Alternate network connection is NOT working

[Grand_Poobah]

Can anyone tell me why plugging in a CAT-5 cable to my Vista SP1
machine's port will NOT bring up my LAN? The stupid "diagnose" button
simply tells me to "turn on wireless". This is of absolutely NO help
because my wireless access point is temporarily down.

Is there NO way to force a wired connection with Vista?

Using the "connect to a network" link is useless also as it also assumes
you want wireless - not wired. In XP you used to have a choice of
wireless or wired. Has that also been taken away by the brilliant
programmers at Microsoft?

GP

 

[Malke]

Can anyone tell me why plugging in a CAT-5 cable to my Vista SP1
machine's port will NOT bring up my LAN? The stupid "diagnose" button
simply tells me to "turn on wireless". This is of absolutely NO help
because my wireless access point is temporarily down.

Is there NO way to force a wired connection with Vista?

Using the "connect to a network" link is useless also as it also assumes
you want wireless - not wired. In XP you used to have a choice of
wireless or wired. Has that also been taken away by the brilliant
programmers at Microsoft?

I understand that you are upset and ranting feels good but it does limit how
many people will respond to you. Just sayin'... You've also left out all
the details that would enable people to help you. Here are some of the
things we need to know:

1. How do you connect to the Internet? Cable? DSL?
2. Is the cable/DSL modem a combination modem/router or do you have a router
plugged into the modem's WAN port?
3. If you have a separate router, what is it?
4. Are you plugging the ethernet cable into the router? If yes, have you
tried plugging the ethernet cable directly to the modem, bypassing the
router
5. Have you power-cycled both the modem and the router and then tried again?
6. Can other computers on the LAN access the Internet?
7. The Alternate Configuration is for when you want to have two unrelated
setups for Internet access on one adapter, not for "forcing" wired access.
Example - if you need a static IP address at work and a dynamic IP address
at home.
8. What have you already tried?
9. Did this ever work? If yes, what changed?
10. Is the ethernet adapter enabled? Look in Device Manager to be sure.
(Actually this is the first thing you should check but I don't feel like
renumbering my entire reply.)

Malke

 

[Grand_Poobah]

There is nothing better than a good rant. Why spoil it with good advice.

Replies inline.

--->

I understand that you are upset and ranting feels good but it does limit how
many people will respond to you. Just sayin'... You've also left out all
the details that would enable people to help you. Here are some of the
things we need to know:

1. How do you connect to the Internet? Cable? DSL?

DSL. Other computer connect just fine - even after I switched cables
with the nearest one.

2. Is the cable/DSL modem a combination modem/router or do you have a router
plugged into the modem's WAN port?

DSL modem -> Linksys Router -> patch panel in basement -> computer room
upstairs -> local hub -> four computers

3. If you have a separate router, what is it?
Linksys

4. Are you plugging the ethernet cable into the router? If yes, have you
tried plugging the ethernet cable directly to the modem, bypassing the
router

See #2

5. Have you power-cycled both the modem and the router and then tried again?

Not part of the problem. Other computers running fine.

6. Can other computers on the LAN access the Internet?
Yes

7. The Alternate Configuration is for when you want to have two unrelated
setups for Internet access on one adapter, not for "forcing" wired access.
Example - if you need a static IP address at work and a dynamic IP address
at home.

I can find no alternate configuration setup anywhere. I use static IP
address on my LAN. I used to have DHCP but the router kept
double-assigning addresses at times. On the laptop, I have tried
several times to create a completely new connection using the wired
adapter but cannot find out how to start any sort of wizard to do that.
When my wireless A/P is working, I can connect wireless just fine, but
when I turn the wireless adapter off and plug in the cable SOMETIMES it
will connect, but it uses the name of my wireless setup on the info
pop-up over the notification icon for my LAN. This doesn't sound right
to me. There should be some way of setting up a wired connection from
scratch.

8. What have you already tried?

A load of IPCONFIG commands. rebooting, several times. plugging and
unplugging the cable (connect LED goes on and off + port LED on hub goes
on and off also).

9. Did this ever work? If yes, what changed?

Yes; nothing. Worked last night, but not this AM when turned on (and
rebooted three times)

10. Is the ethernet adapter enabled? Look in Device Manager to be sure.
(Actually this is the first thing you should check but I don't feel like
renumbering my entire reply.)

Device manager shows all is fine - even with "show hidden devices"
enabled. No flags.

Malke

There are a couple of things in the Event Viewer, but I'm not sure if
they relate. They are COM+ events though:

QUOTE
The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Launch
permission for the COM Server application with CLSID
{C97FCC79-E628-407D-AE68-A06AD6D8B4D1}
to the user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SID (S-1-5-18) from address LocalHost
(Using LRPC). This security permission can be modified using the
Component Services administrative tool.
/QUOTE

I looked up the ClassID and it turns out to be "local launch permission"
for an IPDevice. This could possibly be the culprit. I ran the
Component Services applet and took a look at all the COM items (big
list) but couldn't find any security issues out of order. If there is a
connection between the CLSID and a particular device (without searching
each and every COM device in order) I sure wish I could find it.
Searching the Registry is my only recourse.

GP

 

[Malke]

Grand_Poobah wrote:

See my comments inline:

DSL. Other computer connect just fine - even after I switched cables
with the nearest one.


DSL modem -> Linksys Router -> patch panel in basement -> computer room
upstairs -> local hub -> four computers


Linksys

Linksys what? Have you checked with Linksys to see if this router supports
Vista? If it is very old it may not. Does it have the latest firmware?
Routers doing DHCP do not normally assign duplicate IP addresses and this
points to something being wrong. Or if the router is elderly it may just be
dying. Are you really using a hub or a switch? If a hub, replace it with a
switch. Hubs are very old technology and can cause issues on a LAN.
Switches are inexpensive.

See #2

I don't see where you answered this so I take it that no, you haven't
plugged the Vista machine directly into the modem with ethernet. I would do
so. Successful troubleshooting must be systematic and not scattershot.

Not part of the problem. Other computers running fine.

You don't know if this is part of the problem or not unless you've tested
it. Again, when troubleshooting you must be systematic. But leave it for
now.

I can find no alternate configuration setup anywhere. I use static IP
address on my LAN. I used to have DHCP but the router kept
double-assigning addresses at times. On the laptop, I have tried
several times to create a completely new connection using the wired
adapter but cannot find out how to start any sort of wizard to do that.
When my wireless A/P is working, I can connect wireless just fine, but
when I turn the wireless adapter off and plug in the cable SOMETIMES it
will connect, but it uses the name of my wireless setup on the info
pop-up over the notification icon for my LAN. This doesn't sound right
to me. There should be some way of setting up a wired connection from
scratch.

You don't need the Alternate Configuration if you've assigned static IP
addresses and turned off the Linksys's doing DHCP.

A load of IPCONFIG commands. rebooting, several times. plugging and
unplugging the cable (connect LED goes on and off + port LED on hub goes
on and off also).


Yes; nothing. Worked last night, but not this AM when turned on (and
rebooted three times)

Possible hardware failure then rather than software. What happens when you
connect the Vista laptop directly to your modem? If nothing, then there may
be a problem with the laptop's NIC.

Device manager shows all is fine - even with "show hidden devices"
enabled. No flags.

There are a couple of things in the Event Viewer, but I'm not sure if
they relate. They are COM+ events though:

QUOTE
The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Launch
permission for the COM Server application with CLSID
{C97FCC79-E628-407D-AE68-A06AD6D8B4D1}
to the user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SID (S-1-5-18) from address LocalHost
(Using LRPC). This security permission can be modified using the
Component Services administrative tool.
/QUOTE

I looked up the ClassID and it turns out to be "local launch permission"
for an IPDevice. This could possibly be the culprit. I ran the
Component Services applet and took a look at all the COM items (big
list) but couldn't find any security issues out of order. If there is a
connection between the CLSID and a particular device (without searching
each and every COM device in order) I sure wish I could find it.
Searching the Registry is my only recourse.

If you do a Google search using this search term, "permission settings do
not grant Local Launch permission for the COM Server application" you will
get a lot of links about that error message. I would not go chasing after
it at this point but rather would do the troubleshooting I suggest above
first. If your Vista machine's NIC has died or you are using an old hub or
your router has a problem, solving that will probably resolve the error in
Event Viewer.

Malke

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Grand_Poobah wrote:

See my comments inline:


Linksys what? Have you checked with Linksys to see if this router supports
Vista? If it is very old it may not. Does it have the latest firmware?
Routers doing DHCP do not normally assign duplicate IP addresses and this
points to something being wrong. Or if the router is elderly it may just be
dying. Are you really using a hub or a switch? If a hub, replace it with a
switch. Hubs are very old technology and can cause issues on a LAN.
Switches are inexpensive.


I don't see where you answered this so I take it that no, you haven't
plugged the Vista machine directly into the modem with ethernet. I would do
so. Successful troubleshooting must be systematic and not scattershot.


You don't know if this is part of the problem or not unless you've tested
it. Again, when troubleshooting you must be systematic. But leave it for
now.


You don't need the Alternate Configuration if you've assigned static IP
addresses and turned off the Linksys's doing DHCP.


Possible hardware failure then rather than software. What happens when you
connect the Vista laptop directly to your modem? If nothing, then there may
be a problem with the laptop's NIC.


If you do a Google search using this search term, "permission settings do
not grant Local Launch permission for the COM Server application" you will
get a lot of links about that error message. I would not go chasing after
it at this point but rather would do the troubleshooting I suggest above
first. If your Vista machine's NIC has died or you are using an old hub or
your router has a problem, solving that will probably resolve the error in
Event Viewer.

Malke

I uninstalled the computer's adapter (NVIDIAnForce 10/100/1000 Adapter)
rebooted and re-installed the adapter. Through three reboots now it has
connected every time. Each reboot was checked with an online site for
access. I intend to see if NVIDIA has any updated or newer drivers for
this adapter.

The 'hub' I mentioned is actually a D-Link 10/100 Fast Ethernet Switch.
It may be two years old, if that.

The router is a Linksys BEFSX41 Firewall Router (with firewall
activated). The DSL modem is a SpeedStream 5100 (5-LED model).
According to the Linksys site, I have the latest firmware for my router
and, I point out, it works just fine with all my other computers (which,
in itself, is not a completely valid argument that it is working for the
laptop).

I took the laptop downstairs and (with a lot of plugging and unplugging)
got it hooked directly to the modem - no connection showing on the
laptop. The laptop still claimed that there were no networks available.

Next step: email NVIDIA tech support and see if there are any updated
drivers higher than 67.7.6.1 for my network adapter. Their web site is
set up totally for video drivers and doesn't show any network adapters
in their product list (strange?). I will also check with HP to see if
they have any.

GP

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

You're still using a HUB? Or do you mean switch?


This is troubling. Does it still do this? If so then there's plenty of
reasons to be HIGHLY skeptical of the network setup. Just because some
other boxes "work" doesn't mean there isn't something else wrong.


Disable the adapter in the device manager, the remove it. Reboot and
allow it to set it back up again. It may be advantageous to also delete
that interface from the registry in-between the removal from the device
manager and the reboot.


Turn off, how?

Here you may have driver issues with the wireless interface. What
make/model/version is it?

Also, since this is a laptop, does it have trouble maintain connections
when the machine goes to sleep or when waking back up from standby or
hibernate?

-Bill Kearney

Hi Bill. See my answers to Malke. There is a button right on the
computer panel next to the power switch that turns off (actually it
'disables') the WLAN adapter. It goes from green (0n) to orange (Off).

The router DHCP agent would occasionally assign a just-booting computer
an address of one of my other computers. When I troubleshot this odd
occurrence, I found that the assigned IP address was usually that of the
computer that had been on the longest. Some of my computers stay on for
weeks at a time and just renew their leases. By flashing the firmware
of the router that problem was eliminated but I had already shifted to
static IP addresses. My motto - if it works don't mess with it, but if
it doesn't, find out why.

I read on a forum about another person having this similar problem and
he solved it by disabling then removing the wired adapter using Program
Manager. Then cut/pasted the drivers to his desktop for safekeeping.
After rebooting, he found that Vista had assigned one of Microsoft's
drivers to the adapter and he had no more problems. I may try that next
if this arrangement (uninstall and reinstall of NVIDIA drivers) works.

My laptop has had no wireless problems with dropout or with
sleep/hibernation. I can put it to sleep and wake up and the adapter
connects right away. I went into it's settings and didn't allow the
computer to 'put it to sleep' under any circumstances. Maybe that helped.

I guess what is bothering me the most is that there isn't TWO separate
connections I can set up for network access - one for wireless and one
for wired. Every time I try "set up a network" the first thing it tells
me is that there are no wireless networks available. Well, who cares?
I want wired.

All this hassle will go away once I get a new Wireless Access Point. My
old one started heating up badly.

GP

 

[Gordon]

Next step: email NVIDIA tech support and see if there are any updated
drivers higher than 67.7.6.1 for my network adapter. Their web site is
set up totally for video drivers and doesn't show any network adapters in
their product list (strange?).

Not at all. AFAIK NVIDIA make graphics cards, not Network adapters.

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Not at all. AFAIK NVIDIA make graphics cards, not Network adapters.

That's what I though also Gordon but Device Manager doggedly insists
that my two adapters are:

Atheros AR5009 802.11a/g/n WiFi Adapter
NVIDIAnForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Networking Controller

I cannot find anything anywhere relating to the NVIDIA networking device
other than some Google hits reporting some similar problems as those I
am having. I suppose it is possible that it is 'spoofing' (for lack of
a better word) DM and reporting it is a network controller but why will
it connect to the web then? I think this may have been some sort of
experiment by NVIDIA into the networking arena and the drivers just
don't work right.

The next thing is to try and remove the NVIDIA drivers totally (backing
them up somewhere safe) and see if I can reboot and have Vista assign
different drivers to it.

I do have an NVIDIA GeForce 8200G M video card in the laptop also.

GP

 

[Malke]

--->

That's what I though also Gordon but Device Manager doggedly insists
that my two adapters are:

Atheros AR5009 802.11a/g/n WiFi Adapter
NVIDIAnForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Networking Controller

I cannot find anything anywhere relating to the NVIDIA networking device
other than some Google hits reporting some similar problems as those I
am having. I suppose it is possible that it is 'spoofing' (for lack of
a better word) DM and reporting it is a network controller but why will
it connect to the web then? I think this may have been some sort of
experiment by NVIDIA into the networking arena and the drivers just
don't work right.

The next thing is to try and remove the NVIDIA drivers totally (backing
them up somewhere safe) and see if I can reboot and have Vista assign
different drivers to it.

I do have an NVIDIA GeForce 8200G M video card in the laptop also.

Nvidia makes motherboards and on those motherboards are onboard network
adapters.

Just as a WAG, did you also install the Nvidia Firewall that sometimes comes
along with those adapter drivers? If yes, I'd uninstall that. You may be
getting conflicts with the Windows Firewall. I also forgot to ask you what
security software you have installed. I've seen instances where a client
had McAfee (shudder!) installed and that program was blocking the ethernet
adapter.

You said:

"I uninstalled the computer's adapter (NVIDIAnForce 10/100/1000 Adapter)
rebooted and re-installed the adapter. Through three reboots now it has
connected every time. Each reboot was checked with an online site for
access. I intend to see if NVIDIA has any updated or newer drivers for
this adapter."

So does this mean that the wired NIC is now working? If it is, leave well
enough alone!

Malke

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Nvidia makes motherboards and on those motherboards are onboard network
adapters.

Just as a WAG, did you also install the Nvidia Firewall that sometimes comes
along with those adapter drivers? If yes, I'd uninstall that. You may be
getting conflicts with the Windows Firewall. I also forgot to ask you what
security software you have installed. I've seen instances where a client
had McAfee (shudder!) installed and that program was blocking the ethernet
adapter.

You said:

"I uninstalled the computer's adapter (NVIDIAnForce 10/100/1000 Adapter)
rebooted and re-installed the adapter. Through three reboots now it has
connected every time. Each reboot was checked with an online site for
access. I intend to see if NVIDIA has any updated or newer drivers for
this adapter."

So does this mean that the wired NIC is now working? If it is, leave well
enough alone!

Malke

Yes. I meant exactly that. I have since rebooted it every half hour
and still make connection. I am thinking now that the original setup
when I bought the computer just before Christmas might not have been
completely 'right'. Re-installing the drivers seemed to help.

I am using ZoneAlarm and have turned off Windows Firewall. I've checked
for another firewall but don't see any indication of one. Nothing in
the Add/Remover programs or elsewhere (like the Programs Menu).

I do intend to leave it alone for now until it messes up again.

GP

 

[Malke]

Yes. I meant exactly that. I have since rebooted it every half hour
and still make connection. I am thinking now that the original setup
when I bought the computer just before Christmas might not have been
completely 'right'. Re-installing the drivers seemed to help.

I am using ZoneAlarm and have turned off Windows Firewall. I've checked
for another firewall but don't see any indication of one. Nothing in
the Add/Remover programs or elsewhere (like the Programs Menu).

I do intend to leave it alone for now until it messes up again.

Glad to hear you got it sorted. Thanks for taking the time to let us know.

Malke

 

[Gordon]

Nvidia makes motherboards and on those motherboards are onboard network
adapters.

Thanks for the info!

 

[RalfG]

Just a suggestion... before you go back to using wireless on that computer
change the metric setting (Advanced TCP/IP properties) for both wireless and
wired adapters from Automatic to numeric values (eg. 10, 20), in the order
that you want your two adapters to be used. It can save some frustration
later, especially with firewalls but also with Windows randomly switching
the LAN/internet connection to an unconnected adapter. Set your preferred
network connection to have the lower metric value.

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Just a suggestion... before you go back to using wireless on that
computer change the metric setting (Advanced TCP/IP properties) for both
wireless and wired adapters from Automatic to numeric values (eg. 10,
20), in the order that you want your two adapters to be used. It can
save some frustration later, especially with firewalls but also with
Windows randomly switching the LAN/internet connection to an unconnected
adapter. Set your preferred network connection to have the lower metric
value.

Good idea. I give that a try.

GP

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Oops. A small problem with that suggestion: When I used the wireless
adapter, I was able to set it up with a static IP address and such (plus
being able to get to 'metrics') but when I switched to the wired adapter
I ended up with the SAME connection information.

I mean that if I go to the Properties of the connection I am shown the
same, exact, information I used for the wireless connection. How can I
change the metrics there and not affect things when I go back to wireless?

GP

 

[RalfG]

Hmmm, odd. Haven't seen that happen since Win98. All of my XP and Vista
adapters configure independently. The metrics are specific to the individual
adapters, so should be the other TCP/IP settings. Sure they weren't
coincidentally already set to the same thing?

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Nope. If I connect Wireless I can show the Properties of the connection
and I am shown the same IP address and configuration that I see when set
up wired (including a metric of 10 which I set for the wired
connection). There are two adapters, but Vista will only let me create
a new connection using wireless. Since my wireless A/P is down, Vista
tells me "no wireless networks are available" when I try to "create a
new network connection". Even the name of the wireless connection is
passed to the wired adapter when I am connected wired. My wireless
network is called "MyHouse" and, when connected wired, I see the same
name when I hover over the network connection icon. My workgroup is
called "HOMELAN" so there shouldn't be any confusion there.

I'm thinking that maybe when I get my A/P back up I will connect
wireless and THEN try to configure a new network using the wired adapter.

I definitely agree that there should be TWO different network
connections available to me and the computer should pick which one is
applicable depending on whether or not the wireless adapter is turned
on. If I turn it off and plug in a CAT-5 cable it should immediately
start negotiations on that connection with my LAN/router. Quite often,
it doesn't and I have to keep rebooting until it does.

GP

--->

 

[RalfG]

Sounds like your network config is not quite right. I can plug in my WiFi
adapter and have a second connection to the same router. Both adapters have
different IPs, different metrics. No problem to set either to whatever I
want. Your ethernet adapter may be getting a random 169.x.x.x IP from
automatic addressing before you plug in the cable. I find the PC often needs
rebooting to clear that IP. It will be registered as a new network in your
firewall as well and Windows may try to use it as the LAN/internet
connection... which with that IP of course won't connect to anything at all
unless you happen to run your LAN on that same subnet. You can manually set
the Alternate addressing for the adapter to an IP within your own LAN's
address range so the computer can connect to the router regardless.

 

[Grand_Poobah]

I'd pretty much come to that conclusion also. My wired adapter doesn't
get the default IP address, it doesn't get ANY address at all. It will
just sit there with the big red "X" over it and tell me "You are not
connected to a network" as if I didn't already know that. If I try to
Disable it, the whole machine hangs and I have to kill Explorer.exe to
free it.

Under Control Panel -> Network Connections I do appear to have 2
networks. One is identified as "Wireless" (Atheros adapter) and the
other is named simply "LAN" on the NVIDIA adapter. Both names I gave
them myself.

I was successful in making the LAN adapter have a metric of 10 and the
wireless metric set to 20. They each have a separate static IP address.
I am hoping that this will finally allow me to switch between the two of
them depending on circumstances. This way, if the CAT-5 cable is plugged
in (and operating correctly out to the router) I should have a
connection. I can't try wireless until I get a new access point.

GP

--->