Home Network won't work!

[dmbsuperfan]

Ok, well my home network will work for one computer, but it isn't working for the other computer. I have a cable modem with everything hooked-up correctly, and all the wires are good (I tested each of them with the computer that works). When I hook-up the bad computer to the switch (LinkSys 5-Port Switch), it has all three lights lit up (top = Link/Act, middle = FD/Col, bottom = 100), but on the computer that works, only the top light is lit up. On the computer that works, I have some generic network card, and on the computer that doesn't work, I have a NetGear network card. The network has worked before for the last year and a half, but I just installed Windows 2000 on the computer that works, and now the other computer won't work. Sorry if I didn't make any sense...PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks in advance...

 

[miguel]

Try poking around the driver settings on the card that won't work. It looks like it's set to 100. Try manually setting it to 10.

 

[JackMDS]

How your Internet routing (NAT) is done?

What protocols you use?

Did you try to disconnect the ?good? computer from the switch, and see if the ?bad? computer get to the Internet by it self?
If it does, you can assume that it is not a hardware problem.

If does not connect, by it self. Go over the network setting; if you are sure that they set correctly try to install another NIC.

 

[FUBAR]

Are you doing Cable-> switch -> pc1,2 or is that Cable-> router/switch -> pc1,2? If it's just a switch then you are probably not going to be able to get it to work without a router device in the loop somewhere.

Most cable companies will only allow you one device connected to the modem at a time, but many will allow up to 3 MAC addresses to be registered at once, so you can switch between pc's.

 

[Techwhore]

<<
Are you doing Cable-> switch -> pc1,2 or is that Cable-> router/switch -> pc1,2? If it's just a switch then you are probably not going to be able to get it to work without a router device in the loop somewhere.

Most cable companies will only allow you one device connected to the modem at a time, but many will allow up to 3 MAC addresses to be registered at once, so you can switch between pc's.
>>


I know that much is true for at least some dsl providers. I'm not saying there aren't cable providers that do the same but i use road runner and it's 3 IPs, 5 MAC addy's.

I guess the question is: Who's your provider?

 

[dmbsuperfan]

Ok, here's my set-up:

1. RoadRunner Cable Modem connected to a LinkSys Switch
2. LinkSys Switch hooked up to Comp. 1 and Comp. 2

Miguel:
-How do I change the Network Card to 10?

JackMDS:
-I don't know what NAT or protocols are? sorry...if you could explain it, that'd be awesome

Techwhore:
-I was under the impression that if I wanted another IP address, I would have to pay $5 extra a month (I have one right now). Is that not right?

THanks so much for all of your help...I'll try hooking up the bad computer straight to the cable modem and let you all know how it goes...

 

[Techwhore]

I don't know what NAT or protocols are?

NAT = Network Address Translation

It requires a router or firewall. What it does is take all the computers behind the router/firewall and assign them non-internet routable IPs such as 192.168.x.x... you're not using it.

The protocols on each machine will only be a factor when browsing the network and setting up shares. So long as TCP is installed and bound you'll get internet (it's installed and bound by default)

I was under the impression that if I wanted another IP address, I would have to pay $5 extra a month (I have one right now). Is that not right?

Well, if that's what the rep's told you or the impression you got then you'll need a router/firewall to provide NAT or pay the $5 / month before you're current config will work. Perhaps there are areas in which time warner has now limited the IP's to one per modem... or maybe it's if you've subscribed after a certain date, but here in Albany, NY i know people who have 2 and 3 machines all with their own public IPs... I have 6 machines so i need NAT.

 

[JackMDS]

Your system is organized incorrectly.

For better clarity read the content of the following links:

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

In any case, you can start by connecting the non-working computer to the Internet by it self and see if it works. This way you will eliminate the possibility of Hardware problem.

 

[FUBAR]

Yep, that's what I figgered. Many (not all) providers will register more than one NIC to be connected to the cable modem, just not at the same time, i.e. if you have a pc and a laptop, you can switch to the laptop as long as you don't have the pc on at the same time... yours appears to not do this.

Follow the FAQ's to router nirvana.

 

[dmbsuperfan]

Ok, maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like my computer has option #2 of the "Basic Options of Internet Sharing" link. I have Sygate, and it is fully functional, and my computers are hooked up just the way they say. Even with both computers hooked up to the switch, one works and one doesn't. Thanks for all the help...and please keep it coming!

 

[Techwhore]

What was the result of removing the "good" machine from the network? Did that give functionality to the "bad" one? There are still too many factors to pinpoint the problem.

BTW... I thought Sygate went out of business... oh well