Computer: Dell Laptop 8500 Inspiron; OS Win XP Pro SP2; NIC Broadcom 440 10/100 integrated controller; Router: Lynk sys WRT54G. Don't know much about Win XP firewalls. Could that be the problem??
Was able to connect to the router and see the entire network; printers and shared files on other computers, but could not get to the internet.
Connected the CAT 5 cable from the cable modem directly to the laptop and could see the internet, but then when connected to the router again, no internet.
Went on a trip and connected laptop in a hotel to the internet, but connection was intermittant.
Back home, when hooked up to the router, nothing. The little green light on the router is not on. I don't think it is the cable because I took the cable connected to another computer and plugged it into the laptop and no connection. Also tried the direct hook up with the cable modem -- no luck.
Win XP diagnostics (Network places, properties, configure) indicate the NIC is working correctly; When I go to the cmd prompt and ping 127.0.1.1 to test the NIC I get 4 pkgs sent and 4 received. When I ping the router 192.168.1.1, I get 4 pkgs sent and 0 received; have done this with two different cables to two different ports with no success. One cable and port work okay with another computer. Didn't turn off the router or reboot the computer. Is that necessary when making those hook up changes?
I deleted the driver for the Broadcom 440 integrated controller and went to reinstall the driver from the Dell CD and discovered the driver for that device was not on the disk. I went back and restored the computer to when the driver was still there. Obviously I can't use this computer and go to the internet to download the driver if that is the problem. Suppose I could use my other computer to download the driver, burn it to a CD and then reinstall, but is that the problem?
If by chance I sound like I know what I'm doing, please don't be fooled.
Anyone with any ideas? I like learning how this stuff works even though I'm 50 years old; keeps me up (ahead?) with my 19-year-old college freshman (engineering student) ...maybe for a short time.
tp135
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