Can't connect to internet on win98 laptop

[KingGheedora]

My mom has DSL internet connection. My laptop is windows media center edition, and hers is windows 98. I plug mine into the ethernet and I can connect to the internet right away. I take the cable out of mine and plug it into hers but can' access the internet. It seems like it's not picking up an IP address. I tried manually setting the IP to the same IP that my laptop got assigned when I hooked it up to her DSL, mimicked the gateway, dns settings too, to no avail.

What's wrong?

 

[jlazzaro]

going through a router with private addressing or right into the modem? once your isp gives out an ip, you cant just plug a different pc into the modem and get another.

either try and ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew or totally reset the modem when plugging in the 98 laptop.

 

[JackMDS]

Assuming that there is No Router in the way.

Most DSL connetions needs PPPOE, WinXP has a PPPOE module.

Win98 does not.

 

[KingGheedora]

Update: I just tried with her desktop (Win XP). Similar problem, the desktop is not able to connect either.

I'll try what you said about resetting the modem. There is no router in between, I'm plugging these computers directly into the DSL modem (via ethernet of course).

The desktop and laptop could be two separate issues though. Could be the same issue too.

 

[JackMDS]

Most DSL ISPs requires PPPOE software configured with an ID and Password.

WinXP has PPPOE but you have to configure the ID PW, Win98 need PPPOE Application usually provided by the ISP.

Without it your computers can not authenticate and conncet to the ISP Server.

 

[KingGheedora]

There is no reset or power switch on the DSL modem. There are no buttons at all on it, I searched for the usual recessed button you usually see on routers and modems that would reset the device, but didn't see anything. I tried unplugging the modem's power cord for a few seconds and then plugging it back in. Once the modem was back online I still couldn't connect with the desktop. (I've decided to try to resolve the desktop first since it has XP, it should be easier to get the network up an running).

I tried ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew. didn't work... /release gave a message saying it is already released. Then /renew took forever, and finally it gave a message saying the IP could not be renewed. The message was something about not being able to connect to DHCP server, I forgot to take down the message, I'll try it again and update this post with the exact message.

Any ideas on what else I could try?

EDIT: Here's the error message I get when doing ipconfig /renew: "An error occurred while renewing interface Local Area Connection 2 : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request ahs timed out."

 

[KingGheedora]

Here's ipconfig /all on the desktop that can't connect to the internet:

Windows IP Configuration

Host name: abc
Primary Dns Suffix:
Node Type: unknown
IP Routing Enabled: No
WINS Proxy Enabled: No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2::

Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Intel(R) PRO/100 M Network Connection
Physical Address: (the NIC address)
Dhcp Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address: 169.254.xxx.xx
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway:

 

[KingGheedora]

Here's the ipconfig /all for my laptop (the one that IS able to connect to The Net):

Windows IP Configuration

Host name: xyz
Primary Dns Suffix:
Node Type: unknown
IP Routing Enabled: No
WINS Proxy Enabled: No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address: (the NIC address)
Dhcp Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
IP Address: 71.xxx.xxx.197
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 71.xxx.xxx.1
DHCP Server: 68.xxx.64.xxx
DNS Servers: 68.xxx.96.xxx
Lease obtained: (today's date)
Lease expires: (2 hours in the future

 

[KingGheedora]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Most DSL ISPs requires PPPOE software configured with an ID and Password.

WinXP has PPPOE but you have to configure the ID PW, Win98 need PPPOE Application usually provided by the ISP.

Without it your computers can not authenticate and conncet to the ISP Server.

I don't know if my mom's DSL is one of the ones that requires a password. Yesterday was the first time I ever tried connecting my laptop to her DSL and I was able to use the internet without configuring any username/password or touching any settings related to PPPOE.

 

[KingGheedora]

She has McAfee and Norton software on her desktop, could that be the cause?

 

[Acleacius]

KingGheedora I am not trying to highjack your thread but I think we both my need the same info.

Ok I have a similar problem, my sister's router went out and until an new one is sent she needs to access the net with a Win98 machince.
When the router is working there is no problem and even now with the router out she can still directly connect from her cable modem to a WinXP machince to connect.

I considered trying to just upgrade her Win98 machine to WinXP but honestly it's not harware qualified.
My knowledge of Networks is very limited but it seems I need to maybe setup the IP manunally and honestly it's been 5 years or so since I did all the Win98 network settings so my memory is very rusty.
Could someone please provide a link or a brief description of how to manually setup the Network Connextion, well unless I am remembering incorrectly.

Thanks for any tips.