Help Internet access problem

[Rubber Bullets]

Hi Guys,

So I finally got my new PC up and running, it was a faulty PSU, now replaced. I built the machine yesterday with no real problems and installed a load of stuff, imported all my e-mail and internet settings etc, and got Steam and all my old games (well except Mass Effect so far) working. I went to bed last night happy.

Today I switched on the PC and it will not connect to the internet. I have been having a few issues with my router recently which has meant that my old PC would occasionally do this, and when I looked into it the router had assigned a wierd IP address. A quick reset of the router would put this right. Iguess I have to do this every 2-3 days.

When my new PC also started up with no access I assumed the same thing had happened, and just reset the router, but this didn't clear the problem. The wierd thing is that I do have network access, I can see files on my NAS and my old PC shared folders, and my old PC can access the internet using a wired connection, hence this post, and my Hero too on wireless.

I'm not really that au fait with Win7 netwoking but I have tried a few things to no avail, I even tried a system restore but no surprisingly that didn't work either.

If it hadn't worked from the start it would have been one thing, but it was perfect yesterday!

Any ideas?

Many thanks

RB

 

[Kryten]

Can I enquire as to what router it is?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

It's a Netgear DG834GT. It worked for years without a fault, but since ADSL it has been a bit funny.

I'm a bit confused though now. I did a bit of a search and found a very similar story elsewhere, and tried disabled and re-enabled my network controller and I got a connection again, but I wandered off to do something else and when I cam back my PC was asleep. On waking I had the same problem again and this time a disable re-enable did nothing.

I tried a it a few more times and then checked the IP address again, and again it was a wierd one, not in the normal range for my router. So a combined reset of router and network device on the new PC did eventually work, but it's a bit of a pain.

I have at least disabled the auto sleep power saver in the hope it might help.

Thank Kryt for your interest.

RB

 

[Jupitus]

Dude - check your network card settings and make sure it's not going into a sleep mode - something like 'wake on activity' or shizzles... I have the same router here - you are wired to it rather than wireless, yeah?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Thanks Jup,

I found 'Allow computer to turn off this device to save power' in the controller properties under power management. I unchecked that box. I've tried to update the drivers, but Windows tells me I've got the best ones.

Yes I'm wired to the router, the new PC has no onboard wireless.

RB

 

[Kryten]

It is quite a popular complaint with those routers, I have one myself (a flashed Sky unit).

If the above power saving fixes don't do anything positive (you should carry them out anyway) then a firmware upgrade may well help.

Either go for the latest official Netgear one:
Answer

However some people have voiced concern over the latest version above for reasons I'm afraid I can't remember, so if it's still more recent, roll back a couple of versions:
Answer

Or if you'd like a little extra functionality (and this is the method I choose), the DGTeam one:
DGTeam - The Custom DG834XX Series Router Firmware Web Site - DG834GT - DGTeam Firmware download

 

[Bob007]

Am under the impression this machine is connection via a wireless access point. If not am way off and you should stop reading now

Whats the wierd IP address ? first 3 octets will do XXX.XXX.XXX.0

Do you have a BT home hub within range ? win 7 can default to an "open" connection even if you didn't add it.

Press Start (round windows logo) and in the box type wireless. Wait for list to populate and click Manage wireless networks. Remove any in there and add a new one with your settings.

Click Start (is it called start anymore ?) and type Power, again wait for list to populate and click Change Power saving settings. Find "Show additional plans" and click on the arrow next to it. Select High performance and click Change Plan Settings. When it opens up you should see Turn of the display and put the computer to sleep, below this is says Change Advanced Power Settings. Click this and a new windows will open. Scroll down to Wireless Adapter Settings and confirm its set to High Performance. Set any other power saving options on/off as you see fit and close all the open windows.

Update post.

 

[Jupitus]

The LAN IP address range to assign is one of the configurable options in the router setup - what have you got set in there?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Bob, I feel really bad, it is a wired connection, but I do appreciate the help, sorry

Kryt, I am currently on V1.02.19 I did upgrade a little while ago, though I see there is a newer version available. Not sure whether to go forwards or back I think maybe I'll go sideways with the alternative you posted. Can't do any harm I suppose

Jup, cheers mate, the router is set to assign IPs in the range 192.168.0.xxx Occasionally it'll throw up IPs that bear no relation to that, I can't quote any straight off, but none of the numbers are the same.

When I switched on this pm I couldn't connect, but the IP was OK and so a disable/re-enable in device manager sorted it. When I get a weird IP I'll write it down next time.
RB

 

[Kryten]

Were any of the alternatives starting 169.* ?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

I honestly can't remember, but I will next time.

I've just upgraded the firmware to the one you pointed to Kryt, but the problem was there again as soon as I reconnected . Still if I'm lucky it might sort out the router a bit.

I have a feeling this may be to do with the network adapter on the mobo, but as far as the PC is concerned the drivers are up to date.#

RB

 

[Kryten]

After all the above work I'd too be looking at other things - of course first thing first - change the cable.

 

[Bob007]

If its wierd then I'd say try a alternative static address schema for testing.

Start (someone tell me if its still start ) and type network and open network and sharing centre. On the new windows click advanced adapter settings. Right click your network card and click properties. In the new pop up windows you should see a list. In there find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) select it and click properties. from this new windows select Alternative Configuration, select User Configuration and add address schema. Should be something like.

IP Address: 192.168.0.200
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 192.168.0.X
dns servers you could try 4.2.2.2 4.2.2.3 - 4.2.2.6 or even use Open Dns's dns servers.
Default gateway X = the last number used by router. If you conenct to router at 192.168.0 1 then X = 1, others you connect at 192.168.0.254 so in this case X= 254.
Static IP at 200 as it is a high number so less likely to be in use.

Am probebly leaning the same way Kryten is, for some reason, either hardware or software, your DHCP isn't responding in time and windows sounds like its assigning an APIPA address to the network, This is ment to try and clear its self up every few mins. Doing the above will change it from assigning an apipa addy to giving you one that should be useable on the network till the DHCP responds. But as said, you might have hardware issues and i'd start with the wire, if posible try replace it even if its just for a short time and run some tests.

 

[Jupitus]

Have you done a factory reset on the router and gone back through the setup again?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

OK so I swapped the cable, and first boot this morning everything is perfect . I'm not counting any chickens, but am keeping my fingers crossed. What a dumb thing for it to be, and probably not one I'd ever have thought of without your help.

many many thanks, I'd rep you but I seem to have done it too often and I need to spread it about a bit .

Now to find out why neither Company of Heroes nor Mass Effect work from Steam.

RB

 

[Jupitus]

\o/