Hopefully the last question

[vetplus40]

I have one working pc with WinMe connected thru a router. I have another non-working pc with XP that is doing something strange.
The l.e.d on the NIC card keeps pulsing on and off. The indicating lites on the router for that specific port ,also pulse on and off. Windows XP network screen displays "network cable unplugged:, then displays "plugged",then "unplugged".This repeats over and over. Sometimes the pc will retrieve a good IP from the router,other times it displays the default addy for the NIC card.The DHCP server table on the router shows it has assigned an addy for that pc.Its like the pc connects,disconnects,connects,and repeats this cycle over and over.I checked out all the cables,everything looks good. Anybody got any troubleshooting ideas?

 

[CoBRaXT]

Have you tried updating your NIC to the latest WinXP drivers?

 

[vetplus40]

It worked fine with just the modem connected.This didnt start until I connected it to the router. It is a Win98/WinXP dual boot system,it wont connect with 98 either.

 

[Garion]

A few suggestions:

Have you tried a new cable? You might have an issue with that cable, the port on the NIC, or the port on the router.

Have you tried another router port? Swap the known good PC with the known bad PC and see if anything follows?

It is possible that your NIC is having problems with speed/duplex negotiation with the switch. Try to go into the properties of your NIC and hard-set it to 100Mb/s, full duplex. IF that doesn't work, bring it down to 10Mb/s, half duplex. Chances are, you won't notice any speed difference between the two unless you transfer a lot of large files between computers.

If none of these work, tell us more about the "pulsating" - Is it always the same interval? How long is in on, then off? Does it start pulsating at any specific time, or does it do it from the instant you boot the machine? Have you ever had this NIC working in another PC or on another switch?

.. And don't ever say "hopefully the last question" - I've been doing this for a decade and still ask my peers questions on a daily basis. That's how you learn!

- G

 

[vetplus40]

Originally posted by: Garion


.. And don't ever say "hopefully the last question" - I've been doing this for a decade and still ask my peers questions on a daily basis. That's how you learn!

- G

...That was just in reference to getting this thing working in a very basic mode.Been at it two weeks now.....lol

This whole thing started when I tried to get a router working with my new dsl modem.I was unaware that the modem had a built in router. The ISP configured the modem for PPPoE. This clashed with the Linksys router. JackMDS suggested using the router as a switch,and let the modem be the router.This didnt work either.The ISP reconfigured the modem to be a bridge.I took the bridge config of the modem,set the Linksys router to PPPoE,enabled DHCP,and NAT,rebooted everything,and got one pc to work. Whether it be by design,or luck,I do not know,but one pc does work.
This pc,with the same NIC, and cable, worked fine a few days ago when it was directly connected to the modem in PPPoE mode. I downloaded several mp3's in about 3 minutes each.This is how I verified everything was working prior to connecting the Linksys router. I have tried the non working pc in other router ports with the same results. I have not moved the working pc from its port. I was afraid of losing what I had that is working.
Here is what I mean by pulsing:.. The green l.e.d. on the nic card constanly flickers. The 3 leds on the front of the router flash on and off. I'm sure this is an error indicator of some sort.
I can reboot once and the pc will get a good addy from the DHCP server on the router.I can reboot again, and I get a bogus addy,that might be a default addy of the NIC card, since the pc is set to obtain one automatically,it cant find one (this is just a guess).I also get a WinXP network icon that flashes a message that a cable is inplugged.It then says its connected.This cyclce repeats every 1-2 seconds or so.It is as though someone is disconnecting,then re-connecting the cat5 cable.
I am sure most of my problems are User error. What tends to make this difficult is that my knowledge is very basic. I can make changes,and record results,but in some instances I am unsure if the ensuing results are correct or not. Basically,I am reduced to guessing.My ISP is just a local telephone co-op.they are just learning thisa stuff too.That means support is very basic.I'm pretty much on my own..

 

[vetplus40]

Originally posted by: Garion
A few suggestions:

It is possible that your NIC is having problems with speed/duplex negotiation with the switch. Try to go into the properties of your NIC and hard-set it to 100Mb/s, full duplex.

You nailed it. I only had a minute to troubleshoot before work.I set the NIC to 10Mb/s and it worked right away.I will see if it will work at any other speed tomorrow.Is this a common problem,and does it need to be corrected?....Thanks a ton!!!!!!

 

[skyking]

If it works at 10 mb, please do not change it! Your broadband connection is much less than 10mb/sec, and unless you plan on doing enormous file transfers between the two computers, you would notice no change by upping it to 100. You certainly run the risk of more blinking lights and disfunction, if you mess around with it some more

 

[vetplus40]

Wasnt sure about trying the fullduplex/half duplex options that Garion previously suggested.I am curious as to why my newer machine with a 1.6 gig and WinXP had problems ,when my old 633 winME did not.They are using the same identical NIC...I will leave well enough alone,but I am curious........Thanks.........