Ethernet problem.

ZeroShadow · #1 October 27th, 2005, 08:27 AM

Ok, over a year ago when we decided to get cable internet, the internet guy came over. He tried hooking up our cable modem VIA Ethernet. When he tried, it didn't want to work. He told me that he thinks the drivers aren't installed, he said it didn't want to work on Ethernet so he was going to install it on USB.

So, he installed it on USB and it's been working fine ever since. Well, not really, it lags at times and dissconects every few days. But back to the point. I decided it's time to fix my Ethernet to get higher download speeds. I installed new Drivers that I found on www.dell.com. Everything seemed fine, Ethernet light shows up on the modem, online light is on, but when I check my connection status it says "Acquireing network address" then when I check the IP, it's 0.0.0.0.0.0. After a few minutes, an alert pops up saying "Connection has little or no connectivity" or something like that and my internet doesn't work. When I retry with my USB, it says the SAME thing. I had to unintall the drivers for my internet to work properly via USB again.

What in the world to do? I want Ethernet! When I connect VIA USB it says "12MBS", when I connect VIA Ethernet it says "100MBS", so I can see that Ethernet is faster.

vitaliy · #2 October 27th, 2005, 04:33 PM

well.... there could a problem with ur ethernet port, that same thing happened to my other comp (kinda old) it ouldnt run on ethernet, the problem was with the port

if the IP says 0.0.0.0. just go to "NETWORK CONNECTIONS" and click on the one that connects u to the net click "properties" and then double clicko n "tcp/ip" and set urself an internal ip adress for ur router to direct trafic to ur comp

should something 192.168.1.(2-99) doesnt matter which

after that try going into your router options
open ur browser 192.168.1.1 and try chekin thigns there, maybe some options are set up differantly

**z1p** · #3 October 27th, 2005, 08:14 PM

hi zero and welcome to CTH,

Setting up a static 192.168 IP won't work if you are directly connecting to a modem, which it sounds like is the case.

I'll try helping you out, but first I think you should know that your won't see much or any difference switching to ethernet. You are correct you ethernet card will work at 100 mbs, instead of the 12 mbs you have with a USB connection. However, since your internet connection is at most 3-5 mbs, you aren't going to see any difference. It is not your connection to the modem that is the limiting factor, its your modem's connection to the internet.

You may want to take the approach that "if it ain't broken, don't fix it". Anyway, if you want to pursue switching over to ethernet let me know and I'll help out.

-z1p

ZeroShadow · #4 October 28th, 2005, 03:04 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I am not behind a router, z1p is correct, I'm directly connected to a cable modem. I hear that USB takes up more resources on your PC also, so that could be another reason to switch. And, I wouldn't mind having my USB port open for something else, one is already not working and I need to connect my printer/scanner. So, if you could help me out, I'd appreciate it.

**z1p** · #5 October 28th, 2005, 01:56 PM

OK. THe first think to do is to go to your current network connections and open the properties for your current connection. Then select TCP/IP and open its properties. Check to see if it is configured to get its IP address and DNS server IP automatically or not. If there are IP addresses entered there write them down, you'll need them.

The other thing to check is the ethernet network adaptor. It counds like you have one already, correct? THen go to the device manager and make sure there is no indication of a problem with it (an ! or ?).

ZeroShadow · #6 October 28th, 2005, 09:47 PM

When the drivers are installed, there's no problem with the Ethernet. There's no more yellow "!" by it.

As for the connection, I'm going to have reinstall those drivers and find out if it is suppose to receive an IP address automatically, but I think it does.

**z1p** · #7 October 29th, 2005, 03:52 PM

You wanto check the TCP settings you are using when you are connectted using USB.

ZeroShadow · #8 October 29th, 2005, 07:34 PM

On the USB connection, it's set to automatically obtain an IP and DNS server, but there's no IPs there.

**z1p** · #9 October 30th, 2005, 09:58 PM

Ok. You should be able to set up the network connection for the network card the same way and then connect to the modem using ethernet. Make sure you use a patch cable not a crossover cable.

**degsy** · #10 October 30th, 2005, 11:10 PM

Welcome

When you connect via Ethernet try resetting the modem and restarting the PC.

ZeroShadow · #11 October 31st, 2005, 10:25 PM

But whenever I connect via Ethernet, it uses the same connection "Local Area Connection" to connect, exept it says it's using Ethernet and the speed is 100MB/S, but it never gets an IP address. Are you saying I need to go into the settings and set it to get an IP automatically? I'd think it would already be set since it's using the same connection.

**z1p** · #12 November 1st, 2005, 12:10 AM

Did you try what Degsy suggested (shutting down the modem and PC)? Also, what make and model modem do you have?

ZeroShadow · #13 November 2nd, 2005, 08:08 AM

EDIT: Sorry, I hit reply instead of New Topic.

**z1p** · #14 November 2nd, 2005, 06:21 PM

Are you sure you have a patch cable not a crossover cable?

ZeroShadow · #15 November 3rd, 2005, 01:07 AM

What is the difference? I have a cable modem connecting into my PC VIA USB.