[Ham-Computers] Can't Connect to Internet

Wed Apr 25 20:43:03 EDT 2007

Hi Jim,

>>> Selecting the support tab and checking Details gives the following address: 169.254.20.250

The 169.254.xxx.xxx subnet is a "reserved" range - when Windows can't get a DHCP assigned address, it randomly chooses one in this range.  Basically points to a DHCP error of some kind.

>>> Subnet mask differs too, being 255.255.0.0 instead of 255.255.255.0

and

>>> Default Gateway, DHCP server, DNS Server, and Wins Server are blank, and no lease is listed.

Correct, when Windows assigns a random 169.254.xxx.xxx address.  Since DHCP failed, Windows itself doesn't know what DNS/WINS servers or gateways are on your network, so they're all set to zero.  The exception is if you manually entered DNS/WINS/GATEWAY info in the TCP/IP settings, but left the IP address as DHCP assigned.

>>> Using Norton Ghost to return to an earlier image should revert to correct settings, so I'm assuming the internal modem is bad.  It's an integrated modem.  I have a US Robotics networking card, which I could install, but is there any problem with the computer not recognizing this card and continuing to use the defective integrated modem? When I "smoked" my printer port and installed my parallel port card, I needed to go to Start>Printers and Faxes to set up the correct port.

OK, you lost me a bit here.  The modem should have nothing to do with this unless you're trying a dial-up connection.  Based on the description though, it sounds more like you were on your ethernet network.  Maybe you meant "ethernet port" rather than "modem" - this would make sense.

Anyways...did you try rebooting the router?  SOHO routers are not "perfect" devices and are known to lock-up or stop responding (such as to DHCP requests).  A simple reboot often clears up the problem.  I have a Linksys WRV54G that locks every 3 weeks or so - it's a well documented problem that Linksys refuses (or doesn't know how) to fix.  "Business class" routers usually have a "watchdog" routine running that monitors the router and restarts specific modules if they lock (my Netopia router does this).

Another thing you can try is to assign your computer a "Static" IP address - this is done via the Network Control panel.  Open the Windows Control Panel, then double-click on "Network Connections" (BTW, "Classic View").  Then right-click on "Local Area Connection" --> Properties (if you have more than one "Local Area Connection" icon, then select the one that corresponds to the network adapter that connects to the problematic network).  This should open the network properties of the network adapter.  Highlight "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", then click "Properties".  This should take you to the TCP/IP properties page.

Tick the "Use the following IP address" selector, then enter an IP address in the same subnet as your router, but choose an address that isn't used.  By default, Linksys routers use 192.168.1.xxx where the router is .1 and the first DHCP device is either .2 or .100.  Linksys routers also default to assigning upto 50 DHCP addresses, so if you pick a static IP address of 192.168.1.200, you should be safe.

Windows should determine the subnet mask for you.  If you're in the 192.168.xxx.xxx range, it should be 255.255.255.0.

Enter the router's IP address as the "Default gateway".

For the "Preferred DNS server", enter the address of your router and leave the "alternate" blank.

That's it.  Click "OK" to save the settings and then "OK" again to close the NIC properties panel.  If you now click once on the "Local Area Connection" icon, the status info on the left should display the IP address and gateway you entered.

Now try to access the internet.  If everything works, you have/had a DHCP problem.  If it still doesn't work, then you might have an IP stack issue (such as caused by spyware or a virus), or a hardware failure.  Does the device manager show the NIC as working properly?

Give these things a shot and let us know what happens.  

BTW, to put the system back into DHCP mode, go back to the "TCP/IP" properties page and tick the "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" buttons.

73 & GL,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O