Wired Broadband Computer will not connect to Internet?

Question

I have a network at home with various computers on it. All of the Wireless computers connect fine, with no problems. My backup computer, which is hard-wired through the router (Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GS), refuses any connection whatsoever. It stopped working awhile back, and I just hooked it up again. There is nothing listed when I go to 'Network Connections', and there should be at least one item there. I believe I connected through DHCP.

This computer has always had issues connecting, and I'm not sure why. I originally thought it was a Winsock issue, but upon trying various things, I am left clueless and stumped.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

First you need a network connection. Open network connections and run the create a new connection wizard.

There may be other issues associated with losing your connection and you may need to try the following if the new connection does not resolve the matter:

1) power cycle the router. Sometimes the wireless connection will work while the cabled connection does not. If you still have no connection;

2) check the ip address on the backup computer (run > cmd > ipconfig/all). If your new connection has an address in the 169.254.x*x.x*x range, it has been assigned by APIPA meaning there is no connection to the DHCP server. Login to your router and check that DHCP is enabled and has a pool of addresses. Note the pool range. Restart the backup computer and re-check ipconfig/all. If it now has an address in the familar 192.168.x*x.x*x range, you should have a connection. If not, leave it for 5 minutes by which time DHCP should have tried again to provide an ip address. If no joy;

3) assign a static address to the backup computer within the pool range (connection > properties > internet protocol (TCP/IP) > properties > use the following ip address (enter the ip within the pool range but not one in use by the wireless connected machines). For DNS, use the router gateway address discovered in ipconfig/all. If still no connection;

4) enter the DNS server addresses supplied by your ISP (you could also find them on the ISP's website or ring tech. support and ask them) in the DNS server boxes instead of using the gateway. If you still have no connection;

5) check your firewall settings to make sure that generic host processes, services, all tcp/ip settings and ie are not blocked by the firewall.

If none of that works, buy a new LAN card.