Network adapter problems - help really needed!!

[debby.s]

Hi All,

  I hope someone can help me with this problem!

Last week a friend asked if I could have a look at his sisters computer as it was virused up. I found 169 infected files, cleaned them up and sent it back. Today they called me and said they hadn't been able to get on line since getting it back so tonight I went round to have a look. The computer was saying local connection only and was issuing a 169. ip address. So I tried netsh ip reset but that didn't help, I tried ip release and ip renew, still no good so I have brought the computer home with me thinking maybe it was a winsock problem and that i could grab a patch for it and mend it.

  However, on getting the comp home it is saying unable to find any wireless networks. When I do a diagnosis it tells me there is no wireless network adapter installed.  Can anyone tell me why or what has happened to it? Am I right in thinking it should pick up the  connection in my house as well as their own (two other laptops in the house are working fine wirelessly).

  (Also running on the computer is a belkin wireless network utility - i am unfamiliar with this so don't know if this is what was enabling the wireless connection at my friends house or if this is irrelevent).

Any help would be great - they want it back tomorrow!! :/

Thanks,

Debby.

[dahlarbear]

0.  Return the computer and wish them luck...

1.  No wireless network adaptor:
     a.  Is the network adaptor built-in or added on?
          (1)  If laptop and built-in, there may be external switch on case or function key to enable/disable the adaptor.
     b.  Does "Device Manager" (Windows operating system?) recognize and correctly identify the wireless network adaptor (or are there "yellow" unknown or other devices listed)?
     c.  If Device Manager correctly identifies it, how does it list its "status"?

2.  TCP/IP Properties Windows.  If there's a "Network Connection" for the adaptor, is the TCP/IP Properties configured to "Obtain an IP address automatically"?

3.  Wireless Router.
     a.  Is the "wireless" router or access point configured with a local DHCP server to assign TCP/IP configuration parameters automatically to its client computers?
     b.  Is your wireless router broadcasting its Service Set Identifer (SSID), so the laptop knows your network is available?  Normally, for security, you would not broadcast this.

[debby.s]

Hiya,

  Thank you for your reply.  I have decided not to concentrate on the wireless side of things and have plugged the ethernet cable straight into the computer (it's a desktop tower, not laptop) but the connection says 'Identifying - Access - limited connectivity' or 'Unidentified Network - Local Only'.

When I click 'connect to a network' it shows only one called 'Broadband Connection PPPoE Connection' but I don't know what this is, it doesn't show the modem that I have plugged it into. The modem works fine when I plug my own laptop in so I know it is working fine.  There is a constant 169. ip address but I can't work it out why it won't release. I've tried everything you suggested apart from giving it back and wishing them luck.. oh I wish I could..lol

In Device Manager it shows a NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet. No explaination marks or anything. It says its working properly. When I look at the Local Area Connection status listed under Connection it says  IPv4 Connectivity: Local IPv6 Conncectivity: Limited. Media State: Enabled.  When I looked at the IPv4 and IPv6 properties it says Obtain an address automatically. Obtain DNS Server address automatically.


Hope that helps!

Thank you!

Debby.

[dahlarbear]

1.  The "Plan" for the "visiting" desktop computer:
     a.  Get the "wired" network adaptor connecting first (to internet?).
     b.  Get "wireless" network adaptor connecting second (to internet?).

2.  Your network configuration.  What is your "test" environment?
     a.  What type of "broadband" connection (Internet) do you have?
          (1)  Cable
          (2)  DSL
     b.  Is there a "home" router between modem and your Local Area Network (LAN)?
     c.  If so, how does home router interface to modem?
          (1)  Automatic Configuration - DHCP
          (2)  Static IP
          (3)  PPPoE  (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet)
          (4)  PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol)
          (5)  L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
          (6)  Telstra Cable
     d.  If so, is DHCP Server "enabled" within home router to provide IP address, subnet mask, default gateway address, and DNS server addresses to the client computers on your LAN?

3.  Broadband Connection PPPoE Connection.  This may be for a DSL Internet connection.  It probably "stores" a "user name" and "password" so they don't have to enter them manually everytime they need an Internet connection.

I think you need to create a "new" connection that's appropriate for your network configuration, broadband connection type, and ISP connection requirements.  Use the "New Connection Wizard" to do this.  If I know what the path is from computer to internet, I may be able to help; e.g. computer -> home router -> cable/DSL modem or computer -> cable/DSL modem.

I don't think you need to delete the "old" connection to do this.  (Do you think the owner knows what "user name" and "password" is stored in that connection?)

4.  Automatic Private IP Adressing (APIPA).  I don't believe you can "release" and "renew" an APIPA address (e.g. 169.254.x.x).  I think you need to reboot to get a new address.  An APIPA address is assigned when the computer is configured to get an IP address automatically but is unable to find a DHCP server or the DHCP server is unable to provide an address.

[debby.s]

Thank you for your reply. I think I understand most of what you said

1. That's the plan!
2. Cable.
b. No, I'm plugging the modem directly into the computer. (It works fine when I plug my laptop into the modem).
3. If I try to set up a new connection for my network, I get to the bit that says 'Do you want to use a connection that you already have?' It gives the option to choose the existing connection (PPPoE) or create a new one. When I choose create a new connection it only gives me the option of a broadband PPPoE. Then if I enter the usual password for my connection it fails. If I click to diagnose the problem  it says windows did not find any problems with this computers network connection. 
4. No matter how much I reboot, the 169. ip stays. I've had 169. problems before (not with this computer) and have repaired it with a winsock fix but it hasn't worked this time.

I'm thinking of restoring the computer to it's factory settings, theres a file in the comp to do this. Do you know, if I do this, drivers and vitals will all be there, won't they? Do you think this would rectify the problem? I'd rather get this done quick, I want it gone so I can get on with sorting out life

Thanks for your help. It's much appreciated.

Debby.

[debby.s]

If it means anything, I started the computer in safe mode with networking.  this time it found my connection but called it unidentified connection but instead of the PPPoE thing it says local area connection. So may be there is a program at start up thats stopping it?  Could it be the belkin connection utility that opens at start up?  When I tried to renew the ip just now, it said 'An error occured while renewing interface local area connection: Unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out. So although I can get the local area connection in safemode I've still got the problem with the 169. ip

Thanks.

Debby.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Cable Modem.
     a.  Is this just a modem?  Or does it include other functionality (router, wireless access point, switch that permits you to setup home network)?
     b.  So, you have NO home router/switch for a home network?
     c.  Is there another computer (other than the one you normally use) that connects to internet successfully while directly connected to modem?
     d.  Is there a "configuration" page you may access within modem to configure it?

2.  Broadband Connection Interface.
     a.  Did your ISP provide you with a "CD" to configure either your computer or modem for internet access?
     b.  Interface required by ISP:
          (1)  Does your ISP use "Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) connection type?  Or do they use "Automatic Configuration - DHCP", "Static IP", or something else?  You might need to call them or check their web site for instructions on how to setup a connection.
          (2)  Do you need to enter "password" and/or "user name" to connect?
          (3)  Is "password" and/or "user name" permanently stored in your modem, your defined computer "connection" or do you have to enter it everytime you boot your computer and want to connect?
          (4)  Does your ISP record the network adaptor MAC address of the computer used to first establish the connection/account?  If so, then another computer with different MAC address for their network interface card will not be able to successfully connect (unless you clone the MAC address on record with the ISP).

3.  Operating System.  Which operating system(s) are you working with?

4.  Compare Configurations.  What's different between your computer and their computer?
     a.  Does "Network Connections" page look the same both on your computer and the "visiting" computer?
     b.  Are the "Properties" for the configured connections the same?

5.  Factory Settings.  Do they care about the "data" on the hard drive (or has it been backed up).  I'm not sure whether you want to reset the system BIOS or the computer software to "factory settings".  I'd recommend that you not do either one at this point.  I don't think the BIOS is the issue and restoration programs are different for each vendor.  Depending upon the vendor and program it may:
     a.  Restore the operating system and disk to state it was "shipped".  This would wipe all user and system changes since that date (no operating system updates, no user applications, no user data).
     b.  Or it might offer more useful restoration options (like preserve user data).
     c.  Or the restoration program may fail, leaving you with no system at all.
     d.  Do you have the OEM restore/recovery discs or is there a restore/recovery partition on the hard drive?

6.  Test LAN connection.  You could attempt to test their TCP/IP configuration and network interface card by cabling their computer directly to one of yours.  Normally you would use a "crossover" ethernet cable to do this, but some network interface cards are smart enough to compensate so you might be able to use a "straight" (normal) ethernet cable.  Statically assign compatible TCP/IP parameters to each computer and define a local area connection for each.  Configure both with "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks".  Then see if they can "ping" each other and see each others "shared" files.  This is a little involved.  So if this is not familiar to you, you may not want to get into it.  But if you cable them together with "crossover" cable, and statically assign compatible IP address and subnet; they should be able to "ping" each other.

[debby.s]

Hiya,

 
Thank you for your continued help


1.
a. Yes it's connected to just the broadband modem via ethernet cable.
b. I do have a home router but i've took that out of the connection I have - when I tried connecting with the router I get the same problem.
c. Yes, other computers connect fine with the same ethernet cable.
d. Not that I know of.


2.
a. no.
b. 1. Automatic configuration - DHCP
   2. Usually yes, but with the problem computer no, because its not recognising the network.
   3.stored
   4. Not sure I understand this. All I can say is that when I have brought other computers in the house in the past, they have connected to my modem with an ethernet cable without any problems.
   


3. Vista Home premium


4
   a. Yes both have lan or high speed internet sections with Local Area Connection.
   b. yes, pretty much so apart from the ptoblem computer connects using NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, the other connects using Marvell Yukon Fast Ethernet Controller.

5. There is a back up files option in recovery.

6. Skip


Thank you

Debby.

[debby.s]

**Added note**

When I just did an ipconfig /release  it says An error occured while releasing interface Local Area Connection : An address has not yet been associated with the network endpoint.

Just in case it means something!


Debby.

[oldun]

You might try reseating and/or replacing the NIC. It might not be properly plugged in or may be faulty.

Worth a try?

[debby.s]

Hiya,

  Thank you for the suggestion. I opened the computer and rather than a nic card it has a circuit board.  Not quite sure what I was suposed to be looking at but I checked everything was pugged in tightly and did the tower back up. Still the same problem. Unidentified Network - Local only. 169. ip address   I did a diagnosis and it said 'No wireless network adapter installed and configured' (even though i'm trying to connect with an ethernet cable). so does this mean the network adapter is faulty?

Debby

[dahlarbear]

1.  What level of "Vista Home premium"; e.g. RTM, SP1?

2.  Security Software.  What security software are they running on that "Vista" box.  You might want to "disable" it (or uninstall it, but only if you can reinstall it again).  May be able to use "msconfig" from Vista to do this.

3.  Network Connections.  If you're going to troubleshoot on your network with your ISP (which may require different interface than theirs), I'd uninstall, disable, and remove their network configuration including "defined" network connections (and possibly network adaptors) and redo it fresh for your test environment.  (No, I'm not suggesting a restore/recovery of their operating system - not yet, at any rate).
     a.  Don't reinstall their "wireless" network adaptor if you're testing with "wired" adaptor.  Keep the problem domain small.
     b.  Disable startup of "belkin wireless network utility".  Think you may do this in Vista from "msconfig" utility.

4.  Home Router.  Connect "visiting" computer to home router, that way you may configure it to connect same way as any other "Vista" home computer you may have.  Also gives web interface (home router web configuration interface) on local area network to "ping" or connect to using "http" protocol; e.g. "http//192.168.1.1" or whatever IP address you've configured your home router to use.

5.  Software Firewall.  I'd disable any software firewalls they might have running while you're troubleshooting network connections.  If they are behind your "home router" which has "firmware" firewall, it should be safe.  If this concerns you, disconnect router from modem while testing your LAN connections.

6.  Use "ping" from "visiting" computer through home router to Internet.  Record the results:
     a.  ping 127.0.0.1                                ;  Test IPv4 TCP/IP protocol stack.
     b.  ping <visiting_computer_ip_address>  ; even if it's in APIPA range "169.254.x.x".
     c.  ping <home_router_ip_address>   ;  should be your "default gateway" address.
     d.  ping <another_LAN_computer>
     e.  ping <69.72.169.241>                    ; computerhope website
     f.  ping <www.computerhope.com>    ; computerhope website

7.  Some links for information only.  I don't have experience with "Vista", so I'm trying to get a handle on the "networking" changes.
     a.  Resolution of   Vista Unidentified Network or Limited Connectivity
     b.  Vista Issues
     c.  Vista How to
     d.  Unidentified Network Issue In Microsoft Windows Vista or "Local Only"

[debby.s]

dahlarbear, you are my hero  thank you so so so much for putting the links up for me! I began reading through them and came across a link to a norton removal tool. I knew norton was on this computer and had been stopping it in task manager (I thought that would be enough) but I ran the tool and it connected! Instantly! I've always hated norton  and now I have another reason to add to my list!!

Once again, thank you so much for your help and time.. you're the best!!   

Happy holidays!!

Debby