Connection Problem, please help

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 9:34 am

I have 3 computers in my household, each having its own IP addresses, running through 1 router and cable modem. All used to work well until one day when computer "B", which is not the primary computer, started making the modem continuously recent. I unplugged computer "B" from router and computers "A" and "C" connect fine. If I unplug computers "A" and "C" from router and plug in "B", computer "B" connects fine.

Cable company was no help because computer "B" is not primary.

I tried changing and switching everything to narrow down the problem; cables, ethernet adapters, ports on router etc. Everything seems to work fine as long as "B" is not connected when "A" and "C" are, and visa versa. All equipment seems to be working fine.

I suspect a problem in the setup of computer "B", but can't find it. I've reinstalled all the drivers and network settings, and still nothing.

I know I must be missing something, the setup used to work properly and great......

Please help.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 4:10 pm

Sounds almost as though you have an ip conflict - what other protcols/services do you installed other than TCP/IP?

Skye

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 4:24 pm

no other services.....just tcp/ip. It even happens if the computer is turned off, but if I disconnect the wire from the computer it's fine.
Please help

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 5:52 pm

If it happens with the computer off, it is likely to be a problem with the electricity. You may have a bad ground, bad outlet strip, etc. I'd run it down pretty quick as it may also result in fire hazard or risk of electrical shock.

Kip

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Jan 08, 2002 7:25 am

That is something I hadn't considered.

Thank You

I'll get started right away.

MeJayne · Post by **MeJayne** » Wed Jan 09, 2002 3:31 pm

What about if you have "A" and "B" and not "C" plugged in? If they work, maybe you're isp is limiting you to 2 ips

eddiec · Post by **eddiec** » Wed Jan 09, 2002 4:00 pm

Do you have the B card set to Auto-negotiate? If so, try using half-duplex. It may be causing collision detect to screw with the other NICs.

boucca7 · Post by **boucca7** » Wed Jan 09, 2002 9:16 pm

Are you using DHCP off the router? Did you recycle the router? Reset DHCP pool?

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 12:26 pm

In the electrical outlet of computer "B", I ran a jumper wire from the green ground screw to the screws with the white wires rebooted everything, and it all started working fine. Obviously I have a ground problem somewhere in the line but this bandaid will do fine until I track it down.

thanks guys

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 2:11 pm

Not a good idea.
You would be better off running that jumper wire to a good ground on a different outlet. If you get a power surge or you have to reset the circuit breaker/ fuse, you could cause damage to the components. The white wire is a Neutral wire, not a ground. The neutral carries juice in an AC circuit when the circuit is completed. The jumper you have now is potentially "hot".

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Mon Jan 14, 2002 12:14 pm

I thought the white wire carried electricity too, so I contacted my father-in-law, who is an electrician, an he gave me the idea based on the fact that in the breaker box, all the white wires get tied into the bare ground wires using the ground bars anyway.

is this wrong??

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Mon Jan 14, 2002 2:01 pm

You bet it is!

Sorry to be abrupt, but I earned my way through engineering school doiong electrical fire repairs.

You can end up with all kinds of undesired current through your connection. Get a real ground on there ASAP, please, before something/somebody gets hurt.

Kip

BlackSword · Post by **BlackSword** » Mon Jan 14, 2002 4:28 pm

Kip and TonyT are correct.

Additionally people end up dead because they think the white wire is either safe/has no current/ or whatever. NOT correct, as TonyT stated, when the circuit is complete it is HOT, meaning there is current flowing.

AND YES people do tie neutral to ground but that does not make it right or safe.

I just don't want to see anyone get hurt

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Jan 15, 2002 6:49 am

In the breaker box, what are the white wires supposed to be connected too??

I have a ground from outside tied into the household ground wires and the white wires.

BlackSword · Post by **BlackSword** » Tue Jan 15, 2002 11:26 am

Originally posted by Storm
In the breaker box, what are the white wires supposed to be connected too??

You should have a HOT(black wire) and Neutral(white wire) and a ground(green wire) coming in from your electrical service. The Neutral in your house should be connected to the Neutral provided by them.

I don’t want to get into detail so I will try and explain this briefly.

If your Electrical service provider is providing you a HOT, Neutral and Ground THEN, THEY will have the Neutral and ground tied together at the TRANSFORMER. If you tie the neutral and ground together in your house then you just created a LOOP that will introduce Noise.

Now if your Electrical service provider is only providing you a HOT and Neutral then you have to supply your own ground, and you do not tie their Neutral to your ground.

I would recommend calling someone qualified to come and fix you up.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Wed Jan 16, 2002 4:08 am

That sounds like the best idea yet.

cause apparently I'm over my head with this one.

Thank you all very much for all the responses.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 3:29 pm

99.9% of the electrical services have NO ground connection supplied by the power company. They supply 2 hots and a Neutral which acts as a ground at the panel ONLY! Under Most codes The ground connection requires a water pipe ground and 2 eight foot ground rods driven in the ground outside. Yes in your "Main"panel the neutral and grounds are tied together ...BUT ONLY THERE! To jump this connection at a receptacle is ok for a quick test to let you know whats missing but its Very unsafe and could potentially be a fire hazard.
Registered Electrician for 20 years

Rainbow

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May the force be with you

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