AboutMichael Troy Expertise I have a fair amount of experience in peer-to-peer networking using Windows 95/98. I can answer questions about hardware, networking software, protocol settings, etc. I have some client-server experience, but not a lot with Windows-based servers. I can also give some advice on home network security: VPN, firewalls, anti-virus, etc.
Experience I am the Director of Information Systems for a large law firm which connects about 300 users over five offices via a wide area network. We use client-server, peer-to-peer, WINS, remote access, VPN, DSL Internet, and proxy servers.
I also have a peer-to-peer network of six computers at home, with file and print sharing, remote access, and shared Internet access with a firewall.
Question QUESTION: I have an acer aspire 3620 laptop with windows XP, and a wireless card. I can't connect to the internet. However, when I got a windows updates available message and clicked on it, a connection was apparently made since I downloaded 3 updates including Internet Explorer 8, but when I tried to use IE8 got a page note found message. Trying other sites, I got similar messages. Further checking shows that the computer has no IP address: 0.0.0.0. I tried to repair the connection, and got an endless wait on "repairing IP address". I also got the message that the IP address conflicts with another on the network. I have two desk-top computers connected by cable. The cable is also connected to the netgear wireless router.
So, can you tell me what I can do to resolve this problem?
Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Paul,
It sounds as if the computer is not being assigned an IP address properly. You may want to try restarting your router, then restart your computer and see if that resolves the problem. If that does not work, you may want to try assigning an address manually. If your router uses a default address of 192.168.1.1, you can give yours an address like 192.168.1.XXX (with XXX being some random number between 2 and 254, I recommend something like 99). Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. You will also need to set the DNS server addresses, which you can get from your Internet Service Provider, or if you have another computer that does connect, go to a DOS prompt and type: IPCONFIG /ALL and it will show you the DNS server addresses being used.
If none of that works, it could be that your wireless card has gone bad. You may want to try reinstalling the drivers, or replacing the card.
Good Luck!
- Mike
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QUESTION: Thank you for your help. Still a few questions.
1. Does the IP address refer to the computer or the wireless card?
2. How does one change the IP address and the other items.
Some comments:
The wireless card came from another laptop, and was working OK. I took the failing computer, with the OK wireless card to the local library that has wi-fi service. At the library, I was able to repair the IP address, but still could not get on the internet, even though I had a good internet connection. So, back home, I replaced the wireless card in the other laptop, and to my surprise, could no longer get on the internet, again with a good internet connection. Once again, I repaired the IP address, and after a couple of tries, got on the internet.
Answer The IP address can be set for each card in the computer. Typically a computer will have a Local Area Connection, which is for an ethernet cable, and also a wireless area connection, for the wireless card. If you go into Control Panel, then Network Connections, you should see the connections in your computer. If you go into the properties and then go into the TCP/IP connections, you will be able to set the IP address.
