2 laptops same problem connecting to LAN - VERY strange

[matt]

I purchased two new laptops (Dell) for Dr.'s office.
The office is new. They have DSL through Bellsouth.
I have DSL through Bellsouth at home. At home,
both laptops connect immediately - no problem.

At the Dr.'s office, neither will even though there are
two other computers there which connect with no
problem. I have tried known
good cat5e patch cables. In fact, I took them to the dsl modem
and connected them directly with known good cable,
they won't connect. There are two other computers
there which have no problem connecting.

I DON'T get it. Any help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frankster]

Is the office configured to allow only those two specific MAC addresses to
connect? Just one posiblity of many.

Please describe the office network.

-Frank

 

[matt]

It is a lan where only 4 computers share medisoft software for
office work. Two of the computers get out on the internet.
But how can a Westel dsl modem only allow two specific
MAC addresses to connect??

Thanks Frankster!!!

 

[Someuser]

Can all 4 machines ping each other?
Are 4 IPs all on the same subnet?
Does the modem connect to a router, hub, or switch?

Some commercial dsl services provide a modem and a router and that modem /
router installation is allocated x number of IPs.

in order to diagnose the problem you will have to provide hardware details,
network configuration, etc otherwise people will be shooting in the dark.

All you mentioned was that the 4 computers share the software package which
is pretty much irrelevant to trying to figure out the problem. For all we
know the machines could be setup with multiple IPs and subnets on the same
physical network. one set of ips works for sharing the software but the
other set is used for internet access. the software package and network
could also be using a protocol other tcp/ip such as netbui.

James

 

[gerritjan]

I purchased two new laptops (Dell) for Dr.'s office.

The office is new. They have DSL through Bellsouth.
I have DSL through Bellsouth at home. At home,
both laptops connect immediately - no problem.

At the Dr.'s office, neither will even though there are
two other computers there which connect with no
problem. I have tried known
good cat5e patch cables. In fact, I took them to the dsl modem
and connected them directly with known good cable,
they won't connect. There are two other computers
there which have no problem connecting.

I DON'T get it. Any help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By default Dell disables the network-card if the laptop is running on
battery. Use Dell Quickset to change this behaviour or connect a
poweradaptor.