Router Problems and Solutions Thread (computer Forum) Probs and Solns go HERE.

[Cirga]

Excellent post Cirga..--thanks --LP

Its really hard to offer configuration help for routers if I cant "visualize" exactly how you have things set up. A few things would really be helpful when you do your first post if you have a connection problem.

Router Information:

Model Number and Brand Name.

Post a screenshot of your port forwarding screen if possible.

IP Address Information:

YOUR computer:

IP Address
Netmask
Default Gateway

-----------

You can find the Ip address information by opening a Dos prompt and typing in the command "ipconfig".

I will do my best to help.. but this information is needed firsthand so i can see how your computer is connected. And that is vital along with your firewall information etc.

Thanks folks..

[jay-jay]

My Router is:

Linksys Etherfast Cable/DSL Router RTR 4Port 10/100 4 RJ45
Mfr code: BEFSR41

IP's:

IP Address : 80.2.244.147
Sub Net Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 80.2.244.254

Basically we can get the internet to work on the computer which has the cable modem connected directly to the NIC and router. The two other computers on our LAN will not connect to the interent, but we can share files etc.

Also every time we start up our main computer we have to reset the ip for it to connect to the internet.

The computer which can currently connect to the internet, which also has the cable modem directly connected to it has WinME installed.

The two computers which are trying to connect to the internet on the network have WinXP and another WinME OS installed on them.

Any Ideas??

[LPDad]

I have that exact same router and it took a little bit of grief to get things all set up but finally everything worked.
Here are some things to help.

1. You MUST run the Windows XP network Setup wizard on ALL of your machines! Run the setup wizard on the XP machine, after which the wizard will give you some options. Choose to make a floppy and then use that floppy to load the setup wizard on the other machines. (And make SURE you choose the CORRECT option--In this case the option is "this puter connects to the internet via a lan" on ALL the computers.
2. I found that certain programs interfere with proper LAN function. For example--If If you have TwakXP installed and have certain options enabled, then you will have problems with your lan sharing files and/or communicating. Best way to solve troubleshoot these problems is to load each computer with the bare minimum running programs--to see if the lan works, If it does then restart programs one at a time until you get to a point where something does not work properly.

3. At the bottom of the SETUP tab screen on your Router's control panel MAKE sure that the " Keep Alive: " option is checked and SET the Redial Period to 30 Sec.
(don't use the connect on demand option unless the keep alive option does not work properly)

4. Connect your ROUTER Directly to the modem!!!

WALL
|
MODEM
|
ROUTER<------Computer 1
^ ^
| |----------------------Computer 2
|----------Computer 3

..and plug EACH computer into one of the ports on the Router.

5. On the DHCP tab of the Router control panel you want:
DHCP Server: x Enable
Starting IP Address: 192.168.1. 100
Number of DHCP Users: 4 (you can use 3 if you want)
Client Lease Time: 0

6. Setup tab:

Host Name: (leave blank)
Domain Name: (leave blank)
Firmware Version: 1.43, Sept 04 2002 <-- you want latest ver.
LAN IP Address:
...................................198 168 1 1 (Device IP Address)
....................................255.255.255.0 (Subnet Mask)

WAN Connection Type: make sure you have the correct option for your ISP --My DSL uses ppoe --yours may differ.

7. Under the ADVANCED tab choose Dynamic Routing tab:
Working Mode: Gateway

SAVE EVERYTHING

THAT should be it for the setup (put in your ISP username and password of course)

Plug all computer into the router.

Plug your router into your modem

Run the XP network wizard on EACH computer

Turn off your router (pull out the little power cord), turn off your modem

Wait 10 seconds or so.

Turn on your CABLE/DSL MODEM --Wait until your modem is up and running (and BLINKING merrily along) --30-60 seconds or so

Turn ON your ROUTER (plug the little power cord back in)

Wait until your ROUTER is up and running (and BLINKING merrily along also ) --30-60 seconds or so

REBOOT all of your 'puters.

Now if your computers are set up properly for sharing (beyond the scope of this post) then you should be up and running. Now you should be able to leave the router and modem on ALL THE TIME.
...and you connection should always be on. No matter which computer you turn on it should be able to access the internet.

Hope this helps.
Damn...my fingers are tired of typing....

[jay-jay]

Thanks LPDad i'll give it a shot, and let you guys know if i have any probs.

[LPDad]

How about reporting back When you get it WORKING!!
We like to here positive stories as well as problems.

[Cirga]

Also keep in mind.. that alot of modems "now" are only allowing one device to get an IP address from it. In otherwords.. if you connect to the DSL or cable modem with "Number 1 PC" then unplug it and plug in "Number 2 PC" the second PC will not be able to get on the internet.

The way around that is to actually unplug your DSL or Cable modem router and let it reset completely. It keeps track of the IP address lease by MAC address (which can not be modified on each NIC card).

Some routers can copy MAC addresses.. but usually its easier to just unplug it and plug it back in.

with that IP scheme I dont think you are on an internal LAN..because I can ping it. Which means your first PC has the IP address and the rest of your computers cannot get one.

Hope LPDad's instructions do it.. you need to be on a private IP scheme.. such as the one he listed 192.168.1.0

[jay-jay]

This is the stage we have reached at the moment:

We are having problems seeing each other on the LAN. On the WinXP machine, I can view the WinME machine (and it's files) but unfortunately, the WinME machine can not view the WinXP machine. Any ideas? The WinME machine is the computer with the Cable modem.

We have used the XP Network Wizard on all computers, but are still having the above problem.

Another problem with the Cable modem seems to be that a 'TCP/IP stack is not bound to an NIC'. This problem has only started occuring since we installed the router. Again, any ideas what this means?

Cheers.

[LPDad]

With regard to your ME computer not being able to see the XP computer...That is PROBABLY because your XP computer is using the NTFS file system.
Win 98 and Win ME can ONLY see and use FAT file systems (FAT32).

The only thing you can do about that is to either install XP on your current ME machine...OR .. add a second harddrive to the XP machine which has been formatted in FAT32. Your winME machine will then be able to See/use that particular drive and its contents. WinXP can use Both FAT32 and NTFS.

[jay-jay]

On the XP machine there are two dirves, one which is 17.5GB ( C: ) and the other 80GB ( F: ). The C: has already been formated in FAT32 but the new 80GB is formatted in NTFS, so it should be appearing.....

Plus before i got the router i had a hub which worked with the same PC's and there were no problems.

Any Ideas?

[jay-jay]

When i go to the status tab under the router settings there is:

IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
DNS: 0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0


Should any of these be filled in apart from the subnet mask? and if so how would i go about doing it??

[Cirga]

Originally posted by jay-jay
When i go to the status tab under the router settings there is:

IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
DNS: 0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0


Should any of these be filled in apart from the subnet mask? and if so how would i go about doing it??

That means your router is not getting an IP address from your Cable modem. You need to unplug all your computers from the cable modem.. hook in your routers "wan" port to the cable modem and then turn the Cable modem back on. Once the cable modem is on "then" plug in both of your PC's to the router (not the cable modem).

Once your Cable modem has an IP address etc under the status tab then it will work.

[Sammantha]

I have cable internet access and I am running a Linksys router as my hardware firewall. I have Zone Alarm running behind that, just in case...... I use The Cleaner for trojan horses and Spybot for spyware. I also use a anti-virus program. When I am off-line or my computer is off, my modem still flashes alot. As if someone is scanning my computer or sending me data. My cable company says this has something to do with a DNS server. Is this normal for this to happen or should I put more thought into this? I was hoping someone could answer this for me.

Thanks

[Cirga]

Originally posted by Sammantha
I have cable internet access and I am running a Linksys router as my hardware firewall. I have Zone Alarm running behind that, just in case...... I use The Cleaner for trojan horses and Spybot for spyware. I also use a anti-virus program. When I am off-line or my computer is off, my modem still flashes alot. As if someone is scanning my computer or sending me data. My cable company says this has something to do with a DNS server. Is this normal for this to happen or should I put more thought into this? I was hoping someone could answer this for me.

Thanks

If the lights are blinknig on your Cable modem that is perfectly normal. Think of it this way..

The Cable modems that everyoen has in your neighborhood are on one big circtuit. basically its all the users behind one router or server before going out to the internet.

When the lights on our cable modem blink all that means is that your cable modem "Sees" the traffic from other users going to the server or router. So dont worry about that.

The thing to watch for is the link light on your linksys router blinking. Check which port your computer is plugged into and then the corresponding light in the front of hte linksys router. If taht light is not blinking then there is no activity going to your computer.

I am sure you are just fine.. if you have any more worries just post.

[jay-jay]

Got my router working by the way The problem in the end was the mac addresses, the default mac address that was entered was not working so we switched to clone my brothers mac address and 'hey presto' its working.

[LPDad]

Thanks for the Report back! hopefully you will help someone else with that.