Local Area Connection

[Stephen J. Spencer]

About two months ago, I purchased from Dell an XPS desktop running Windows
Media Center 2005. I was successful in setting up a home network with a
Linksys WRT54GX2 router. With my laptop, was I was able to connect to my
home network and access shared resources. A few days ago, as I was
struggling to set-up D-Link DSM320 Media Center, I must have fiddled around
with the TCP/IP settings, and since then, the Local Area Network icon shows
"Limited or no connectivity". I have tried to under the damage, but to no
avail. I have tried reinstalling the router, disabling the anti-virus,
firewall (the Dell computer came with PC-Cillin pre-installed), nada,
nothing. When I ran my trusted Verizon CD, a new icon was created under
"Broadband" within Network Connections. This allows me to access the web
directly through the DSL modem, without going through the router, however).
This has allowed me to search the web extensively for a remedy, but to no
avail. I have downloaded countless TCP/IP resets, etc. One peculiar thing is
that if I uncheck the "Notify me when this connection has limited or no
connectivity" option, the icon bottom-right blinks in sync with the Wan
Miniport (PPPOE) icon. Another bizarre issue that has arisen is that I
occasionally get a message saying something to the effect that my copy of
Windows is not legit and I should resolve the matter (I bought the machine
directly from Dell and not from a third-party, and I have the original
reinstall disk).
The integrated NIC is Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection, which seems
to have the latest driver. Finally, my version of Windows Media Center 2005
came, I believe, with SP2 pre-installed.


Can anyone please help me? Thank you.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

About two months ago, I purchased from Dell an XPS desktop running Windows
Media Center 2005. I was successful in setting up a home network with a
Linksys WRT54GX2 router. With my laptop, was I was able to connect to my
home network and access shared resources. A few days ago, as I was
struggling to set-up D-Link DSM320 Media Center, I must have fiddled around
with the TCP/IP settings, and since then, the Local Area Network icon shows
"Limited or no connectivity". I have tried to under the damage, but to no
avail. I have tried reinstalling the router, disabling the anti-virus,
firewall (the Dell computer came with PC-Cillin pre-installed), nada,
nothing. When I ran my trusted Verizon CD, a new icon was created under
"Broadband" within Network Connections. This allows me to access the web
directly through the DSL modem, without going through the router, however).
This has allowed me to search the web extensively for a remedy, but to no
avail. I have downloaded countless TCP/IP resets, etc. One peculiar thing is
that if I uncheck the "Notify me when this connection has limited or no
connectivity" option, the icon bottom-right blinks in sync with the Wan
Miniport (PPPOE) icon. Another bizarre issue that has arisen is that I
occasionally get a message saying something to the effect that my copy of
Windows is not legit and I should resolve the matter (I bought the machine
directly from Dell and not from a third-party, and I have the original
reinstall disk).
The integrated NIC is Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection, which seems
to have the latest driver. Finally, my version of Windows Media Center 2005
came, I believe, with SP2 pre-installed.


Can anyone please help me? Thank you.

A good starting point would be to post the contents of the
two files generated on two of your PCs like so:
- Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
- Type these commands:
echo %computername% > c:\test.txt {Enter}
ipconfig /all >> test.txt {Enter}
notepad c:\test.txt {Enter}

You should also post these IP addresses:
- Router (internal)
- Router (external)
- DSL modem

 

[Stephen J. Spencer]

Is this the information you requested?
DELL_XPS


Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DELL_XPS

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network
Connection

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-72-12-35-2A

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.2.71

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :



PPP adapter Verizon Online:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 71.127.222.189

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 71.127.222.189

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 151.198.0.38

151.202.0.85

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It's a start. I can see that your network adapter is
unable to obtain an IP address from the DHCP
server in your network (which could be your
router). Since the network adapter is unable to
obtain an address from the router, you must specify
one manually during the testing phase. What it should
be I cannot say until you tell us the router's internal
address.

The inability to obtain an address from the router
could be caused by:
- defective router
- bad network connection
- bad network card
- router not a DHCP server

Also:
* What is your "Verizon" adapter?
* What is the output from ipconfig /all from the other PC(s)?

Is this the information you requested?
DELL_XPS

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DELL_XPS
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network
Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-72-12-35-2A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.2.71
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

PPP adapter Verizon Online:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 71.127.222.189
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 71.127.222.189
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 151.198.0.38
151.202.0.85

 

[thecreator]

Hi Stephen,

With Verizon DSL, do you have a permanent (Static) IP Address or
changing (Dynamic) IP Address? I have Cable and a D-Link DI-624 Router. I
have a Dynamic Connection. My IP Address changes from Week to Week. It is a
one week lease.

Have you tried to reset the Linksys WRT54GX2 Router? In order to start
from scratch?

Since you have Verizon DSL, you know that you must sign in to the
Verizon DSL Network to use it? If you forgot to sign in via the Router, than
you will get Limited or No Connectivity.

In other words, if you get the Router out of the equation, then you need
to access the DSL Modem directly, in order to install your User ID and
Password. When you add a Router to the equation, then you must go into the
Router and enter your User Id and Password for the Verizon DSL connection.

Also how are you connecting the DSM320 Media Center to your Setup? Wired
or Wireless?

If Wireless, then in order for your DSM320 Media Center to see your
Network, the first time, then you must be broadcasting your SSID
Identification. The Radio portion must be on. If off, then you can't see
your Network.

 

[Stephen J. Spencer]

It looks as though --- touch wood --- I resolved the problem. It lay with
the router. This article
(http://www.gatago.com/alt/satellite/direcpc/18014839.html), and also your
help prompted me to focus on the router. Although I had a number of resets,
I didn't realize that one had to press CONTINUOUSLY for 15 seconds or
more... My Local Area Network is up and running again, happy chit-chatting
with my router. I am now going to have to figure out why wireless signals
from the DSM320 weren't being picked up in the first place, even though I
had SSID broadcast on.

Anyway, once again, thank you all for your concern.