Router problems....

[Shalashaska]

We got a new computer awhile ago, and since then we've had internet problems. The only things changed about it are we use Vista now and that the internet connects with Ethernet. We had a Buffalo router:
http://www.buffalo-technology.com/products/wireless/wireless-g-125-high-speed/wireless-g-125-high-speed-broadband-router-and-access-point/

This didn't work afterwards, and when my brother examined it he said it wasn't Vista compatible, as we used Xp before. My other brother bought a new router, this one:
http://www.sweex.com/producten.php?sectie&item=80&artikel=892&detail= with a usb thing that you put in the back, which is supposed to be the difference.

This doesn't work either, according to him.
While there, I mentioned to the shop chap at The Laptop Shop that my techy brother said the reason for the old router not working was because of Vista. He (quiet rudely) said that they had nothing to do with eachother, then went back to tryinf to make router sound like gold.
He paid 85 eurofor this router. Any help?

[Lewiji]

I've never heard of a router being non-compatible with vista, in fact a usb connected router is probably more likely to be non-compatible, but I could be wrong.

Unfortunately with a non-specific problem like this it's very hard to diagnose. By internet problems you mean...?

If it can't connect to the network at all, it could be that your router has to be paired with particular MAC addresses (the address of your network adapter) through your router's control panel. This will usually be at 192.168.11.1 with your buffalo router. By default the username is root and you can leave the password blank. Then have a poke around but don't change anything - if you can see any settings about mac pairing then it's likely that's your problem.

[Shalashaska]

Wait, I jsut remembered that when we called up a Internet tech support lad he told us that our Netopia software wasn't compatible with Vista. It worked alright-ish so we jsut forgot about it. I suppose that might affect it?

[da-geezer]

As Lewiji said; it's not as if there are drivers that are compatible with a single operating system. The firmware on the router is all the drivers it needs, and the ethernet or wi-fi connection operates to universal standards so there really shouldn't be a problem with any software.

To see if it's just the internet connectivity that's knackered rather than the LAN connection, go Start, Run, and type in cmd; and at the command line type ipconfig. I may be talking out of my ring here as I'm not sure Vista has a command line interface.

Assuming it has, you should see something similar to the following:


Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.4
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1


The key thing to look forward to is an address assigned to the Default Gateway. If there is one, then it's time to look at your router settings as something's clearly not letting the router sync. if it doesn't, then you've opened up a whole world of hurt.

Also, your brother sounds like a fob-off superstar. Does he work for PC World?

[piemastermike]

to find run in vista, open start and just type "Run" in the search box at the bottom of the start menu

You could have issues with the software you're using (netopia?) being incompatible with vista, however that usually just means that it is not "officially" supported by the company that made it. I am willing to bet this isn't anything to do with that though.

[Shalashaska]

^That box is "run". The tech guy told us to type in ipconfig, and all you get is a load of messages saying that the ethernet and LAN are disconnected.

[piemastermike]

in that case, check that the ethernet cable from your router to your PC is connected and check the network adaptor is enabled.

[Shalashaska]

...whats a network adapter?

[piemastermike]

where you plug the cable in.

Start>>Netowork>>Network and Sharing Centre>>Manage Network Connections

make sure the one you've got the ethernet cable that goes to the router plugged into is turned on.

[doctor_fruitbat]

If you're using third-party software to connect to the router, then try using Vista's built-in software instead and see what happens; uninstall the Netopia software if necessary. If you're connecting via an ethernet cable, then as long as the router is configured properly you should be able to just connect. You really shouldn't need additional software just to connect your PC to a router, especially if it isn't wireless.

[Shalashaska]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d116/snake10/Screenshot-1.jpg

Here, some boxes weren't ticked, so I thought that was what was blocking my brothers laptop? The top one definatley wasn't, and one of the bottom ones wasn't.

[piemastermike]

can you please explain exactly what your problem is. Starting from the beginning and telling us all the symptoms, when they started and the exact setup of all the routers and computers in your house.

[Shalashaska]

Well, it's in the first post, but there seems to be a "DNS error" for the PS3. The main problem is that the router is connecting to the internet, but it won't connect with the laptop or my PS3. Everything else is in the topic.

[da-geezer]

I appreciate that you're trying to troubleshoot your own problem, but ticking boxes here there and everywhere generally presents a large security risk. In your screenshot, the top checkbox only applies if you don't have a router and you're using your PC as a gateway device (i.e. every other computer uses your computer to get a connection to the internet rather than using a router); the second box would see you incur a couple of hundred euro's worth of phone bill had you had a line connected to your modem, and I can't think of many times on a home network when the last box needs checking. Furthermore, all three are irrelevant to your query if you are trying to use a router to connect to the internet.

The reason mike queried your situation is because the first post tells us very very little about what you're actually trying to do and the forms of error that you're coming up against. A DNS error could mean any number of things; in short the device that's trying to connect can't establish a connection to your ISP's or a third party domain name server. Unfortunately this tends to be your bog standard error, it doesn't tell you much about where your error is located; be it at your exchange, in your local loop, in your in-house wiring, at your router, in your network connection, or in your PC setup. There's far too many variables at this point to consider. Try being more specific.

[Shalashaska]

Unfortunatley, I don't know anyting beyond that it's a DSN error. I've sent a tech support question to Netopia and am waiting for that, but the only other things that aren't here are it used to be always on, now we have to connect it, and it used to work as a USB, but it doesn't anymore so I'm using Ethernet to do this. I don't know how thats working either, as the ethernet cable is pluged into the router.

[Steak]

If it's working with the ethernet cable plugged in, why do you want to use usb instead?

[Shalashaska]

I don't want to, I just meant that it worked fine with the old computer when we used USB.

[piemastermike]

so what is the problem if it's working?

[Shalashaska]

It's router problems, in the fac that I have internet on the main computer that I'm using now, but the PS3 and the laptop can't conect to the router to give them internet.

[da-geezer]

This is confusing as hell.

Draw a diagram to show how your computers and PS3 are connected to the router; noting whether they are connecting via wireless or ethernet connections, showing which devices can and can't connect, and how your router connects to the internet - either directly or by using another device. With all respect, your powers of explanation aren't the best, so a visual representation may be easier.

[Shalashaska]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d116/snake10/Diagram.jpg

Does that help?

Something I forgot, I need to keep doing the "Use Ethernet" thing because otherwise, when I try to connect, it says that it can't open "WAN miniport".

[Steak]

It sounds as if the modem is refusing to allow your router to connect to it. If you fix this then the rest will probably fall into place and you can pretty much ignore the usb nonsense and just use ethernet/wireless.

You may have to clone the MAC address of the computer you initially set-up with the modem onto the router. I know I had to do that when I got Telewest a few years ago.

Connect to the router with ethernet then use a browser to go to the configuration page. The manual will tell you what it is, usually of the form 192.168.xxx.xxx, but the xxx varies between manufacturers.

Have a look at the routers error logs to see where the problem lies as far as it's concerned. If it has a clone MAC option, then give it a shot.

Your modem should also have a config page accessible by browser, it might be worth looking at that as well to see if anything interesting crops up in there.

[Shalashaska]

I think it's that, to make it simpler, the router can only connect to the modem by Ethernet, and the Modem can only connect to the PC by USB. So when I connect the router to the modem, the USb seems to shut off and stop giving Internet to my computer. I don't think this should happen.
Anyway to fix that, and then it'll probabley all fall into place.

[Lewiji]

Your computer shouldn't be connected to the modem. The modem can't make 2 connections, so your problems probably arise because of this. Your modem should connect to your router, which creates a connection, then your router should connect all of your PCs to the modem through its connection to the modem.

In other words, get rid of the USB connection to the modem, and connect an ethernet cable from your PC to the router. You'll then have to go into your router's control panel (consult the manual) and enter in your ADSL username and password.

[Shalashaska]

I see. Thanks.

Okay, that seems to have worked. The router refused to connect with Ethernet, so instead I had to use their special USB hub which connects the router to the PC wirelessly. Unfortunately, this resulted in a slower connection. Is there any way to make the router connect with Ethernet?

Also, it connected to the PSP when I held it right beside it, but it fails to connect tot he PS3.