computer can't see network

[spdfreak]

I have one computer on our small office network that I can't get to see the network. It is an old HP celeron 500 w/ a HP 10/100 card in it. It was a mess when I looked at it, and wouldn't see the network no matter how I tried-static IP or DHCP. We are using a Linksys 8 port router, that assigns addresses starting at 192.168.1.100 and up. This computer, even after a full system restore, somehow assigns itself an address of 169.something, and it will not release or renew in winipcfg. I tried changing network cards, and installed a realtek NIC which seemed to install perfectly, but it also will only see itself. It is running 98se, and everything else seems normal except when I have a NIC in it, it takes forever to boot up. If I take the card out, it boots normally. Any ideas?

 

[spidey07]

you you have a link light on your network card? is it lit?

 

[spdfreak]

Yep, the link light is lit on both the network card and the router. In fact it was lit on both cards I tried.

 

[Nightfall]

You might be running into a conflict with the NIC card or the slot you are putting it in is bad. Did you try moving the slot it is plugged into? Did you check for IRQ conflicts?

 

[blcjr]

That "169 something" address sounds like an address that is automatically assigned when you select DHCP but do not have an actual DHCP server. If you are using the Linksys router for DHCP, it is not seeing the Linksys router. In setting up TCP/IP, did you happen to forget to specify a gateway with the linksys router address (probably 192.168.1.1)?

-Baz

 

[spdfreak]

I have 7 computers on the network, and all are set to "automatically assign IP address" so I shouldn't have to assign a gateway. I've tried moving the plug to a different port on the router, and it always shows a good connection, but I'm beginning to think it may be the cable that is bad. I will try going into the router setup from a different computer and see if it sees this one at the router. Any other ideas?