Riddle me this? (Internet)

[lost0822]

Okay so I was surfing the net last night looking a fantasy football stuff when all of a sudden my connection went dead. No big deal thought maybe I had just lost the connection for few second/minutes so I waited a few minutes. Try again to no avail, still not working. So I know that my cable connection coming out of the wall is kind of loose so I fool with it to make sure it’s connected right, but also notices that all the lights on my modem were working fine so it seemed as though the modem was getting a signal, also my TV was on and saw that the cable was fine and the picture looked great as always. So I’m thinking what the hell could be wrong…I just built this machine and have had no problems for over a week now, it’s only about two weeks old. So I unplug the modem for about 5 minutes and turn off the computer to get them in sync again, maybe that will do it, nope.

Then I take the cable out of my new rig, stick it into my old rig, fire that baby up and the internet comes up right away! So now I’m like what the hell is going on, it’s obviously not the internet or my provider, it’s the computer.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? I have uplugged the modem and computer and tried reseting both of them about 4 times now, nothing. I simply was surfing the net, not downloading anything, I had not just changed any internet options or installed anything, I can’t figure it out, what would make something like that happen. Thanks for any help you can provide, I need suggestions I don’t know what else to do, I’m kind of newbish at this. Oh i use Internet Explorer, XP Home edition.

 

[djnes]

See if there are updated drivers for your NIC, instead of the built in ones.

 

[lost0822]

i don't have a card it's built into the motherboard, i guess you mean the drivers for that then. Well i think there are newer ones, mine are just one step lower...they are on the cd that came with my board MSI K8N Neo Platinum. If i uninstall the drivers then install them from the cd again do you think that might get up and running again....is it ok to uninstall those drivers without reformatting?

 

[djnes]

I wouldn't reload the same driver revs. I would go with the newest ones.

is it ok to uninstall those drivers without reformatting?

This question scares the living crap out of me.

 

[MaMMa]

open up IE. Tools, Internet Options , Connections, LAN Settings, then check AUtomatically detect settings.

Its worth a shot

 

[lost0822]

I wouldn't reload the same driver revs. I would go with the newest ones.



This question scares the living crap out of me.

me to, that's why i'm asking if that's a good idea or not, i'm thinking it's not.

 

[lost0822]

open up IE. Tools, Internet Options , Connections, LAN Settings, then check AUtomatically detect settings.

Its worth a shot

tried that, did'nt work, thanks though.

 

[djnes]

me to, that's why i'm asking if that's a good idea or not, i'm thinking it's not.

I meant the fact that your troubleshooting a difficult problem but you have to ask if it's safe to uninstall a driver, or if you should reformat. I don't see much good coming from this.

Anyway, to be helpful, download the latest driver for your NIC and then uninstall the current one. Obviously, you'll loose connectivity to the internet until it's installed, so you want to have the files locally.

 

[Jgedeon]

Is windows showing that the device is working properly? Also if you have any nic cards around there can always slap another one in it. Just for the onboard nic being out I wouldn't even think about reformating. Sticking another nic in for the time being will let you check for updated drivers.

 

[lost0822]

Is windows showing that the device is working properly? Also if you have any nic cards around there can always slap another one in it. Just for the onboard nic being out I wouldn't even think about reformating. Sticking another nic in for the time being will let you check for updated drivers.

i'm at work so i can't check this now, i will when i get home, sometime after 5 (EC). I believe windows is showing that it's working....how would i check to make sure. I don't have another NIC.

If everything else i'm going to try first does not work, still i could i simply just uninstall the driver i have for my mobo, then install the same one off the cd that came with it? Like i said this mobo is 2 weeks old so there pretty up to date, plus they've been working the whole time up until last night when i was on the web.....i'm thinking maybe a website i went to some how changed my settings or something...i'm thinking a fresh install of the drivers would help or am i totally off base? Keep in mind these were questionable sites, not porn excatly but not far off...i've just never had a problem like this before. If i'm on sites like that i always have my virus, firewall and pop-up killer running the whole time.

 

[phaelinx]

one way to tell if its working, ping your modem. Most modems have a built in webpage on the bios chip that allows for configuring..sometimes its 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.2.1 its one of those. Try all 3..if you cannot successfully ping the modem somethings with with the nic, to ping, go to command prompt, type ping 192.168.0.1 and so on
if you can ping the modem, load up ie, then http://192.168.0.1 or whatever the ip is and check its settings, there may be an updated firmware revision for the modem itself.

 

[pbj75]

First of all, I am assuming your cable modem hooks into your PC using the standard CAT-5/6 Ethernet cable. Some people use their USB port.

Some other helpful info would be : Does your PC hook directly to the cable modem or is there a router or hub? Who is assigning your PC's IP address? Is it hard coded in the TCP/IP settings? Can you ping yourself using "ping x.x.x.x"? Can you ping your cable modem?

As far as reloading the network adapter drivers. Download the latest Ethernet drivers for your MB. Make sure the network cable is disconnected and power up your PC. Look in Device Manager and find your network adapter. Open its Properties. Choose Update Driver and install the new drivers.

www.broadbandreports.com has a large forum that is dedicated cable and DSL, e.g. SWBell, Charter, Comcast, etc. That is usually a good source of info for specific systems/devices.

 

[djnes]

one way to tell if its working, ping your modem. Most modems have a built in webpage on the bios chip that allows for configuring..sometimes its 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.2.1 its one of those. Try all 3..if you cannot successfully ping the modem somethings with with the nic, to ping, go to command prompt, type ping 192.168.0.1 and so on
if you can ping the modem, load up ie, then http://192.168.0.1 or whatever the ip is and check its settings, there may be an updated firmware revision for the modem itself.

Your referring to the router....not a modem. And if your using a POS brand router, like a D-Link or Netgear, this is a sign that it's dying.

 

[pbj75]

djnes

Actually, alot of the cable modems provide HTML based management. I know alot of the Motorola's do.

 

[lost0822]

First of all, I am assuming your cable modem hooks into your PC using the standard CAT-5/6 Ethernet cable. Some people use their USB port.

Some other helpful info would be : Does your PC hook directly to the cable modem or is there a router or hub? Who is assigning your PC's IP address? Is it hard coded in the TCP/IP settings? Can you ping yourself using "ping x.x.x.x"? Can you ping your cable modem?

As far as reloading the network adapter drivers. Download the latest Ethernet drivers for your MB. Make sure the network cable is disconnected and power up your PC. Look in Device Manager and find your network adapter. Open its Properties. Choose Update Driver and install the new drivers.

www.broadbandreports.com has a large forum that is dedicated cable and DSL, e.g. SWBell, Charter, Comcast, etc. That is usually a good source of info for specific systems/devices.

Yes cat 5 cable
Yes directly to the modem
Like i said i'm a moron on network stuff. To ping my self this what i think i do:
1. go to run type "cmd"
2. then type ipconfig/all to see my IP address, gateway and stuff like that right?
3. is this also where i can type "ping <ip address>?

 

[pbj75]

Don't use Start->Run... because as soon as ping finishes, the window closes.

Best to pop open a Command Prompt window (usually under Programs->Accessories) then type them in.

 

[djnes]

djnes

Actually, alot of the cable modems provide HTML based management. I know alot of the Motorola's do.

None that I've ever seen Comcast or RCN use. Maybe others for other ISPs do.

 

[lost0822]

Don't use Start->Run... because as soon as ping finishes, the window closes.

Best to pop open a Command Prompt window (usually under Programs->Accessories) then type them in.

thank you very much.

Also, i've only use my live update before to update my Bios/Drivers, how do i do this on a floppy?

Seems that i download the zip file to a floppy disk, then i i'm not sure what to do. Do i boot the computer from the floppy drive or do i just open it under windows explorer like a regular zip file?

 

[phaelinx]

None that I've ever seen Comcast or RCN use. Maybe others for other ISPs do.

Yeah all of SBC yahoo and Earthlink modems have built in hardcoded html pages in them, as well as ip addressess. If your modem plugs into a router, then the modems ip address gets disabled and going to any of those ip addresses above will take you to the router instead of the modem.

 

[pbj75]

Not to take lost0822 threads too far afield, but the motorola surfboard 3100/4100 can provide everything from packets sent/received to signal strength via 192.168.100.1. Pretty cool.

For some modems, you can actually load a new config file into the modem to uncap the speed. Of course, the cable company can readily find hacked cable modems with a simple network device scan/verify. At which point, the cable company removes that cable modem MAC from the network. Then the hacker bitches on the forums that the cable company terminated their service "for no reason". ROTFLMAO.

 

[djnes]

thank you very much.

Also, i've only use my live update before to update my Bios/Drivers, how do i do this on a floppy?

Seems that i download the zip file to a floppy disk, then i i'm not sure what to do. Do i boot the computer from the floppy drive or do i just open it under windows explorer like a regular zip file?

This is when you call in a friend to help you install drivers. If that's not an option, read the site for the instructions on how to install the motherboard drivers. You dno't need to disconnect the cable from the NIC as some have suggested. I'm not trying to be an ass here, but if your not capable of downloading drivers and installing them, it's a good time to get a friend involved to show you.

 

[phaelinx]

I know for awhile 3com cable modems were uncapped at factory settings and people would get 5+ megabit..I think some companys found out and basically forced 3com to some how not sell them anymore..

 

[lost0822]

This is when you call in a friend to help you install drivers. If that's not an option, read the site for the instructions on how to install the motherboard drivers. You dno't need to disconnect the cable from the NIC as some have suggested. I'm not trying to be an ass here, but if your not capable of downloading drivers and installing them, it's a good time to get a friend involved to show you.

well there's no one i know that can do that. I've come this far, building & installing everything on my computer, formatting it twice.....i'm not going to get someone to come in and look over my shoulder as i do it, unless someone wants to volunteer.

I've done everything else so far by myself and from people like you guys helping on forums, i think i'll find the answer somewhere if not here, i'll just need to investigate more.

 

[phaelinx]

heres what you do, go to control panels, system, then to hardware, then to device manager, then to network cards, double click your network adapters, go to driver, click on update driver, MAKE SURE TO CLICK "install from a specific location (Advanced)" point to the driver you just downloaded, click the driver from the list, click ok, it'll install it, reboot..if it doesnt fix it..go back to drivers tab like i said earlier, click Uninstall, reboot windows, let windows find drivers and auto configure it..it may be a plethora of stuff..if you've got a router, could be your computer isnt requesting dhcp information in which case your ip would start with 169.254....., If you do see its set at 169.254, you can manually set the ip and gateway, thats a little bit more difficult if you've never done it before, it could be a driver issue, most likely not a hardware issue..if all else fails, reinstall windows.

 

[djnes]

well there's no one i know that can do that. I've come this far, building & installing everything on my computer, formatting it twice.....i'm not going to get someone to come in and look over my shoulder as i do it, unless someone wants to volunteer.

I've done everything else so far by myself and from people like you guys helping on forums, i think i'll find the answer somewhere if not here, i'll just need to investigate more.

You built the whole computer and your not sure how to download drivers and install them? Doesn't add up. Anyway, as we've suggested, download the drivers for the NIC from the motherboard's site. Follow their instructions on how to install it and try that out.

 

[lost0822]

You built the whole computer and your not sure how to download drivers and install them? Doesn't add up. Anyway, as we've suggested, download the drivers for the NIC from the motherboard's site. Follow their instructions on how to install it and try that out.

It's called live update. at least for my mobo bios/drivers

all other parts drivers i did. I just don't want to f' anything up, i know that with the Bios and mobo drivers you can really mess something up...i'm just being carefull

 

[lost0822]

heres what you do, go to control panels, system, then to hardware, then to device manager, then to network cards, double click your network adapters, go to driver, click on update driver, MAKE SURE TO CLICK "install from a specific location (Advanced)" point to the driver you just downloaded, click the driver from the list, click ok, it'll install it, reboot..if it doesnt fix it..go back to drivers tab like i said earlier, click Uninstall, reboot windows, let windows find drivers and auto configure it..it may be a plethora of stuff..if you've got a router, could be your computer isnt requesting dhcp information in which case your ip would start with 169.254....., If you do see its set at 169.254, you can manually set the ip and gateway, thats a little bit more difficult if you've never done it before, it could be a driver issue, most likely not a hardware issue..if all else fails, reinstall windows.

thank you.

 

[[BB] Rick James]

Okay so I was surfing the net last night looking a fantasy football stuff when all of a sudden my connection went dead. No big deal thought maybe I had just lost the connection for few second/minutes so I waited a few minutes. Try again to no avail, still not working. So I know that my cable connection coming out of the wall is kind of loose so I fool with it to make sure it’s connected right, but also notices that all the lights on my modem were working fine so it seemed as though the modem was getting a signal, also my TV was on and saw that the cable was fine and the picture looked great as always. So I’m thinking what the hell could be wrong…I just built this machine and have had no problems for over a week now, it’s only about two weeks old. So I unplug the modem for about 5 minutes and turn off the computer to get them in sync again, maybe that will do it, nope.

Then I take the cable out of my new rig, stick it into my old rig, fire that baby up and the internet comes up right away! So now I’m like what the hell is going on, it’s obviously not the internet or my provider, it’s the computer.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? I have uplugged the modem and computer and tried reseting both of them about 4 times now, nothing. I simply was surfing the net, not downloading anything, I had not just changed any internet options or installed anything, I can’t figure it out, what would make something like that happen. Thanks for any help you can provide, I need suggestions I don’t know what else to do, I’m kind of newbish at this. Oh i use Internet Explorer, XP Home edition.

My friend has that same board you have and he experienced the same problem as you. The onboard NIC went out on it. He RMA'd the board and the 2nd one he got was fine. Might be a hardware issue. If you haven't been able to get the internet working after all the help these guys posting have provided you might want to look into RMA'ing the board or buying a PCI NIC card.

 

[Mister Natural]

Wouldn't hurt to check your hosts file and make sure it wasn't compromised.....

 

[starbuck8968]

its possible that your dhcp license expired so it just had to renew
to manually do it
open up command prompt:

ipconfig /renew

 

[phaelinx]

possible, just go to modem/router settings and expand the license..i have mine set for about 40 years.

 

[lost0822]

Okay i tried some things.

I went to my network connections, right clicked the local are connection and went into status. Under the support tab it showed nothing for IP address or anything else.

so then i went to run, typed "cmd" and did the ping stuff that people suggested.
i tried 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.2.1 all of them came up unreachable.

i also checked my local area connection it shows "enabled" on it.

What do i do now? thanks guys.

 

[pbj75]

More questions, more questions, more questions.

Did you uninstall/reinstall the drivers?

Try the ipconfig /renew suggestion. That might fix the problem.

Usually there are two lights on the socket where the ethernet cable plugs into your PC. Are both lights on when the computer is on? If not, might be dead.

phaelinx' summary was excellent. One more note, when you download the drivers, be sure to unzip them to a known location.

If after doing phaelinx suggestion you still can't get going, try downloading a utility called memtest86. It will make a bootable floppy which tests the memory in your PC. Run it to be sure your RAM is not corrupted.

If none of phaelinx' stuff works and your RAM checks good, then your MB ethernet port probably died. You might try a standard PCI ethernet card to see if that works. You can pick up one of those for $10. That would isolate the problem and keep you running until you can RMA the motherboard. Usually vendors will cross-ship (if you give them you credit card) so you can stay running until the replacement part arrives.

 

[lost0822]

I uninstalled and reinstalled the driver.

So now when i look under the status of the "local area connection"
it has an IP address listed, a subnet mask listed, but no default gateway?

If i connect the modem to my older rig it has all three of those listed under the status of that computers "local area connection"

Also when i click on IE now and type in an address a pop up comes up and says "Internet Explorer could not open search page"....i don't think that means anything, besides the obvious.

What do you guys think of this?

 

[phaelinx]

what are those ip addresses?

 

[lost0822]

what are those ip addresses?

Okay,

Problem (NEW) Rig's Spec:

IP: 169.254.78.147
Subnet: 255.255.0.0
Gateway: THIS IS BLANK ( I'm hearing this is the problem, that maybe my NIC is dead, is this what you think?)


Fine (OLD) Rig's Spec: not sure if you needed this

IP:69.240.173.132
Subneet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 69.240.173.1

thank you very much for your help so far.

 

[phaelinx]

Okay,

Problem (NEW) Rig's Spec:

IP: 169.254.78.147
Subnet: 255.255.0.0
Gateway: THIS IS BLANK ( I'm hearing this is the problem, that maybe my NIC is dead, is this what you think?)


Fine (OLD) Rig's Spec: not sure if you needed this

IP:69.240.173.132
Subneet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 69.240.173.1

thank you very much for your help so far.

see how its displaying 169.254? as i said in a few posts prior your computer is not requesting the dhcp information so its defaulting to "Automatic" set ips..you can do this and see if it works..

go to control panel, then to system, then to hardware, then to device manager, then to network adapters..right click the NIC and go to uninstall

reboot pc, when windows loads it'll automatically reinstall the drivers..if it defaults to 169.254 again...turn off the modem, unplug it from the ac adapter for about 2 minutes, plug it back in, turn it on, wait for it to connect(the lights will come on etc...) then go to Start, then Run and type in command.com

once in the dos prompt, type ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew

if neither of those work, ill walk you setting the ip address manually...

ALSO..when in dos, type ping 69.240.173.1

see if that returns results..if it does, there is nothing wrong with your nic card, its just not requesting DHCP..at which point i'd do what i said above about unplugging the modem

 

[lost0822]

see how its displaying 169.254? as i said in a few posts prior your computer is not requesting the dhcp information so its defaulting to "Automatic" set ips..you can do this and see if it works..

go to control panel, then to system, then to hardware, then to device manager, then to network adapters..right click the NIC and go to uninstall

reboot pc, when windows loads it'll automatically reinstall the drivers..if it defaults to 169.254 again...turn off the modem, unplug it from the ac adapter for about 2 minutes, plug it back in, turn it on, wait for it to connect(the lights will come on etc...) then go to Start, then Run and type in command.com

once in the dos prompt, type ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew

if neither of those work, ill walk you setting the ip address manually...

ALSO..when in dos, type ping 69.240.173.1

see if that returns results..if it does, there is nothing wrong with your nic card, its just not requesting DHCP..at which point i'd do what i said above about unplugging the modem

Okay problem. I went to uninstall under device manager, went to the network adapter and right clicked, hit uninstall and it does nothing. Basically it freezes. If i ctrl+alt+delete it says it's not responding.

Okay so go to add/remove programs and uninstall the ethernet driver from there, it uninstalls, says it need to restart the computer, so i let it. When it comes back it does what you said it would do about automatically reinstalling the driver, well the wizard never finishes cause it says it can not find the driver. What do i do? Should i just install the ethernet drivers from the cd again? If i go under Network Connections now that "Local Area Connection" is not there anymore, so it's obviously uninstalled. thanks again.

 

[pbj75]

Reinstall the drivers.
Restart the machine (probably will happen automagically)
Open a Command window
Run ipconfig
Look at the results.
Ping yourself (savor the ping )
If the ip's still look bad, try ipconfig /renew
Run ipconfig
Any changes?
What kind of cable modem?

BTW, if you are going to use phaelix's directions (which are good), please try to do ALL of them in the order suggested. Maybe you are just trying to be brief, but there were several things he suggested that you did not say you tried. Scattered checks is not a good, ordered troubleshooting approach.

 

[lost0822]

I also typed in 69.240.173.1 and i get nothing back, says it can not find anything in 4 tries, that does not sound good....that was with the ethernet controller installed again.