[SOLVED] lost ethernet connection

[keane]

I have a home network. I am having problems with one computer on the network. There are several things that have been done or happened to this computer recently that may or may not be related.

About 6 weeks ago I opened the cabinet and blew the computer out with a can of compressed air. About 2 weeks later I connected a US robotics 28.8k modem I use to reprogram my home security system. The computer was unable to find the port and connect to the modem.

This computer is 6 years old. I decided it would be beneficial to format and reinstall the OS(windows xp). I did. I used the factory disks that came with the computer. Now it can not find an internet connection.

I have cable internet with a Motorola surfboard modem. I have a D link router. The other 2 computers have internet connection. The router does not recognize that my computer is on. I tried moving the ethernet cables on the router and changing the ethernet cable from the network printer to my computer. The router still doesn't see my computer. I tried to install the router via usb port to my computer while leaving the router connected to the LAN via ethernet cable also. That would not work either.

Am I gradually losing the ports one by one? Is this a software problem or a hardware problem. The computer has one integrated board. Doing a repair may not be an option. There are two slots and bays to ad ports. Would this be an option to ad a new ethernet port? Or is that a temporary solution because the main board is going out?

Thanks and I hope your are having a Merry Christmas

[johnwill]

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc

Under Network adapters, please tell me all the devices listed. Also, are there any devices anywhere in the Device Manager display with yellow ? or ! displayed?

[keane]

I contacted the manufacturer of the pc. Using one of the other computers I downloaded the chipset drivers to a flash card and installed them on my pc. That didn't help. E machines had me contact my ISP. They had me check a few things, uninstall and reinstall the chipset drivers. They determined that it is most likely the network interface card has failed. There was no yellow ? or ! in the device manager. It is probably coincidence that the card failed when it did. Looks like I will be shopping for a new NIC tomorrow.

[johnwill]

Let us know how you make out.

[keane]

No go at this time. I replaced the NIC. Initially I got internet. I was attempting to set that computer up for the network with file and printer sharing. I lost the internet on all computers. The card I bought is D-link. I am unable to get through on the customer support phone line. It doesn't even ring. Just a dead line. I called my ISP. They are now saying my router, which is a D-llink also, is bad. The only way I could get internet on this computer is to bypass the router. I e-mailed D-link and am awaiting a response. In the meantime I am re-installing windows xp on my computer to see if it helps anything.

Arrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!

[johnwill]

Try resetting the D-Link to factory defaults and reconfiguring.

[keane]

I ran the D-link router set up wizard last night. That got 2 computers back on the internet. Probably all 3. When I started my computer up this morning it had internet. It is downloading updates right now. Looks like everything is working. Hopefully with no set backs. Thanks for the input.

[johnwill]

Glad you got going.