I am currently trying to upgrade to a new router and am running into a strange problem I can’t figure out the cause of.
The old wireless router is a Netgear MR814 which works just fine but has older WEP security, so we’re upgrading to a faster Linksys WRT610N. I have a Gateway (dual-core Pentium D processor) running Windows XP(MCE) SP2, plugged into the router, not wireless. The computer detects the router and is able to set up the home network settings, but is unable to verify my DSL connection automatically, nor can it verify it when I manually choose from its suggested list of settings (DSL, PPPoE.)
The connection is AT&T Yahoo high speed internet. The modem is a few years old, so I’m thinking there might be a compatibility problem with the new router.
Where it gets weird is that when I plug the modem directly into my computer’s ethernet port, as the Linksys troubleshooting guide suggests, I get a message that I have “limited or no connectivity.” Supposedly this means there’s something wrong with the modem and I’m supposed to contact my ISP at this point. I’ve clicked on “Repair my connection” and the error says it cannot receive an IP address.
However, my internet connection works fine when I run it through the old Netgear router (obviously, as I’m able to post this right now.) Is this a normal thing to have happen?
To sum up:
DSL Modem -> New Router -> Computer = does not connect
DSL Modem -> Computer = does not connect
DSL Modem -> Old Router -> Computer = connects
Might there be some manual setting on my computer that I don’t know about, that would prevent my computer from connecting through my modem without a router, and might also prevent it from connecting through a new router?
I haven’t seen a point in trying the wireless connection for the other computer yet.
Have you tried a hard reset? It’s usually a little pin you can poke with a paperclip or mechanical pencil. Press it and hold it down for a few seconds, then go into the modem configuration page to re-enter your username/password. When you can connect with just your computer plugged into the modem, then you need to worry about a router. One step at a time.
My guess is that your setup is like mine, in that the modem is essentially a gateway (bridged PPPoE) and the router does all the dialing and routing. In that case, you’ll need to change the modem to Bridged PPPoE in the modem config page, and in the router configuration page you’ll need to enter connection information.
Every single network device has what is called a MAC or hardware address. It’s a 12-character hexidecimal number that is unique to every piece of hardware in existence. On all TCP/IP networks, an IP address is simply an assignment to an MAC address. The conditions of this assignment, when the provider is using DHCP to issue IP addresses via cable/DSL modems, are unpredictable, and what I’ve found is that most cable/DSL modems won’t automatically seek a new IP address assignment. Instead, what you have, is an IP address assigned to a MAC address that is no longer connected to the modem. Since the modem’s too stupid to say, “Oh, I’ve got a new MAC address plugged in, I should get a new IP address.” you normally have to reset the modem by unplugging it, waiting a few minutes and plugging it back it. This will force the modem to request a new IP address that will line up with the current MAC address on the now plugged in device.
Unfortunately modems require this sort of reset whenever you change what’s plugged into it.
I should have mentioned in the op that I have indeed made sure to unplug the modem, reboot after swapping equipment, etc. I have been somewhat reluctant to do a hard reset on the modem itself as Panda suggested because I haven’t wanted to risk borking my internet connection entirely, but I think that’s where I am in the process.
The bridged PPPoE suggestion makes sense. As I read more about my modem model and look at my router config page I’m pretty sure this is the issue. As it is though it’s time to make dinner and hell, I’ve got a functioning internet for the moment so I’ll be OK putting this off till tomorrow. I’ll post back and let you know if it works.
I wouldn’t stress over it, your “connection information” is almost certainly your ISP-supplied e-mail address and password, both of which you can easily get from techsupport if you lost them. I’ve done this dance twice in the last year.
Well, the hard reset of the modem didn’t change anything.
However, I did finally resolve the problem by disabling the old connection under Network Connections and creating a new one with the modem plugged directly into the computer, which did allow me internet access. From that point I was able to hook up the new router with only one minor glitch - the Linksys software was once again telling me it couldn’t find an internet connection, though the Windows Network Connections page disagreed and I was at the time merrily loading up web pages through the new router with no problems.
Stupid Linksys.
Anyway, this computer’s online, the wireless computer’s online now, and all seems well. Thanks for the replies.
Please be aware that your computer may have “validated” the internet connection PPoE login to the modem; this is why, when you left the modem on and hooked up the linksys router, the connection stayed valid. If you have a power outage and the modem loses power, you may end up in a situation where the modem once again won’t connect until you do this dance again – hooking the modem directly to the computer and logging in, then hooking up the router. The solution to this is to setup the router’s PPoE login info correctly, and the router will just do the magic instead.
Thanks for the warning. I THINK I have it set now properly, as the router’s config page shows the login and (hidden) password, and the connection no longer asks for a login when I open a browser window. I’ll try resetting the modem as an experiment anyway.