Internet connectivity problems. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

-Ever- · 01-13-2005, 02:14 PM

So I've been trying to set up my friend's computer through my Netgear switch so he can play a video game along side me. In a nutshell, his computer is having lots of trouble getting a good connection to my cable internet. In Network Connections, the LAN icon says "Limited or No Connectivity" where it should say "Connected." Here's what I've done for troubleshooting:

-Remove the switch and take the modem-out directly into his ethernet in. I know this connection is good past the modem because it works flawlessly with my computer.

-Go through *all* of his Internet Options and made sure they match mine (we have similar hardware/software setups).

-Tried to "repair" his LAN conection in Network Connections (as Microsoft recommends) and it can't repair it (It cant "Renew the IP Address).

I'm stumped about now because this really should be a simple thing. Broadband and XP are supposed to be plug-n-play but I'm definitely experiencing the opposite here. Is there any way to create a new LAN connection from scratch (it won't let me as I already have one and it can't delete it)?

Thanks for any info guys. Hopefully I gave enough information for now.
-T

PS: He used the laptop at my home a week ago (I'm in my apartment now) where we had a DSL line split with a LinkSys router and it worked just fine for him. I'm now trying to get him to work with my always-on RoadRunner cable. Shouldn't it work if the DSL worked?

vanblah · 01-13-2005, 02:17 PM

Is your Netgear switch configured to hand out DHCP? If so, how many addresses is it allowed to hand out?

To start over from scratch you can remove TCP/IP from Windows Components; reboot; then add them back through Windows Components.

-Ever- · 01-13-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanblah

Is your Netgear switch configured to hand out DHCP? If so, how many addresses is it allowed to hand out?

I don't think the Netgear switch should have anything to do with the problem because I've got his computer hooked up directly to my modem to factor it out as a problem.

Rawb · 01-13-2005, 04:33 PM

Have you tried a different network card? It sounds like this one may be having problems, because if your system works fine on this connection but his has problems, it definitely means that the connection is working properly.

Are you using the same network cable to connect your machine and his machine? If not, try the cable first. If you are using the same cable, there is a chance that it is the network card. If you have swapped network cards and the problem persists, odds are something is wrong with his windows install. I'm not a windows expert (I use windows mostly for gaming, and linux for everything else), so I would recommend at that point a complete reinstall.

-Ever- · 01-13-2005, 05:22 PM

Thanks for the info Rawb. Yeah I was sure to use the same cable to connect the two. I personally think it might be a hardware thing to, however XP's internet connections and settings are notorious in my mind for getting all tangled up, figuratively speaking.

Any other ideas? I don't think he's ready to reinstall XP just yet...

Thanks guys
-T

PS: He used the laptop at my home a week ago (I'm in my apartment now) where we had a DSL line split with a LinkSys router and it worked just fine for him. I'm now trying to get him to work with my always-on RoadRunner cable. Shouldn't it work if the DSL worked?

madcow · 01-13-2005, 07:34 PM

I know a good bit about networking but I'm a little confused as to your setup at the moment. You have your cable modem hooked into a switch and then both your computers are hooked into the switch? And yours works fine but his doesn't? You also said a "good connection" is it connecting then dropping out or not connecting at all? What game are you playing? If the game uses specific ports you may not both be able to get out at the same time.

-Ever- · 01-13-2005, 07:40 PM

Sorry for being unclear Madcow. I'll try to answer all of your questions.

-For the time being, I'm just taking the ethernet out from the Cable modem straight into his his computer.

-This connection works fast and flawlessly when connected to my computer.

-I shouldn't have said a "good connection." I should have written "no connection at all."

-We're playing World of Warcraft. I took that into consideration but for now we're just trying to hook up to the internet.

Thanks for any further info.
-T

madcow · 01-13-2005, 07:55 PM

Alright, so you have his PC set up just like yours and his isn't connecting. Does Road Runner check your MAC (aka hardware) address when they set up your connection? If they do then only a computer/router with that MAC address can obtain an IP address from them. Also, it's not possible for you two to share an internet connection with a switch, you need a router (unless your cable company is funky and allows multiple DHCP requests from the same line which is most likely not the case).

-Ever- · 01-13-2005, 08:08 PM

Madcow-

I posted this question at ArsTechnica and just got a very similar response. I wound up connecting to his computer without the switch and reset the modem and it did work out (it gave it a new IP or whatever it had to do.) Do you think it'l let me split it if I go and buy a small little router? If so, care to recommend me a good, fast router?

Thanks again bud.
-T

madcow · 01-13-2005, 08:57 PM

It'll definately let you split the internet connection if you get a router so you can both access the web, WoW on the other hand maybe a different story. WoW appears to be pure client piece of software so you may be able to both connect to the game once you get one, however I cannot find a definitive answer on the blizzard website about 2 computers behind a router playing at once. The problem you see is that your router would then have the 1 IP address. To the outside world and the WoW servers, both players appear to be coming from the same IP address. This would be OK if each player connected on a different port because the connections could be differentiated that way. However I'm not positive that each player does connect on a different port, so I cannot be certain you will both be able to play on the same internet connection. As for routers, all I can say is steer clear of Linksys if you can, I've heard some bad stories about them from consumer reports and what not.

Bratwurst · 01-13-2005, 09:41 PM

nm - didn't read this all the way through properly

-Ever- · 01-15-2005, 01:43 AM

Thanks for the helpful replies guys, especially you Madcow. So we wound up stopping by Radio Shack and asking a few questions. We headed back to my apartment and wound up running through a ton more D-Link settings and got things working. Beyond that, WoW does run on the specific setup so everything is quite dandy

Thanks for the help again.
-T

01-13-2005, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Internet connectivity problems. So I've been trying to set up my friend's computer through my Netgear switch so he can play a video game along side me. In a nutshell, his computer is having lots of trouble getting a good connection to my cable internet. In Network Connections, the LAN icon says "Limited or No Connectivity" where it should say "Connected." Here's what I've done for troubleshooting: -Remove the switch and take the modem-out directly into his ethernet in. I know this connection is good past the modem because it works flawlessly with my computer. -Go through all of his Internet Options and made sure they match mine (we have similar hardware/software setups). -Tried to "repair" his LAN conection in Network Connections (as Microsoft recommends) and it can't repair it (It cant "Renew the IP Address). I'm stumped about now because this really should be a simple thing. Broadband and XP are supposed to be plug-n-play but I'm definitely experiencing the opposite here. Is there any way to create a new LAN connection from scratch (it won't let me as I already have one and it can't delete it)? Thanks for any info guys. Hopefully I gave enough information for now. -T PS: He used the laptop at my home a week ago (I'm in my apartment now) where we had a DSL line split with a LinkSys router and it worked just fine for him. I'm now trying to get him to work with my always-on RoadRunner cable. Shouldn't it work if the DSL worked? __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses-- Last edited by -Ever-; 01-13-2005 at 07:44 PM..

01-13-2005, 05:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks for the info Rawb. Yeah I was sure to use the same cable to connect the two. I personally think it might be a hardware thing to, however XP's internet connections and settings are notorious in my mind for getting all tangled up, figuratively speaking. Any other ideas? I don't think he's ready to reinstall XP just yet... Thanks guys -T PS: He used the laptop at my home a week ago (I'm in my apartment now) where we had a DSL line split with a LinkSys router and it worked just fine for him. I'm now trying to get him to work with my always-on RoadRunner cable. Shouldn't it work if the DSL worked? __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses-- Last edited by -Ever-; 01-13-2005 at 06:50 PM..

01-13-2005, 07:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
madcow Crazy Location: The state of denial	I know a good bit about networking but I'm a little confused as to your setup at the moment. You have your cable modem hooked into a switch and then both your computers are hooked into the switch? And yours works fine but his doesn't? You also said a "good connection" is it connecting then dropping out or not connecting at all? What game are you playing? If the game uses specific ports you may not both be able to get out at the same time. __________________ Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

01-13-2005, 07:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Sorry for being unclear Madcow. I'll try to answer all of your questions. -For the time being, I'm just taking the ethernet out from the Cable modem straight into his his computer. -This connection works fast and flawlessly when connected to my computer. -I shouldn't have said a "good connection." I should have written "no connection at all." -We're playing World of Warcraft. I took that into consideration but for now we're just trying to hook up to the internet. Thanks for any further info. -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

01-13-2005, 07:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
madcow Crazy Location: The state of denial	Alright, so you have his PC set up just like yours and his isn't connecting. Does Road Runner check your MAC (aka hardware) address when they set up your connection? If they do then only a computer/router with that MAC address can obtain an IP address from them. Also, it's not possible for you two to share an internet connection with a switch, you need a router (unless your cable company is funky and allows multiple DHCP requests from the same line which is most likely not the case). __________________ Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

01-13-2005, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	Is your Netgear switch configured to hand out DHCP? If so, how many addresses is it allowed to hand out? To start over from scratch you can remove TCP/IP from Windows Components; reboot; then add them back through Windows Components.

01-13-2005, 04:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rawb Crazy Location: Salt Town, UT	Have you tried a different network card? It sounds like this one may be having problems, because if your system works fine on this connection but his has problems, it definitely means that the connection is working properly. Are you using the same network cable to connect your machine and his machine? If not, try the cable first. If you are using the same cable, there is a chance that it is the network card. If you have swapped network cards and the problem persists, odds are something is wrong with his windows install. I'm not a windows expert (I use windows mostly for gaming, and linux for everything else), so I would recommend at that point a complete reinstall.

01-13-2005, 08:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Madcow- I posted this question at ArsTechnica and just got a very similar response. I wound up connecting to his computer without the switch and reset the modem and it did work out (it gave it a new IP or whatever it had to do.) Do you think it'l let me split it if I go and buy a small little router? If so, care to recommend me a good, fast router? Thanks again bud. -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--

01-13-2005, 08:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
madcow Crazy Location: The state of denial	It'll definately let you split the internet connection if you get a router so you can both access the web, WoW on the other hand maybe a different story. WoW appears to be pure client piece of software so you may be able to both connect to the game once you get one, however I cannot find a definitive answer on the blizzard website about 2 computers behind a router playing at once. The problem you see is that your router would then have the 1 IP address. To the outside world and the WoW servers, both players appear to be coming from the same IP address. This would be OK if each player connected on a different port because the connections could be differentiated that way. However I'm not positive that each player does connect on a different port, so I cannot be certain you will both be able to play on the same internet connection. As for routers, all I can say is steer clear of Linksys if you can, I've heard some bad stories about them from consumer reports and what not. __________________ Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast. Last edited by madcow; 01-13-2005 at 09:04 PM..

01-13-2005, 09:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bratwurst Insane Location: La la land	nm - didn't read this all the way through properly __________________ 40

01-15-2005, 01:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
-Ever- Junkie Location: San Francisco	Thanks for the helpful replies guys, especially you Madcow. So we wound up stopping by Radio Shack and asking a few questions. We headed back to my apartment and wound up running through a ton more D-Link settings and got things working. Beyond that, WoW does run on the specific setup so everything is quite dandy Thanks for the help again. -T __________________ Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster... --Acknowledge your weaknesses--