Comcast IP Question

[olds]

Can Comcast change something so that the IP/modem/MAC/NIC goes haywire?

I had my wireless router working with my Comcast modem.
We had a power and cable outage and afterwards, our machines can't connect to the internet through the router. One (XP Pro) can through the modem only. The other (Vista HP) can't even through the modem. The Vista machine was the one set up initally with the modem and router.

Both machines can see the wireless network but I can only establish a Local connection.
I tried the usual resets of modem and router, numerous times. I set the router back to factory defaults.
I removed all clients/services and protocols on the Vista machine and reinstalled.
There is no security set up on the router.
I let it set DNS automatically and I manually set DNS.
The router is still getting the IP automatically.

I am wondering if Comcast changed something or if the router took a dive.
I am a big time networking noob.
Thanks.

 

[nsafreak]

Power outages will sometimes cause networking devices, well electronic devices in general, to go a bit haywire. A couple of things that you could try:

1) Try downloading and updating the router firmware. Even if it is the same as your router's current firmware, it may fix it.
2) Try cloning the MAC address of the PC again

 

[boomerang]

Concentrate on one computer for now. That will make this easier.

The XP machine you say will work through the modem. Let's concentrate on that one first.

I'm unclear whether one or both of these computers are capable to connect wirelessly, but the XP machine can be hard wired, correct? If so do that and see if it will work. It sounds as if you know this, but are you powering down and powering up each component in sequence and waiting until they have fully booted? Modem > Router > Computer?

When you say you reset the router, did you do it using the reset button on it? nsafreak's suggestion on the firmware was a good one, but just resetting it using the button may unscramble its brain. It does sound like the router is messed up. I would first try the reset button and then the firmware flash. I don't think it's a MAC cloning issue. As you said, the Vista machine was the one used initially. Comcast here, only cares about the MAC of the router, although I do get the impression that it differs around the country. Regardless, I think the fact that the XP machine connects, rules out a MAC problem.

 

[olds]

I have downloaded the firmware from Asus' site and I downloaded DD WRT. I will try the Asus firmware first.
My router (WL520-GU) doesn't have a clone feature that I know of, I enter the MAC manually.
I have reset the router by unlpugging it, uaing the reset button and setting the defaults back.
I power everything off for 10 minutes. Power modem on and wait 5 minute, power router on and wait 5 minutes, then power the machines. I do notice that when I reset, no matter how, the time zone, MAC address and DNS servers are still entered in the router software. I would think they would be gone?
The XP machine will connect to the internet when hard wired to the modem. On wireless, it sees the router but only gets a local connection from it. Sometimes when i try to use a browser to connect to the router, it will time out and not connect.
The Vista machine will not connect to the internet, wired or wireless. It will connect to Local on wireless and wired.

 

[boomerang]

I think the router is toast although I would try a firmware flash before condemning it. I can't image that DD-WRT is going to make any difference, I would leave that as some kind of last ditch effort. But, did it have DD-WRT on it before?

I don't know what the procedure is exactly on your Asus, but on my Buffalo, I use the 30/30/30 method outlined by DD-WRT to reset it. Google 30/30/30 and it will come up. Note that there are some special notations regarding Asus. I'm not sure if doing the reset button with it unplugged is correct on the Asus, but the fact that it retains some settings I believe tells the tale. It shouldn't do that.

The Vista machine is a total mystery at this point, but I do believe it is best to concentrate on one at a time.

Edit: I just saw that holding the reset button for 5 seconds with it plugged in is the procedure to reset your model. Not from the Asus site though. Take this for what it's worth.

 

[olds]

Thanks. It didn't have DD WRT before.
I have held the reset button down for 30 seconds. Both with the router plugged in and unplugged.
I'll google 30/30/30.

 

[RebateMonger]

I wouldn't do the DD-WRT thing yet. The router should certainly FUNCTION with a re-flash of the latest ASUS firmware. You won't get any support at all from Asus if you change the firmware and potentially introduce a new set of problems.

 

[JackMDS]

A lot of Bizarre thing can happen with power problems, including unfortunate Spikes that can harm the hardware.

The XP computer's MAC address is probably the one that currently does the authentication with Comcast (that is probably the reason that it is working OK).

Make sure that the the MAC of the XP's NIC is cloned to the Router.

If you want to stay with the Router's original IP call Comcast and tell them that you want to switch the authentication and give them the Asus Core MAC address.

Start with taking care of the wired computers and then deal with the Wireless.

As RebateMonger do not do any thing deviating from the standard until every thing is in working order.

 

[olds]

Flashed the firmware, used the MAC for the XP machine and now I am posting wireless from the XP machine.
One down.
THANKS.

EDIT
On the Vista box now, YA.

 

[boomerang]

Hey, that's good to hear! Glad you're back up and running!

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Hey, that's good to hear! Glad you're back up and running!

Yes, thanks for the help.