USB works not Ethernet

[Kvin]

Confusing problem, folks.
Originally using OOL with 3Com cable modem via ethernet card included in a newer Dell. Worked fine.
Switched locations, in same town. When I tried to hook up again, no go.
Went through troubleshooting with both Dell and OOL. Of course, Dell said it was the cable, OOL said it was the ethernet card. But everything was checking out. Switched wires, reversed them, all lights on, etc. Just no packets received, although it appeared to be sending out some. Even switched to a Surfboard cable modem. Same problem.
Hooked the USB connection up and it worked great. So I assumed it WAS the darn ethernet card.
Finally replaced the ethernet card, but surprise, surprise, same problem.
USB still working fine (and yes, I did disable it when trying the ethernet card, and vice versa).
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?
Thanks !

[mnosteele52]

Welcome to Speedguide Kvin , hook up your modem via ethernet and open a command prompt - start run and type cmd, then in the DOS box type ipconfig /all - what does it show as your IP address? Is it yours or does it start with 192? In any case then type ipconfig /release then type ipconfig /renew - now see if you can connect. Please post back and let us know, we can troubleshoot further if needed. Once we get you connected properly we can tweak your connection.

[Kvin]

Thanks for the quick reply !
In answer to your questions:
1) at ipconfig/all, first it showed all zeros
2) at ipconfig/release, it showed an IP address starting with 169.
3) at ipconfig/renew, this little message popped up after a minute of disk grinding or so:
"an error occurred while renewing interface local area connection: unable to contact dhcp server, request has timed out"

The mystery continues.

Oh by the way, about 61 packets sent, 0 received.

[mnosteele52]

OK (starting with 169 is what I meant, not 192 sorry). Is the NIC (ethernet card) installed properly? Under the device manager is it showing any errors beside your NIC? Also remember when you type ipconfig commands there HAS to be a space after ipconfig - such as ipconfig /renew. Also are all your TCP/IP settings set according to your ISP? What I mean by that is under your network icon in the control panel the properties under TCP/IP Internet Protocol.

[Kvin]

Man of Steel,
I think my machine may be made of Kryptonite !

The NIC (ethernet card is installed correctly). This is the replacement one. The other had the exact same problem. And I have tried reinstalling, placing in another slot.

I retried the ipconfig with the space. It made no difference except in step one, ipconfig /all now shows the 169 address. Otherwise the same messages (and error message).

The TCP/IP internet protocol is checked in network.

(using xp pro, in case that matters).

Thanks again for you help !

[blebs]

Maybe the cable company doesn't have the modem provisioned correctly? Have they ever asked for the modem MAC or Ethernet Card MAC?

[Kvin]

Forgive my lack of knowledge, but I don't know what a MAC is.
Please educate me.

And, just intuitively, why would the modem work fine with the USB, but not with the ethernet card if the modem's MAC was not provisioned correctly?

[blebs]

MAC=Machine Access Code

It's sort of an address of the piece of hardware that is run from the computer. All ethernet cards have them and so do Cable modems. I could be totally wrong, but when I first got road runner, they used to have to know what the NIC MAC was as part of the configuring.

I don't know which operating system your using, but if you run winipcfg or ipcfg you should see this:



The only other thing I can think of is a bad cable from the NIC to the Modem.

[mnosteele52]

If you have called your ISP and setup things with them then they already know your MAC address. Open your control panel and select the network icon, then right click on your LAN connection, what protocols are installed there?

[Kvin]

Really appreciate all the help !
In reply to some questions.
1) I am using Win XP Pro, when I type winipcfg or ipcfg in the run menu, or at a C:\ prompt, I get an error message.
2) I have replaced cables (one of the first thing the Cable company suggested).
3) When I open my control panel and select the network icon, then right click on my LAN connection( the ethernet card), I assume by "what protocols are installed there" you mean under the properties bar.
The connection uses the following items:
Client for microsoft networks
File and printer sharing for microsoft networks
QoS policies scheduler
Internet protocol (TCP/IP)
All of these are checked.
I hope that is what Man of Steel was referring to, if not, please be kind enough to educate me on what additional info you need.

[mnosteele52]

OK great. If you are a stand alone pc (not networked with any other pc's) then you can and should uninstall all the protocols except for TCP/IP. Then select TCP/IP Internet Protocol - properties and under the general tab make sure it's set to obtain an IP address automatically and obtain DNS server automatically.

Also you aren't connecting it via USB and ethernet at the same time are you? You only need to connect via ethernet.

Make sure your NIC duplex mode is set properly, I'm not sure what OOL supports but try all the settings, here is how:

* Open Control Panel.
* Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections.
* Identify the icon for your cable modem connection: usually Local Area Connection.
* Right-click that icon and select Properties.
* Under the ethernet adapter icon, click the button Configure.
* Click the tab Advanced to bring it to the front:
* In the Property box, the property name to be selected varies according to model of ethernet card. Examples are: Network Link Selection, Media Type, Connection Type, Duplex Mode, or any similarly-named property which can have Values looking like Auto-Negotiation, or 10BT, or 10BaseT.
* In the Value box, select a value which either (a) explicitly says half-duplex or semi-duplex, or (b) at least does not say full-duplex [e.g. 10BaseT on its own is OK]. If there is a choice between 10 and 100 with half-duplex, choose the 10. Do not choose 10Base5, 10Base2, or AUI.
* Click OK to exit the Adapter settings.
* Click OK to exit the Connection properties.

[Kvin]

Howdy Man of Steel,
Heres the status:
1) unchecked all protocols except TCP/IP Internet Protocol.
2) I am not connected with USB and Ethernet at the same time.
3) As per your instructions, found a Link Speed/Duplex mode area. Switched from "Automode" to 10 half-duplex.

No difference, still not connecting via the ethernet card.

: ?

[mnosteele52]

Now that you have done all of that redo the ipconfig commands, release and renew your IP and see it you can connect.

[therealcableguy]

1.MAC = Media Access Control.It is a permanent, unique hardware address used to indentify a network device(network card,USB,Cable modem).
2.The ip address on your account is associated with the MAC of your USB.Are you rebooting your modem when changing devices?In other words,you are surfing with USB,unplug the modem,connect the cable to your NIC,plug in the modem,when it comes online can you get an ip and surf?
3.If that does not work.I would remove the USB and NIC.Reboot the machine with no network device in it.Start from scratch installing only the network card.
4.Best of luck!

[Kvin]

Well have to especially thank Man of Steel 52 and the real cable guy too, a combo of things seems to have done the trick!

1. Reset the Link Speed/Duplex mode from "Automode" to 10 half-duplex.
2. Unplugged the modem, connect the cable to your NIC, plugged in the modem, let it reset.
3. did ipconfig/renew, got an ip address !
4. able to connect via the ethernet card now !

Thanks so much !
Hope this will help anyone else out there encountering the same problem ( I did see a few others out there in bulletin board land with similar conundrums, but no solutions, until now !)

[Kvin]

Just adding a bump to this, in case anyone else needs it. I have run into the same problem again on a different computer (my dad's, in a different state). Good thing I found my post again!