Going DHCP Destroys Connections

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neil Cameron
  • Start date Start date
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Neil Cameron

I went DHCP when I installed my new ADSL Router/Gateway. Everyone can
connect to the Internet OK, but my son's laptop can no longer see any other
PCs in the Workgroup, and my laptop (which can) won't print any more.

Did I break something?
 
I should have mentioned that the PCs having problems are connectig via Wi-Fi
and that in going DHCP I lost access to the Wireless Access point, which
still has a fixed IP address in a totally different range, and which I can
no longer log on to to change - may that be relevant? And how do I get
access to it....?
 
I went DHCP when I installed my new ADSL Router/Gateway. Everyone can
connect to the Internet OK, but my son's laptop can no longer see any other
PCs in the Workgroup, and my laptop (which can) won't print any more.

Did I break something?
Click to expand...

Neil,

When you went DHCP, what values did you change? Did you change all computers,
and reboot, simultaneously? How many computers do you have, anyway?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>

Maybe if you can provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" for three of them
we can help figure out the problem. Instructions in this article (please read
linked articles too):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
 
If I understand you correctly:

1. You have an ADSL router with DHCP enabled and machines connected by
ethernet to the router function correctly.

2. You also have a wireless access point connected to the router. The
access point has a fixed IP which is not in the same range as the IPs handed
out by DHCP on the router. Machines connecting wirelessly cannot access
network resources. You are unable to change the IP of the access point or
otherwise make any configuration changes to it.

If the above is correct, then your best option is to change the IP and DHCP
scope on the router so that the access point's IP is included in the range.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
 
I should have mentioned that the PCs having problems are connectig via Wi-Fi
and that in going DHCP I lost access to the Wireless Access point, which
still has a fixed IP address in a totally different range, and which I can
no longer log on to to change - may that be relevant? And how do I get
access to it....?
Click to expand...

Neil,

Is the WAP the device issuing the addresses, or is it simply a device connected
to the LAN of the router? If it's not the router, then I don't think that's
necessarily your only problem.

It sounds to me like you either:
1) Didn't enable the DHCP server on the router.
2) Enabled the DHCP server, and enabled security (WEP / WPA / whatever).

If #1, you're going to have to configure one of the computers back to fixed IP
address, logon to the router, and set it up properly.

If #2, you're going to have to use one of your computers with an Ethernet
connection (never make changes to a wireless router using wireless
connectivity), configure back to use fixed IP address, logon to the router, and
set it up properly.

Making changes to a device with only one interface (ie TCP/IP), where your
changes affect the state of the interface you're using, is a tricky business.
Planning what you have to do is a good idea.
 
It sounds like you're right; but how? I can no longer connect to the WAP as
it is not within IP range...
 
If the router and the WAP are separate devices (?), you do not need to
connect to the WAP. All you need to do is connect to the router. Do this
by ethernet (http://routerIP). Then you change the router's IP to something
compatible with the WAP and change the DHCP range to match.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
 
Done that. The WAP now has an IP address within range, but unfortunately I
still can't print - so maybe it's something else.
I can see the networked PC to which the printer is attached, and the printer
itself when I browse for a networked printer. I can (apparently) install it
as a new printer and it appears in the Printer Window, but I can't print a
test page and can't print otherwise.
The only thing that has changed is that the laptop and the PC to which the
printer is attached have changed from fixed to dynamic IP addresses.
Thanks for your help - any other ideas?
 
OK, sounds like progress is being made. Unfortunately the printing problem
could have any number of causes - are both computers running XP, are any
firewalls in place, do you receive an error message when you try to print,
can you share files as distinguished from printers, etc. For a pretty good
troubleshooting guide, try:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314073

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
 
I'll look at that link; meanwhilen the answers to your questions are below:

--
Neil

Doug Sherman said:
OK, sounds like progress is being made. Unfortunately the printing
problem
could have any number of causes - are both computers running XP
Click to expand...

Yes; Xp pro

, are any
firewalls in place,
Click to expand...

YEs; with standard default Win XP settings

do you receive an error message when you try to print,

An immediate message when askign fir a test print that it is not possible
can you share files as distinguished from printers, etc.
Click to expand...

I can log onto the disk of the prinetr host PC fine

For a pretty good
 
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