IP address/modem/router problems..aah.

[stardusted]

:wave: (thanks in advance for helping me out..yet again)

I'll try to be specific as possible..but keep in mind I'm not the most computer-savy. I have a laptop using windows xp and an old desktop using Windows 98 SE. I also have a LINKSYS wireless router that I've used for the past couple of months w/ comcast...but we never wound up using the wireless card, just plugged both computers into the router. So the other day out of nowhere they both stop working. I tried running the cdrom that came w/ the modem and on both computers it said it couldn't obtain an IP address/communicate w/ the modem. So I reset the router and tried doing it again, installed some windows updates on my laptop, still doesn't work. It won't renew my IP address, but it looks like the modem's connected! Finally, I tried resetting the router to work just w/ my laptop using the wireless card, and surprisingly, it worked but not w/ comcast! Instead I'm mooching off of someone else's barely-working wireless signal.

Do you guys have any advice on what I should do and what's wrong? We called comcast and they weren't helpful at all.

[z1p]

Ok. I'm going to start with that basic steps that your ISP would tell you. Power down the PCs, router and modem. Wait 30-40 secs. Power up the modem, router, and PCs in that order.

Did that work? No, pick a PC that's not working. run "cmd/k ipconfig/all" and post the output back here. It will give us an idea of what's failing. Also, don't forget to check the indicator lights on the modem and router to seem if either are indicating there is a problem.

[stardusted]

comcast actually came by our house today and said that it was the ethernet card that's broken (on the older desktop, we installed it ourselves) and that would effect whether or not I could connect directly to the internet through my laptop. this doesn't really make sense to me. he was also able to connect through the internet through the usb port.

so should I still try running the program you guys suggested and post? or should I get a new ethernet card/reinstall it on my old computer?

[z1p]

if it is the network card on the desktop causing the problem, then you should be able to connect the modem to the router, the router to the desktop and that should work. Does it? Does your modem provide an ethernet and a USB connection?