Networking problem... can anyone help???

[alaskan49]

I am running three computers at home on a LAN with Windows XP. One Desktop, Laptop A and Laptop B. I am using a Linksys Etherfast DSL Router with a Nortel DSL modem.
All was well until last week when we left for vacation, and shut down all three computers. After we fired up all three computers, the Desktop and Laptop A was showing in the view as workgroup computers, but Laptop B was not. On Laptop B, only Laptop B was the only one showing in the view as workgroup computers.

I tried repeatedly to redo the network settings on Laptop B and restarting this computer, but Laptop B is not seen on the LAN by the other two computers.

The following items are missing on Laptop B under the Network Connection Details, which is present with the two other recognized computers:

Default Gateway
DHCP Server
DNS Servers

How can I get this Laptop to be recognized and be part of the network again? I am not a teckie, but I can do some things on my own, when instructed.

Thanks for your help!

 

[pansophic]

Is Laptop B's IP address a 169.x.x.x? If so, it just can't see the DHCP server, probably due to a faulty cable or connection.

Verify that Laptop B is set up for DHCP in the Network Settings. Reboot it. Make sure that you get a link light on the laptop and on the router/hub/switch that it is plugged in to. If one or both are out, you have a cable problem. Start by just unplugging and plugging in both ends of the cable. Also, check your NIC dongle if it needs one. Move the other laptop to this cable if it continues to give you problems. You need to narrow it down to a cable/infrastructure problem, or a computer problem.

In a command window, type ipconfig /all and verify that you are in the same subnet as the other two computers. If so, you should be able to see the other two machines.


pansophic

 

[bcastner]

I agree with Pansophic's advice. Let me add some additional thoughts:

1. Turn off all clients. Hold in the reset button on the router until the red diag lite comes on, all lights flash, and the red diag lite goes off. Unplug the router from the outlet, count 30 Mississippi, and plug it back in and let it stabilize.

2. Turn on only the problem machine. Let it boot completely and try to access the Internet. Check your TCP/IP setttings now with IPCONFIG /all, and verify that it has pulled an IP in the 192.168.1.x range, that the DNS entries are populated, and that a default Gateway of the router has been assigned.

If all of that is true, turn on the rest of the machines and Network Neighborhood should populate after a few minutes.

If it did not work, run this on the problem machine:

http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/WinsockFix.zip

And try the test above again.

Please let us know how things are going.