Internet Problem

[Tarron_D]

Help Me!! Im on my brother's computer right now and I can't figure out how to fix my internet. Im on Comcast Cable internet and my connection status is at: Limited or No connectivity. When I click the repair button it says it cannot be completed because it was unable to "renew my IP Address." Nothing that normally connects to the web works. I have no idea how to fix this problem.

My pc is connected to a Microsoft Wireless router, and im connected to it using a cable. I know it is a problem with my pc and not the router or my service because my brother's pc works through the wireless usb adapter. Please help!

[ryan]

Try typing ipconfig /renew in the run box.

[Print]

Who knows.. if it's a problem with your PC, do a system restore, uninstall and reinstall your browser (or use firefox), disable any software firewalls that might be running, double check your connection with the router (see if there is any differences between yours and your brothers setup that is causing this problem), try booting in safe mode - see if it works then.

[Tarron_D]

Will a system restore hurt any of my files? I could do that if it doesn't. My connection is good with the router because if it wasn't, then it would say unplugged, not what it says now. I'll try the ipconfig \renew. too. Any more suggestions would be awesome.

[Print]

Ok two things, one a system restore won't 'hurt' any of your files.. but any system setting, eg. app prefences, windows settings etc. will be lost - but the bright side is any settings that you made that may have affected your internet will be undone.

Next, specifically what is your problem?

You start up your PC and open up Internet Explorer, you type in www.yahoo.com and hit enter..
What goes wrong in that scenario?

[Tarron_D]

It says that I am not connected, or because I use Firefox, it says that the website cannot be found. I find this usually happens when the internet connection has a problem, but this problem is new to me. (the little or no connectivity status) I tried all of the things you suggested, none of them worked. I don't know what to do. I don't want to have to reformat or anything as I have no way of backing up any of my files.
Edit: also, the LED on my ethernet card is orange, not green. (Meaning somethings fucked.)

[jerimiah40]

Sometimes, in my experience, it will be the smallest things that fix things. Try some of these things:

- unplug the cable from your computer, and plug it back in
- unplug the cable from your router, and plug it back in
- try a different cable
- unplug the router, wait 30 secs, plug it back in
- try rebooting the computer without the cable plugged in
-(more extreme, unless it's a laptop) disconnect\unplug the card and plug it in again
-try to get a new card for the computer

[drewbar]

Ahh.... "Limited or no Connectivity". Running SP2, aren't you? Onboard NIC?

Turn off the computer
Unplug the Router
Umplug the Cable Modem
Plug the cable modem in FIRST. wait for it to come on-line (Solig On-Line, Status or Cable light).
Plug in the router, give it about a minute.
Power up the computer

Check for firewalls, especially Norton Internet Securties. Disable them.

And then install the patch

[ShyShy]

So how many times have you heard this problem today?

[drewbar]

Three!

[Wolfgang]

what's a NIC?

[Mr Jones]

Network Interface Card

[shakey_snake]

Make sure you have everything set to automatic, and your not trying to use a static IP or a DNS server that doesn't exist.

[d0rk]

Drew and I troubleshoot this for a living I was going to post exactly what he said but a little bit more.

• Shut down everything
• Plug the modem in first
• Plug the router in after the modem has gained the signal
• Turn the computer on
• Go to start>run>type "cmd" without quotes
• Type ipconfig and hit enter
• If the IP address is still 169.254.XXX.XXX
• Disable firewalls
• Unplug and plug ethernet cable back in
• Try a new ethernet cable
• Try a known still working port on the router
• Go to start>run>type "cmd" without quotes
• Type ipconfig and hit enter
• If the IP address is still 169.254.XXX.XXX
• Uninstall the NIC by going to: start>control panel>Network connections>Right click the Local Area Network and click on properties>click the configure button to the top right>Click driver tab>click uninstall and restart computer
• XP should reinstall the NIC automatically
• Go to start>run>type "cmd" without quotes
• Type ipconfig and hit enter
• If the IP address is still 169.254.XXX.XXX
• Create a restore point: start>all programs>accesories>system tools>system restore
• Uninstall the TCP/IP>start>control panel>Network connections>Right click the Local Area Network and click on properties>take the check mark out of everything that has TCP/IP in the name then uninstall NIC by following above steps and restart
• XP should reinstall the NIC automatically
• Reinstall TCP/IP>start>control panel>Network connections>Right click the Local Area Network and click on properties>Put the check back in everything with the name TCP/IP
• Go to start>run>type "cmd" without quotes
• Type ipconfig and hit enter
• If the IP address is still 169.254.XXX.XXX
• New NIC.

A NIC is a Network Interface Card aka Ethernet card

[edit]
If at anytime the IP is not 169.254.XXX.XXX and is something similar to 192.168.0.X or 192.168.1.X then your online.

[Tarron_D]

None of this has worked. I powered the pc down, unplugged the router, then the modem, pluggled the modem back into the router, waited for a signal, plugged the router back in and powered the pc on. (Didn't work) I unchecked the boxes for the TCIP things, uninstalled the NIC, then restarted, nope.
Could my NIC really be broken? This is a new pc, and I see no reason for this to be happening other than Windows XP SP2 issue. Im going to try using my brothers USB wireless adapter on my pc to see if IT works, and if so, I may have to go out an buy one for myself.

Also, would a system reformat solve this problem? I could do it if its the only way. Not having the internet sucks..

Edit: I also did the IPCONFIG thing each step, forgot to add that.

[Spazz333]

I dunno if anyone mentioned it but move the adaptor around. I lose most of my network connection if the adaptor is within 5 feet or so of my computer, so I moved it about 10 feet or so away and I'm running fine again. I had a bugger of a time figuring out it was something dumb like that.

[S-uper_T-oast]

OMFG TEH ANGEL AVATAR LIVES!@!!@!@!@!@one!@!!!!@!@@@@@#

[Print]

If all these thing do not work, and your sure it is a problem with your PC and not the setup, I think you might have to reinstall good ol' Windows...

Either that or call in some technicians. Might cost a little bit, but could be worth it..

[Tarron_D]

Is there any way to reinstall windows while saving some files? I only want to save a key few files that I have obtained, but they are way to big to fit onto a cd. Is there any way I can do this?

[Print]

what exactly do you wanna save you can't burn?

Also, MAKE SURE it's your PC, and nothing that is a small fix, cause it would suck to reformat and reinstall and fins out it's still messed up

[drewbar]

Did you try the patch? Cause it is a SP2 issue.
You can als try installing Windows on top of its self.

[Print]

Originally posted by drewbar
You can als try installing Windows on top of its self.

Not a bad idea either. Try the patch as well - like I said, reinstalling is a last resort!

[d0rk]

Reinstalling windows is not needed unless a new ethernet card does the same thing.

Could try disableing SP2 firewall: start>control panel>security center>Click windows firewall at the bottom and turn it to off then go to star>run>cmd>ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew

Still getting the 169.254 IP and if the NIC is an actual PCI slot card and not built in:

Power everything down and open the computer case
Remove the NIC from the slot and put it back in make sure it goes all the way into the slot
Turn everything back on and type go to start>run>cmd>ipconfig
If still 169.254.XXX.XXX try a different PCI slot. Still same results I would buy a new NIC and plug it in If it works the old NIC is bad and try to get it replaced under warrenty and return the new NIC back to the store and get your money back. If the new NIC doesn't work take it back and get your money back and reinstall windows.

If the NIC is built in call 1-888-772-4357 its Free from microsoft.

[Tarron_D]

The patch didn't do anything. I have another problem though, im not sure I know how to reformat this new computer. When I run the windows xp setup disk it tells me that I don't have any HD's on the computer. It tells me to run HD diagnostic, I do, but then everytime I run the Setup, it gives me a Blue Screen stop error looking for some DLL file, or setup doesn't start, and gives me an error about a TXT.SIF file being corrupt. WTF is going on? I can't even reformat now! How do I get windows setup to work? Im willing to try anything to get this to work.

[d0rk]

Put a Windows XP boot disk into the floppy drive and when you get to the C: prompt type Format C: and hit enter and follow the instructions. That will format the HD then you load XP like you would a blank HD.

[Tarron_D]

Okay, so I reformatted and reinstalled windows and all is fine now. Actually, I went out and bought a DVD burner, burnt all of my files that I wanted to backup, THEN I reinstalled windows. Thanks for all the help!

[d0rk]

No problem.