Windows does not detect my network cable

[Windows ME]

:dizzy: Hi. I am running ME on an Acer laptop. I also have a Livebox broadband internet connection, which works fine on another computer using both the ethernet cable and the wireless connection.
My Acer/ME system does not seem to want to know anything about wireless, which doesn't really surprise me as its a few years old, but when I plug in the network cable it should detect it and I should be able to connect to the internet shouldn't I?
I have tried all the Networking Wizards, Help & Support pages etc and nothing seems to work. I can't even figure out how to test if the ethernet port is working.
Notes:
- Have tested the broadband wired connection on other computers so am satisfied that this is not where the problem lies.
- Have re-installed operating system - no change.
- I can go online via dial-up with no problems at all.
- Tried installing the connection using the CDs that came with the Livebox, but they just say that they are unable to connect, try removing firewall etc (which I've done over again - no success).

Can anyone help me to connect this computer to the internet using a broadband cabled connection? From the very beginning....?
Many thanks

[spunkie1]

i'm very sorry but i have no knowledge on your topic.the only advice i can give is to post your problem as a new topic in the windows me forum or in the internet problems forum.if you do this then it will stick out and be seen by all of the very knowledgable moderators and senior members and regular members who ALL have a lot of knowledge about your problem.there are very many people who will be willing to try to solve your issues and the moderators are the best that i have seen in any forum website.they have a lot of patience and explain things to you in words that are very understandable.the moderators are well trained in their own ways and i am sure that your problem will be fixed here if you post it as a new topic in one of the forums.it is very important that you post it as a new topic. sorry i cant help but this is the only advice i know how to give. i am a newbie and my knowledge is very limmited. good luck and i'm sure you will be up and running soon

[Murray S.]

Howdy and welcome to CTH:

This is the proper forum for your question.. Please, do NOT post your problem on multiple forums as suggested earlier.. They will probably just be closed with a link to this thread !!

Murray

[Murray S.]

Have you gone into Device Manager to see if your ethernet connection is even enabled or installed??

Murray

[Windows ME]

Hi Murray - thanks for the tips. I'll keep to the one forum now.

The ethernet port is listed, and there is no problem shown, but this is the same regardless of whether an active cable is plugged in or not. I thought that when you plug in an active cable, the operating system should detect and respond to its presence passively..? So I'm guessing this is where the problem lies.

How can I check if the port is working properly? This is gonna sound stupid but I can't even find device manager on ME! I know how to get to it on every other OS but on ME; the control panel only has a few itmes listed. Any chance you could take me through it?

Thanks - any help is really appreciated.
Steve

[Murray S.]

right-click My Computer. Choose Properties and the Device Manager tab. Alternatively, you can click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, and the Device Manager tab.

Murray

[Windows ME]

Hi Murray, thanks for the tips on Friday. In device manager, there is no ethernet port listed, but if I go into network adapters, there is a "Intel 8255x-based PCI Ethernet Adapter (10/100)" listed. If I click on it and hit properties it says that the device is working properly.

Also, in device mgr, if I click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" it gives me 4 ports: COM1, printer port and two virtual infrared ports.

The only other thing in device mgr that might be relevant is PCI, which lists a Lucent Soft Modem AMR, but again this is working properly.

What do you think? Does this lot look right, or am I missing something?

Again thanks for any help you can offer.
Steve

[Murray S.]

That all looks like it should.. Next, are you using a CAT5 cable to connect from your broadband modem to yor ethernet plug??

Does your broadband support DCHP or does your ISP require you to install an IP address and DNS server address (should be in your ISP documentation) ??

Murray

[Windows ME]

Cable is definitely CAT5 and it's definitely a DHCP system.

I've tried installing using the CD to avoid any address problems and I get stuck at the point where it says that I have to disable the firewall. I've turned off the antivirus software, and reduced the security level in internet options to low, but I can't find a firewall option anywhere.

Also, I get a message saying that I "already have the maximum number of adaptors installed". Soultion: "disable or unplug these adaptors before continuing"
How do I do that?!?

Cheers again
Steve

[Murray S.]

The firewall issue may be the XP built-in firewall.. That would be in the Security sttings in Control Panel..

The other thing you could try is removing your NIC through Device Manager and then rebooting and let Windows find it again..

Murray

[Windows ME]

I don't have a security settings in my control panel. I have internet options, which is where I decreased the security level for the internet zone.

Sorry, what's the NIC? I can't see anything matching that name in device manager.

And any idea about disabling these "adaptors" it mentioned?

Sorry, I appreciate I'm taking up your time. All help appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

[Murray S.]

Okay.. for some reason I had XP stuck in my mind..

The NIC is your ethernet adapter..

If you remove that, it should also remove all the mentioned adaptors..

Murray

[Windows ME]

OK. Removed, it found it on reboot and installed it oK. No change though...
Next step....?

PS
Just tried running diagnostics on the ethernet adaptor . All passed except "Cable Test" which came back as a fail, but with no advice.

[Murray S.]

All passed except "Cable Test" which came back as a fail, but with no advice.

Have you tried a new cable??

Murray

[Windows ME]

the same cable works on another computer

[Murray S.]

Try a different one anyway!!

Murray

[Windows ME]

Hi Murray. Been away for last week.

Still no luck with the ME problem. The different cable didn't work either. I'd like to go back to the problem I was getting with the Orange installation CD.

Under "Network Checking" it would come up with the following problem:

"You already have the maximum number of adaptors installed"

Possible Cause: You've nearly reached the maximum number of connections Windows 98 or SE can handle. Windows can't handle this number of adaptors.

Possible soultion: Please disable or unplug these adaptors before continuing the installation.

It doesn't give me any other tips. I don't even know what an adaptor is, so I don't know how to unplug or disable one. Can you help here?

Thanks
Steve