an XP install. So I used the same cd, and installed XP again but that didn't cure the problem. I did not proceed to adding XP service pack 3.

[Paul Komski]

The basic output from entering ipconfig /all at a command prompt for the NIC in question would be of value.

Alternatively go to network connections and right click on the LAN connection and choose Status. The basic IP address info should then be shown on the Support Tab.

You should also be able to see other information about the connection and whether it is properly enabled and so on.

[classicsoftware]

Note to add: Prior to formatting the hard drive and installing a new OS (XP) the LAN was working

I went to cmd line and typed ipconfig/all>ipconfig.txt but nothing comes up, just the user info C:/Documents and Settings/USER 1 In searching MS, I came up with what I thought was a clue as it mentioned this problem occuring with an XP install. So I used the same cd, and installed XP again but that didn't cure the problem. I did not proceed to adding XP service pack 3.

Nothing will come up, it will generate a file called ipconfig.txt and you need to post the contents of the file here for review.

[PtBetsie]

Using ipconfig/all

Host name...:workstat-db4a1c
Primary Dns Suffix...:
Node type...unknown
IP routing enabled...:No
WINS Proxy...:No

Ethernet Adapter Local Area connection
Connection Specific DNS Suffix...:
Description...:Broadcomm 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Physical Address....:00-14-22-E1-62-8D
Dhcp Enabled...:Yes
Auto configuration enabled...:Yes
Auto configuration IP address...:169.254.101.248
Subnet Mask...:255.255.0.0
Default Gateway...:

[Paul Komski]

PC is not talking to the router.

If you have any firewalls running (third party or Windows) then disable it/them for the time being.

Try a different ethernet cable and a different router port.

Possibly the NIC or its own port/socket is bad.

Is the NIC on-board or on an expansion card?

[classicsoftware]

This is probably either:


A router problem
A cable problem
A Firewall problem


Try the cable first.

Remove and re attach the cable at the PC and at the router. Then repair the network connection. Check the IP address if it stays the same then
Replace the cable with a known working cable. If it works, you know it's the cable


Next lets try the router:
IF you can get the IP address and DNS server from another PC, you can manually input the information into the properties from the NIC. Just use an number in the last octet that's higher than anything else on the network.
For example if the IP address of a working PC is 192.168.1.100 and you have three pc's when you input the IP address use 192.168.1.125 and everything else should match a working PC. If this fails, then proceed to the firewall

Firewall:
Disable ALL firewalls and see if you can get an IP address. If this fails then I would look at the NIC. Get a cheap PCI NIC for around $6.00 and seee if that works.

Let us know how you make out.

[azzey]

Can also try power cycling the router if you haven't already

[PtBetsie]

While I was waiting, I walked across the street to the library. They have a different provider. The laptop had no problems connecting. ??? Back at the office, I switched cables, ports, etc. Still low or no connectivity. I am left confused to why only this laptop refuses to talk to the router/internet. I don't have a PCMCIA ethernet card to check with at this time. The modem/router is a ZOOM combo ZOOM 5654 with a built in firewall. I closed the software firewall on the main pc but that didn't help.

[classicsoftware]

Is this wired or wireless.....

[PtBetsie]

Wired and weird! I had four users check their laptops, different makes, connected to the router/modem in qustion. All connect with no problem. The Dell 6000 however is boycotting that modem/router. Yet I can take it across the street to the library and have it connect. As a temporary measure, I'll pick up a PCMCIA Lan card.

[classicsoftware]

Why would you waste the time and money to get a new card when you haven't determined if it's the card or the router. Please do what I told you and manually set the information in TCP/IP settings of the network card. This is a 5 minute operation.


Go to a known working PC.
Go to a command prompt
Type ipconfig/all>ipconfig.txt
Print the Ipconfig.txt file and take it to the laptop
Rt click on my network places.
Choose properties
Rt click on my network places
Choose properties
Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Click on the Properties button
Fill in the box below with the information from the known working PC adding 25 to the end of IP address:
https://images.freeola.co.uk/knowledge-base/xp_nonat-1.jpg
Click OK and the OK again and then see what the Local area connection shows and then try to get on line


Remember, you will not put in the numbers on the image, you will use the numbers on the printout from the working PC.

[Paul Komski]

Can also try power cycling the router if you haven't already
Rebooting the router (in fact all associated hardware) is always one of the things to do if not already done so. An additional step would be to reset the router to its default settings with the little button placed there specially for that job.

It is a strange one to comprehend so far as to why your router and that PC just don't want to be married to one another.

[classicsoftware]

I have had this experience many times with the home routers by Linksys/Dlink/Netgear. I have this from time to tome when I need to connect a client's pc to my LAN. Just manually entering the info connects everything. Why the DHCP fails some time is beyond my pay grade. I only care about solutions.

[Paul Komski]

I agree that manually assigning addresses in the NIC is one approach to use - but only as a workaround; another is to marry the NIC's own MAC address to an assigned IP address within the router. Resetting everything can also work and when it does work it is then actually a solution and not a workaround.

[classicsoftware]

I agree that manually assigning addresses in the NIC is one approach to use - but only as a workaround; another is to marry the NIC's own MAC address to an assigned IP address within the router. Resetting everything can also work and when it does work it is then actually a solution and not a workaround.

I disagree. It's a solution. When you are using inexpensive home networking equipment this is sometimes a problem.

But of course since the OP refuses to troubleshoot this problem in a logical and orderly way, we really don't what the problem is. It may still be a cable or wiring issue unrelated to the router or the laptop.

[PtBetsie]

Working laptops and pc are all set tp automatic so no numbers show up. The local telephone company kindly bent the rules and allowed their tech to stop by. He could not figure it out either. So I had the student who will be in possession of the laptop take it up to the school to make sure it would connect there and it did. So the fastest and easiest way for me to fix this problem was the LAN card which also has no problems connecting at our center and everywhere else. Six dollars and I don't have to take up more of your time. Thanks for all the suggestions though.

[classicsoftware]

So the fastest and easiest way for me to fix this problem was the LAN card which also has no problems connecting at our center and everywhere else.

NO, NO, 1000 times NO.

This is most likely a problem is with the router or cable and changing the network card will not solve this problem. Also a PCMCIAA card will be more than $6.00

Follow the instructions I gave you and manually assign an IP address and let me know what happens. Read the instructions I gave you carefully. If you print the IP configuration file, you will have all of the information you need. You place the information in the printout exactly as it is into the non working laptop except for the last octet of the IP address. So if the working IP address is 192.169.1.101, you will change yours to 192.168.1.125. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE WORKING PC.

[FTT]

the fastest and easiest way for me to fix this problem was the LAN card

Looks like a done deal from here. Whether it was the right thing or not. If it were me, I would have figured out why a perfectly working LAN port refused only one network yet worked on all others.

a PCMCIAA card will be more than $6.00

Not this one. (http://3btech.net/gieewi10etpc1.html) Even wireless ones can be had for under $10 albeit not of a known quality manufacturer.