Internet Connectivity

[jrenna]

I have a system running Windows ME. When I put in an ethernet card, it recognizes it and installs the drivers, etc. I configure the card for TCPIP-DHCP and reboot. I select MS Client and file/print sharing. When the system reboots, I have to log on to the MS network. All seems well, however, when I try to connect to the internet, it seems to be downloading the page, but then stops and gives me a networking error. I noticed that both the networking card and my display adapter both share the same IRQ, (11). I cannot change this in WINME. I tried installing a second ethernet card, which was assigned IRQ 10, but I seem to be having the same problem. Strange thing is though, that every once in a while I am able to make a connection, but it is slow. When I connect my thinkpad to the same CAT 5 cable, it connects to the internet without a problem, so I know it is not my ISP or the cable connection.

Help!!!

 

[Rhi]

Are you leasing a valid IP address? If so...try pinging your gateway or DNS servers. If that is successful thenn try pinging via DNS name, like www.yahoo.com. If you can ping IP's but not DNS then you have corrupt Winsock files. If you can ping both then, (in IE), check your Tools>Internet Options>LAN Settings and make sure nothing is checked.

To check IP: Start>Run>winipcfg, select your NIC. Your IP should NOT be 169.blahblahblah. Click "more info" or "advanced" to see gateway and DNS servers.

-Rhi

 

[Bglad]

I would be much more suspicious of network settings than an IRQ problem. More than likely IRQ is not what the problem is. They should be able to share an IRQ with no problems.

 

[JustinLerner]

Gotta agree with Bglad, it's not likely to be an IRQ problem, but more likely something related to an IP address/DNS server/Gateway/subnet mask problem.



<< . . . To check IP: Start>Run>winipcfg, select your NIC. Your IP should NOT be 169.blahblahblah. Click "more info" or "advanced" to see gateway and DNS servers.

-Rhi >>

If the IP address is in the 169.xxx.xxx.xxx range, the PC didn't see the DHCP server when it originally requested an IP address.
On 9x/ME, from winipcfg, click release all. Wait some time.
Then renew all. Wait some more. Check the new IP address. If it's in the right range reboot.
After rebooting recheck the IP address (winipcfg) and ensure the IP address is in the right range, if it's not, repeat the procedure above until a new IP address is assigned, correct, and is retained when rebooted.

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Sometimes on 95 it was easiest to temporarily change the PC name OR change file/sharing OR change logon/MS client option. Any of these (OR even adding/removing another network protocol) sometimes gave Windows a boot in the butt so that the change could be made and stick. Then just revert to the protocols, name, file/sharing or logon option you want and reboot. Your IP address is now retained properly.