Member Avatar for goldburg

I have got two Pcs, a Dell & a HP. I have also got two modems, TalkTalk (D-Link DSL-2680) and BT Home Hub 2. Both Pcs are never powered on at same time. The TalkTalk modem works with both Pcs and I can connect to the internet without any problem which ever Pc I am using. But BT modem will only connect to internet on the HP and will not work with Dell. I tried to reset the modem without any joy then rebooted the modem, unplugging the dsl and Ethernet cables and then connecting the dsl cable only and waiting until the broadband light is steady blue on the BT modem then connecting the Ethernet cable again but it will not connect to the internet. First a message will appear to say “A network cable is unplugged” then the Pc will try to connect again and again without any luck.

I have checked the TCP/IP settings and on both computers these are set to “obtain an IP address automatically”. My problem is that Dell is my main PC (HP is only a spare one and used very rarely) and I want to use Dell with BT modem as this modem has got a phone connected to it.

I read on google that Mcaffee could be a cause of this problem and have tried to uninstall it but it still does not work for me.

P.S. The WiFi works fine and we are able to connect our phones and tablet even when BT modem is connected to the Dell and it is only the wired connection which does not work between Dell & BT modem.

Thanks for your help!

Riz

Edited by goldburg
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Brief summary and likely causes drawn from the thread: the BT Home Hub 2 provides working internet and Wi‑Fi to other devices, the Dell works with the TalkTalk modem, and safe mode and an attempted McAfee removal did not fix the Dell (, , ). That pattern points to three broad possibilities: a physical/link-layer mismatch between the Dell NIC and the Hub (cabling, port), a DHCP/MAC/ACL problem on the Hub that selectively blocks the Dell, or a persistent Windows networking stack/filter-driver issue left after antivirus removal.

Physical checks first (fast and non-destructive): verify the Ethernet is plugged into a LAN port (not DSL/telephone or the Hub WAN port) and check the link LEDs on both the Hub and the Dell NIC. Try the exact cable and Hub port that work with the HP, and try every LAN port on the Hub. Some older NICs and cables behave differently when a crossover vs straight "patch" cable is used (); swapping the cable will quickly rule that out. Also disable NIC power-saving in Device Manager so the port does not go to sleep.

Quick Windows diagnostics to run on the Dell (open a Command Prompt as admin):

ipconfig /all
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

If ipconfig /all shows an APIPA address (169.254.x.x) the adapter is not getting DHCP from the Hub. If a static address on the Hub subnet gets you online, the problem is DHCP/Hub-side. If the commands and driver reinstalls don’t help, boot a Linux live USB or use a USB Ethernet adapter: if Linux or the USB adapter gets a DHCP address, Windows is at fault; if not, it’s the Hub/NIC/hardware.

Hub-side checks: log into the Home Hub admin, check the DHCP lease table and any MAC filtering or device white‑lists, and remove any reserved/blocked entries for the Dell MAC. As a last resort, backup Hub settings (and note the phone settings) and factory-reset the Hub.

Prioritized checklist: swap cable/port, run the ipconfig/netsh steps, test with Linux or USB NIC, inspect Hub DHCP/MAC table, consider factory-reset only after backing up settings.

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Member Avatar for ss125

In that case, Your ethernet port definition may be monitered by the antivirus program but due to improper un-installation it may be blocked.So check whether any environmental variables of your antivirus in there in your registry,if so remove it.If Still it doesnt works,try to reinstall the ethernet driver.

If it does not work, repair your operating system for better results.

Hope this helps u.

Have a happie computing. :-D

Member Avatar for goldburg

Thanks for your response. i will check all that will come back with the result (it may be a while before i can find some time to spend on the computer :( )

Member Avatar for Rik_

Boot the dell into safemode with networking and see if it is able to connect. If you don't know how to boot to safemode then ask google and you will find plenty of instructions.

Member Avatar for asre

Thanks Rik, i have now checked but the dell will not connect to internet even in safe mode with networking :( . Any other thoughts?

Member Avatar for goldburg

Thanks Rik, i have now checked but the dell will not connect to internet even in safe mode with networking :( . Any other thoughts?

Member Avatar for rubberman

Some modems will auto-adapt to the cable configuration. Others won't. I think that for the BT modem you need what is called a patch cable. It has to do with how the wires are cross-connected.

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