Laptop wil not connect to router via Ethernet

[piaff1]

A friend has set up her Zyxel NBG334W Router and only uses it to connect her 2 desktop PC's running Windows XP via Ethernet connections. She has not enabled Wifi access as she tells me that she just ran the Connection wizard. I assume that she has not secured the network either as she did not enter a password. I assume that this still has the default password, something that needs to be rectified, but that is another matter.

I tried to connect her new Windows Vista laptop by plugging the patch cable into the router Ethernet port and to the Ethernet port on her laptop. The laptop will not give Internet acces and just comes up with message limited local access only. I have tested the Ethernet cable and it is OK. Could this be a problem with settings on the laptop? I haven't used Vista before so am at a loss to know what I should do? Help would be very much appreciated please.

 

[MrNick0483]

You may want to check and make sure the laptop is receiving an ip address from DHCP.

 

[piaff1]

Thank you MrNick, but how do I do that?

 

[jimbopalmer]

Start Run CMD IPCONFIG

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[piaff1]

Thank you Jimbo. I've just got back from friends today before reading your post. I tested conncection with my laptop runnning XP and Ethernet worked fine. I checked the DHCP config on friends laptop by doing the following.
Network and Sharing Centre, Manage Network connections, Local Area connections, Properties, then selected Internet Protocol 4(TCP/Ip4) Properties, ticked obtain IP address automatically, then obtain DNS server address automatically. I then clicked OK and restarted computer. Still no joy.
Anything else I should do on next visit please?

 

[maultier]

I'd suggest running the updates from the laptop manufacturer. Bios and firmware updates for the chipset may make a difference. Follow that up with Windows Update. Other things to try: a different RJ45 cable, look in the bios for any potential settings that may help, look to the laptop manufacturers website for other users having the same issue. If you still have the router setup dvd, try running that or go to their site and download the setup program and run it. Good luck1

 

[piaff1]

Thank you maultier. I think what I will do is try running the router installation cd again myself ( friend did it las time and has no idea what she did ) and then try to get a wireless connection. It can't be the ethernet cable as my laptop works perfectly connected by the same cable to her router. I think I'll have to try connecting her laptop to my router by Ethernet and see if it works then. I can then conclude that it must be a problem with the laptop settings somewhere along the line then.