Please Help - Internet Issue

I have a comtrend CT-5621 DSL modem and am trying to get an internet issue worked out. I have a standard phone line going into the modem, and an CAT-5E ethernet cable going out and running to the desktop. The desktop's internet works perfectly. However, when I connect another ethernet cable to the modem and run it to my laptop, I can only get either "limited connectivity" or "local only". I originally thought that this was obviously my laptops problem, but after much frustration and running the factory restore disks, the problem still wasn't fixed. The laptop seems to connect at other place fine (wireless & wired), but for some reason cannot get full local and internet connectivity at home. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks!

-ohlin5

Hello ohlin5

Do the below on the Desktop that works.

Paste the following line to an open command prompt and hit enter!

ipconfig /all >"%USERPROFILE%"\Desktop\ipfig.txt

A file ipfig.txt will appear on the desktop paste the contents of this back to this thread.

Now for comparison do the same on the other computer that does not work and paste it back!

You may copy it to a USB, cd or floppy or just type it back to me. On the one that don't work get me the IP Gateway and DNS.

Mike

Mike

Here it is...

Cleared For Security Reasons

That OK I see most of what I need.

Go back and edit the post and clear "all" having this data public for long is not good.

So edit the post and leave in the post only the text "Cleared for security reasons!"

I have copied all the data.

So do that now and I am composing you a post offline.

Mike

Do you think you see whats wrong?

OK first that is not just a DSL Modem it is a Combo Modem/Router.

There is no reason at this time to access the router.

The 2 issues I see are interconnected.

First it shows: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Then I see.

Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.205.159(Preferred)

Which is what happens when Windows can not find a DHCP Server.

In this case it is likely caused by the media disconnected issue.

Also no one uses IP6 yet so go into Local area connection on the Ethernet connection and for now uncheck IP6.

You may have a cable issue. Turn off both computers.

To test this unplug the cable from the desktop and plug into the Laptop leave it plugged into the router and turn on the Laptop.

Actually just switch the cables from the back of the computers. Do not disconnect at all from the router.

If it connects now then the cable you were using for the Laptop is bad or is what is called a Crossover cable and will not work for this.

Let me know.

Mike

EDIT: For clarification the 169.254.205.159 the 169,,,, usually means no external DHCP Server can be found. And that is a problem!

Ok I uncheck IPv6 and that didn't do anything...and as I suspected it was not a cable issue. I did try it, but it didn't do anything. The cables are exactly the same and were bought from the same place, only difference is length. IDK...Heck, I even took it to Best Buy b/c I thought it was broken, but it worked fine there...just won't go past local only connection at my house...

OK but I/we needed to know.

I have to do this as I am not there.

So now switch cables on the back of Modem/Router?

Does the Router have a light on the front Port 1 port2 etc and do the lights go on and off when the cable is unpluged. There will be a light if Router senses a cable connected.

Likely the Laptop is not causeing a light to go off when cable is unplugged.

Yes/No

Mike

yeah...both go on and off when cables are connected and disconnected, respecfully.

Ok in Local Area connection for the Ethernet connection rt click and then lleft click Properties.

Does the top entry say Enable or Disable?

If it says Enable click it to make it say Disable.

Mike

Sorry I misread...what I see is all the boxes with checkmarks, and they are all checked aside from the IPv6 you told me to uncheck...if you mean is the connection enabled/disabled, it is enabled...

Have you repaired the connection?

Mike

Well I am on vista, but yes, I have "automatically got new IP setting for the local area connection" and also "reset the network adaptor"...and it always give me a message to the fact that it performed the task, but it did not fix the problem...Wierd part is I can always achieve local only connection, but never local and internet

OK it is time to go to a Static IP.

Rt click Local area connection-Properties-This connection uses

Go to bottom
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Double click it

Here in Use following IP Address put: 192.168.102.10

Click Subnet it will auto fill.

For Default gateway put: 192.168.102.254

At the bottom click Use the following DNS Server addresses.

Preferred: 208.6.238.7
Alternate: 208.6.238.2

Save these and reboot!

Mike

Oh!

I assumed XP but all still applied.

But sometimes Vista can be stubborn!

Let me know about the last post Static ip before we delve farther.

Mike

ugh...that didn't work either. This time it won't even move past "limited connectivity"...
p.s. @ last post...that's ok I've set up static ips before...

OK boot to Safe Mode networking and see if this is still the case if so while there reset connection to DHCP!

My opinion this is all pointing to a bad Ethernet adapter.

Can you take this to a neighbor or friends house and check it on a different Router/Modem?

Unplug cable look in the Ethernet connector is there a wad of lint (I have found this before) and are the wires taunt and straight and not corroded?

Mike

That's exactly what I thought about the adaptor, but I took it to Best Buy to replace it, and I saw them hook it up both ways, and both worked. Also, neither DCHP nor static work in Safe Mode...Yes, the wires are straight and everything...the laptop is only like 6 months old...

OK that rules out that theory!

Have you tried with the other computer unplugged, if not try now or let me know if you have.

Mike

I am wondering if the ISP has placed a limit to the allowable amount of computers (via mac address) connected to them at the same time

Running just the laptop plugged in, and then resetting the Internet, refer here: http://www.techspot.com/vb/post662504-2.html (note not all commands work on all OS)
Then restarting, again just with the laptop plugged in only, will certainly confirm this.