Network Problem?

[Fraki]

I've a wireless router setup on my PC, the only other computer using the connection is my mom's laptop. So the other day, my buddy comes by with his laptop, and connects to signal. Then *POOF*, no connections worked, not on my PC, not his laptop, not my mom's laptop.

Fixing my mom's laptop's connection was as simple as reconnecting it through the Windows control panel, but I couldn't get a connection on my PC. So I experimented a bit, and tried connecting the modem directly to my PC, instead of going through the router, and that worked fine. I tested the network cables as well, and they're all working properly.

Any idea what's wrong and how to fix it?

I'm on Windows XP Pro. The router is a "Linksys Wireless-B Broadband Routher". Let me know if there's any other info of mine that you need to diagnose the problem.

Thanks.

[cmschool]

You may want to try either one of these two things.

1.) Unplug the powercord to recycle the power on the router.

2.) Press the reset button on the back of the router...you will have to reconfigure the router, but that only takes a couple minutes.

You might also want to check the light is on for the port that the computer is attached to. That would tell you if there is a connection problem with that port and even try a different port on the router.

Just some ideas.

[Fraki]

You may want to try either one of these two things.

1.) Unplug the powercord to recycle the power on the router.

2.) Press the reset button on the back of the router...you will have to reconfigure the router, but that only takes a couple minutes.

You might also want to check the light is on for the port that the computer is attached to. That would tell you if there is a connection problem with that port and even try a different port on the router.

Just some ideas.
I tried 1, no luck.

With 2, how do I reconfigure my router?

And I also tried different ports on the router, no luck.

[IanS]

I tried 1, no luck.

With 2, how do I reconfigure my router?

And I also tried different ports on the router, no luck.With most routers I've heard of, you connect via a cable (even on wireless ones) and log onto the router with the information that came with the hardware when you obtained it. You'll probably have a password. The router can be reset to it's default configuration - again in the documentation that came with it. If you don't know the password, routers can sometimes be set to the factory configuration - no password or 'standard' password. I don't know your router to be able to give the information specifically, on mine there's a reset switch and it has to be held in for 10secs, not just pressed.

[Fraki]

With my router, I just hooked it up and was on my way... no software or anything.

[IanS]

With my router, I just hooked it up and was on my way... no software or anything.Do you know it's IP address - network failure at home for me usually mean the IP addresses of machines have changed for some reason.

Can you ping each machine and the Router?

Have you checked that Windows hasn't enabled it's firewall for some reason on one or all machines? Maybe a recent Auto-update????

[Fraki]

I tried reconnecting the router again, and now it's working fine with the PC, and it's sending out a signal, but the laptop says it's Authenticating it's IP and remains that way, without actually connecting to the internet.

[IanS]

Well the laptop problem is a WindowsXP issue. You need to reconfig the laptop's network settings again (the same way you set it up the first time only check to see if your ISP assigned IP has changed.)
When behind a router, the ISP isn't assigning the IP addresses to the machines (at least on my home network or at work).

Try looking to see if the IP addresses and other settings are correct:
At a command prompt (in Windows)
ipconfig
on each machine.

The default gateway should be the same, and the IP's should be very similar.