Ethernet card problem

Question

Hi! I've got a Dimension 5000 (6 months old), Windows XP, and ADSL internet connection. When I got back from shopping today, my internet access was gone. I called my provider, but the Broadcom 440x 10/100 integrated controller is alright and the problem supposedly lies with my internal ethernet card. I've plugged the Broadcom in my old computer, which I now use to consult this forum, so it's confirmed that there isn't anything wrong with it. So how dow I fix the ethernet card? I used some tips from other threads: DHLP-client set to automatic, checked drivers, ran Winsockfix, nothing helped. BTW: the LED on the Broadcom is green, but on the PC it's orange. Is that bad? Thanks very much for your help! Panicola

Panicola · Answer

Right, duh on me.... The black box is the Speedcom modem. Boy, do I feel stupid now.....

Panicola · Answer

Maybe this is important: my ADSL provider is busy improving their network right now, so we got a warning that internet access might be off for very short periods of time in the next weeks. I noticed this happening earlier today. That's the only thing that's happened to my computer while I was shopping (and downloading a bittorrent in the meantime). Panicola

volcano11 · Answer

I am totally confused.  You say 'but the Broadcom 440x 10/100 integrated controller is alright and the problem supposedly lies with my internal ethernet card'.  The broadcom controller and the internal ethernet card are the same thing.  Please explain. Do you have a second ethernet adapter card in your computer? Steve

Panicola · Answer

Steve, I'm sorry. I think I got the two confused. So the little black box next to the PC which get the phone line, isn't the Broadcom?

The girl I spoke to from my provider definitely said the problem was the internal ethernet card, and the external black box with the green lights on it, is all right.

Panicola · Answer

Sorry for posting again without waiting for a reply, but I've been thinking about this and slowly, verrrry slowly, I start to understand the problem. According to my hardware-settings, I don't have a modem. All the lights on the modem are green, so it's working all right (also evidently with my old PC). And also according to the hard-ware settings this Broadcom thingie is working correct. But the two don't connect (is this why there's an orange light on the back of the PC?).

So would it be a good idea to open up the PC and see if the ethernet-card isn't loose or something?

volcano11 · Answer

The orange light means that it is connected. Since the ethernet controller is integrated on your motherboard, there is nothing that would work loose, so there is no need to open the case.

To help troubleshoot this problem, go to Start > Run and type cmd then click OK. In the command prompt window that opens, type ipconfig /all then hit the enter key. Write down the output from this command or select it and save it to a txt file, then copy this output into a reply to this message.

Trying to fix network problems when there is trouble on the internet connection is very tricky. You don't know if your intenret provider's system is being flakey or if it is a problem on your end.

Steve

Panicola · Answer

Thank you! In this case I can be sure the provider's side isn't at fault, because I can plug the modem in my old PC, which is thankfully placed right next to the new one, and I can access the internet all right.

Here is the tekst I got from the cmd-command:

Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\TS>ipconfig /all

Windows IP-configuratie

        Host-naam . . . . . . . . . . . .: thuis-003b296bf
        Primair DNS-achtervoegsel. . . . .:
        Knooppunttype: . . . . . . . . . .: onbekend
        IP-routering ingeschakeld. . . . .: nee
        WINS-proxy ingeschakeld . . . . . : nee

Ethernet-adapter LAN-verbinding 3:

        Verbindingsspec. DNS-achtervoegsel:
        Beschrijving . . . . . . . . . . .:
          Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
        Fysiek adres. . . . . . . . . . . : 00-11-43-16-32-2A
        DHCP ingeshakeld. . . . . . . . . : ja
        Autom. configuratie ingeschakeld. : ja
        IP-adres. . . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
        Subnetmasker. . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
        IP-adres. . . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::211:43ff:fe16:322a%6
        Standaardgateway. . . . . . . . . :
        DHCP-server . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
        DNS-servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
                                            fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
                                            fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1

Tunnel-adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

        Verbindingsspec. DNS-achtervoegsel:
        Beschrijving . . . . . . . . . . .:
          Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
        Fysiek adres. . . . . . . . . . . : FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF
        DHCP ingeschakeld:. . . . . . . . : nee
        IP-adres. . . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5445:5245:444f%4
        Standaardgateway. . . . . . . . . :
        NetBIOS over TCPIP. . . . . . . . : uitgeschakeld

C:\Documents and Settings\TS>

I've got a "3" behind the LAN, because this girl told me to disable the LAN and restart the computer. Each time I do that, I get a new number.

I hope you won't have trouble with the Dutch words, please say so if I need to translate anything.

volcano11 · Answer

You are not getting an IP address from the modem. Are you shutting down the modem and computers everytime you switch the comptuer connected to the modem? You should do this, then power up the modem first, then power up the computer. Try doing this and repeating the ipconfig command to see if you get an IP address.

Steve

Panicola · Answer

I've been trying all kinds of things for hours now, but no success, unfortunately. I usually never shutdown the modem, just today I did it a few times because my provider had e-mailed me that if there was a hick-up in the internet connection due to their work on it, and the connection would'nt restart on its own, I should power off the modem for 30 seconds. Because I thought my problem was caused by the provider, I tried this a couple of times.

I did what you said: first modem off, then computer off, then modem on, then computer on. The modem responds to the computer because the two last LED lights will come on as soon as the PC is on. Vice versa the PC feels if the network cable is removed as it says so in the LAN status column.

But nowhere in the PC under "hardware devices" can I find the modem. I thought to reinstall the modem software by way of the CD, but this stops halfway, because the software can't find the modem either.

Then I thought why not type in the ip number etc. myself. As soon as I did this, the LAN status says "connected", but all the same I can't get on the internet. He tries a lot longer than before, but still no success. This is the ipconfig /all text I got after this. I notice the DHCP isn't on according to this list, but when I check by way of the services.msc command, it is still started and set to automatic.

Microsoft Windows XP [versie 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\TS>ipconfig /all

Windows IP-configuratie

       Host-naam . . . . . . . . . . . .: thuis-003b296bf
       Primair DNS-achtervoegsel. . . . .:
       Knooppunttype: . . . . . . . . . .: onbekend
       IP-routering ingeschakeld. . . . .: nee
       WINS-proxy ingeschakeld . . . . . : nee

Ethernet-adapter LAN-verbinding 2:

       Verbindingsspec. DNS-achtervoegsel:
       Beschrijving . . . . . . . . . . .:
         Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
       Fysiek adres. . . . . . . . . . . : 00-11-43-16-32-2A
       DHCP ingeschakeld:. . . . . . . . : nee
       IP-adres. . . . . . . . . . . . . : 81.206.102.57
       Subnetmasker. . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
       Standaardgateway. . . . . . . . . : 81.206.0.0
       DNS-servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 195.121.1.34
                                           195.121.1.66

C:\Documents and Settings\TS>

Do you have more ideas? Do you think it's a hardware or a software problem?

P.S. If I don't reply immediately it's because I'm going to bed in about an hour's time. It's midnight over here....

volcano11 · Answer

When you typed in the IP address, you essentialy set DHCP off. So the ipconfig output you posted only reflects that you now have a static IP address. Since your service likely requires DHCP then you must set the TCP/IP properties to obtain and IP address automically. That enables DHCP.

You are continually doing things to confuse the issue. Your modem will not show up in Device Manager. It is an external modem. There is no reason to install the modem software.

Go back and set the TCP/IP properties to obtain an IP address automatically and then run ipconfig /all again.

Steve

Message Edited by volcano11 on 07-27-2005 05:26 PM

volcano11 · Answer

As with most computer things, if one setting is wrong, nothing will work. It's always a challenge to find the one wrong setting. I'm glad you got it fixed and I'm glad that maybe something I said helped you fix the problem. In any case, if you have more problems, feel free to post another message. Happy Networking!

Steve

Panicola · Answer

I've got it!!!! I'm back!!!
You're so right: I've been doing all kinds of stuff without knowing what I was doing. And eventually did something right. And because I've changed so much, I can't even pinpoint as to what made the difference. I remember typing my own IP-address in the second tab with alternative IP or something. Then I rebooted. Next I was back on-line!
I hope to never have to experience such a thing again. I've been busy for eleven hours and skipped dinner. I was so frustrated that I couldn't even go to bed. It's now 2 a.m.
You have my eternal gratitude for helping me. You're a good soul.
Thanks forever, Panicola

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Ethernet card problem

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