Strange Network Problem

[tungtung]

I have just fixed a friend's machine and done a Windows reinstall (the harddrive died).

Just before his harddrive died, I was able to do some diagnostic on it (he said that the machine was unstable, which apparently is caused by the harddrive dying). Anyway before that harddrive died, I was able to do some basic test and all but the network test failed. For some reason the machine can get an IP address through my router, but can't connect anywhere, not even to the router (I tried to ping the router with no success).

After I replaced the harddrive and done a complete reinstall the problem with the network still persists. I tried both Windows XP and 2000 Pro with no luck at all. I have even tried assigning the machine a static IP, but again no luck. I have tried with a different network card, and still the problem persisted.

For your information, I have three Windows 2000 Pro and one Windows XP all are working fine. So can anyone suggest any fix for this?

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: How to verify your Network is working correctly.

:sun:

 

[tungtung]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I have checked, double checked even triple checked all those configurations.
Also please just a reminder that this machine is currently using a fresh install of Windows 2000 Pro, which from my experience sets all the network setting at default (which work 99.99% from my experience).

Another thing is that this machine can grab an IP from the DHCP server (my home router) without problem, I can even release and renew the IP without any problem. But it just won't connect to anywhere else. I can't even ping the router from this machine even though it (the router) is listed as the gateway.

 

[Slowlearner]

First check if the network is working - can you connect to the other PCs. If you can't - check the NIC and the cable. Because you had some problems before the HD failure, I would suspect these to be the likely source. Do shut down any firewalls temporarily.

Next check the router. Can you log in? If you cannot even ping the router, how do you know it is getting a valid IP from the router? What is the IP that its getting? Is it in the same set as the others, if not there's your problem.

 

[tungtung]

The network card work perfectly on other machines ... and yes the network is working perfectly as I have other machines sharing data and all ... and yes the router worked perfectly as all other computer can share data and connect to the internet ... and yes the IP is valid as I have used the "ipconfig" command to see what IP address the machine gets ... all of those settings are correct. I have even copied the exact same setting (spare the IP address) from another system on the network that worked, and still no network connection on this one machine. I have checked the cables even change to other cables, no luck ... I mean the fact that the machine gets an IP from the DHCP server (the router), and that the IP is valid to me already says there seems to be nothing physically wrong with the machine ... seems like a software error somewhere, it's just that I am clueless right now as to what might be wrong with this computer.

 

[tungtung]

by the way ... just out of curiousity ... I plugged in a wireless USB network card, and the machine can connect to the internet that way ... but it just won't work on wired connection ... even with other network card installed on it.

the thing is my friend need the machine on a wired connection since he has no wireless network card or router.

 

[nweaver]

ipconfig /all > post when it has an IP
run ethereal and sniff for a few minutes, including a ping of every box on the system (not just the router) and post what it looks like (screenshot should suffice I think)

and you havn't mentioned cable, did you try a different cable? known working cable?

 

[Slowlearner]

Can you log in to the Router? Is your firewall off?

 

[tungtung]

Well ... I finally got it working ... what I did was that I just cleared the BIOS and reinstall with Windows XP Pro ... and it just work.