# No internet without router. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-internet-without-router-why/279891 "2004-12-15T01:00:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-internet-without-router-why/279891/21 "2004-12-15T18:53:48Z")
? Wait, you added a static IP inside Window’s TCP/IP properties window? Or the router? And how could the TCP/IP stack be corupted from an improper windows install? You can reinstall the TCP/IP Stack in 2 minutes. If you added static information in the router this will work until the ISP changes your IP and your computer doesn’t follow. My IP changes once every ~6 months. And port forwarding is pretty straight forward for your Linksys. Unless you’re no longer filtering ports (VERY BAD IDEA). Or you placed the IP in your DMZ? What did you end up doing? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-internet-without-router-why/279891/22 "2004-12-15T19:48:58Z")
> [@badmana](#): > > ? > > Wait, you added a static IP inside Window’s TCP/IP properties window? Or the router? > > And how could the TCP/IP stack be corupted from an improper windows install? You can reinstall the TCP/IP Stack in 2 minutes. > > If you added static information in the router this will work until the ISP changes your IP and your computer doesn’t follow. My IP changes once every ~6 months. > > And port forwarding is pretty straight forward for your Linksys. Unless you’re no longer filtering ports (VERY BAD IDEA). Or you placed the IP in your DMZ? What did you end up doing? I put the number in the TCP/IP properties box of my Local Area Connection properties box in XP. That was it. Specifically, I entered numbers into the: IP Address Subnet Mask Default Gateway Primary DNS Server Alternate DNS Server He later sent me an e-mail explaining how to fix some things, which may explain what he suspects happened. I didn’t re-install Windows - that was his point. I changed the mobo/processor and did nothing to the h/d or OS. Here’s the e-mail: ```auto Reinstall of the TCP/IP protocol to restore Winsock functionality Step 1: Delete registry keys A) Open Regedit from the Run line B) Go to both of the following keys, export each of them, and then delete them: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2 C) Restart the computer NOTE: It is important to restart the computer after deleting the Winsock keys. Doing so causes the XP operating system to recreate shell entries for those two keys. If this is not done, the next step does not work correctly. Step 2: Install TCP/IP on top of itself A) Open the properties window of the network connection B) Click Install C) Click Protocol, then Add D) Click Have Disk E) Type the path to the nettcpip.inf file, for example: c:\windows\inf, and click OK (if you try to click Browse, then browse to the \inf folder, it may not show up in the list). F) You should now see "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" in the list of available protocols. Select it and click OK. G) Restart the computer When the computer reboots you will have functional Winsock keys. NOTE: If the network connection properties contained more than the following three items: Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and TCP/IP, then the additional items may need to be removed in order to restore browsing. If those items are needed they can be reinstalled. The reason for removing them is due to those items placing entries into the Winsock keys and those entries will no longer be there. Side effects and possible problems: This method will restore basic functionality to the Winsock keys, but is not a complete rebuild. On a default install of Windows XP the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2\ParametersProtocol_Cat alog9\Catalog_Entries - will have 11 sub-keys. When applying this method, the Catalog_Entries will only have three sub-keys. However, it works and there does not appear to be any side effects. The missing entries relate back to the: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces key. Also, third-party proxy software or firewalls may need to be reinstalled. I'll be interested in seeing how it all turns out. Good luck to you. ``` He also sent an .exe file that’s supposed to do all that automatically. Does that clear things up any? Because I really don’t understand much of this stuff. BTW - it’s a Linksys model BEFW11S4 router. ---
**Author:** ![odaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e0b2c6/32.png) [@odaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odaran)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-internet-without-router-why/279891/23 "2004-12-15T20:38:07Z")
Just an FYI about my DSL. I searched the support site and found what I was talking about. > **[AT&T Official Site - Unlimited Data Plans, Internet Service, & TV](https://www.att.com/)** > > Shop deals on unlimited data plans, Internet service, and DIRECTV STREAM. Get 24/7 support & manage your account online. Buy the new iPhone 13 from AT&T. > [@](#): > > Please check to see if your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Customer Self-Install. Customer Self-Install is available if you have a telephone line qualified to carry the DSL signal. However, Customer Self-Install is not available if you have: > > an alarm or medical monitoring service on the line where you want SBC Yahoo! DSL > rotary dial or hard-wired phone service on the line where you want SBC Yahoo! DSL > more than six (6) jacks with analog devices attached (such as a fax machine or analog modem) > a PBX, Key System or Hunting service > a Centrex line that terminates on a multi-line jack or as part of a Key System > a Router > Windows 3.1 or UNIX / Linux operating system at this time. Linux operating systems are compatible, but not supported. Color change mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-internet-without-router-why/279891.md?page=1)