Cable internet can't connect

Parqer · 01-14-2005, 12:25 AM

I posted this problem on the Asus Motherboard section, but I think this area is more appropiate since it's primarily a networking issue. I apologize for asking the same question twice, but I'm hoping someone with networking expertise can help in this situation.

I was forced to replace my old motherboard, the Asus P4P800 Deluxe with its successor, the P4P800 E Deluxe. The motherboard seems to run fine (boots to desktop, all programs function normally, etc), but my computer won't recognize my cable internet connection. It keeps reverting to Automatic Private Address. Before this, my internet connection ran smoothly.

Thinking this might be an OS issue since I upgraded the motherboard, I formatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP Home Edition w/Service Pack 1a, starting fresh, but the problem remains. I'm using my cable internet connection with a different computer, and it's running fine; the connection picks up normally, so the problem isn't the modem (Motorola SB5100) or connection.

Solutions I've tried:

1. Disabling the onboard LAN in bios and using a Linksys NIC
2. Unplugging modem for an hour to reset it
3. Running Winsockfix
4. Resetting XP TCP/IP Stack
5. ipconfig/release, ipconfig/renew
6. Manually entering IP Address and related information

Is this a common problem for the P4P800 E Deluxe, and is there a workable solution?

johnwill · 01-14-2005, 01:19 PM

Did you power cycle the cable modem? Have you tried a different cable? Did you try different ports on the router? This sounds like a hardware issue, or the cable modem remembering the old MAC address.

Parqer · 01-14-2005, 07:56 PM

Thank you for the reply.

I tried power cycling the modem several times, as that usually fixes whatever problems I have with my connection, but it's of no use in this case. I also used two different new ethernet cables to make sure the one I was using wasn't faulty. I don't have a router, however (I connect the modem directly to the computer with the ethernet cable), so I can't try that solution.

I had been using the modem with my new computer for over a year. When the motherboard burnt out, I used it with my old computer until the new motherboard was delivered with no problem after cycling the power on the modem, so I don't think the modem is the problem (I could be wrong, however).

johnwill · 01-15-2005, 02:28 PM

Well, one thing to try is a different computer attached to the modem (after a power cycle), this will eliminate the modem as the issue. You mention trying that, how are the two computers connected to this modem?

Parqer · 01-15-2005, 04:43 PM

I unplug the ethernet cable from one computer and plug it into the other, power cycling each time. I've done this in the past and whatever computer it's plugged into has been able to pick up the connection.

johnwill · 01-15-2005, 06:39 PM

Buy a broadband router, you'll be happy you did. It's a good $15-20 investment, and all this cable swapping and connection issues will be a thing of the past!

Parqer · 01-17-2005, 01:42 AM

I'm going to get a router later today, I'll post whether it fixes the problem or not. I'm hoping that's all I need. A twenty dollar router is a much more attractive solution than RMAing the new motherboard.

Parqer · 01-19-2005, 02:27 AM

I ordered the router from Amazon (D-Link DI604, if anyone's interested), and the connection finally works. Still don't know why it wouldn't connect directly, but I'd rather have the hardware firewall anyway so I won't be spending too much energy trying to figure out why (I cloned the MAC address from the working computer's NIC card to the router in setup, so I guess it was a MAC address issue even though I've directly connected a total of three different computers in the past year with no trouble). I really appreciate the suggestion; you saved me a frustrated motherboard RMA.

johnwill · 01-19-2005, 01:49 PM

We'll be waiting here for when you get the router.

Parqer · 01-20-2005, 09:29 AM

Sorry, I must have misspoken. I already have the router, and with it, the connection now works. I cloned the MAC address of the NIC card in the computer that was able to connect to the Internet directly to the router, and after hooking up the problem computer to the router, the connection works on that one as well.

I am curious, though, do some ISPs or cable modems have a limit as to the number of MAC address that can be used with them? I'm satisifed that my connection is now working, but I'm hoping I can figure out what caused the problem in the first place eventually.

Regardless, thank you again for your help.

johnwill · 01-20-2005, 03:41 PM

Many (most?) broadband accounts limit you to one IP address, hence one MAC address. The obvious way around that is the broadband router, which manages the single Internet connection and allows connection of unlimited (practically) machines.

Parqer · 01-20-2005, 09:00 PM

Thanks for clearing that up.

01-14-2005, 12:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	Cable internet can't connect I posted this problem on the Asus Motherboard section, but I think this area is more appropiate since it's primarily a networking issue. I apologize for asking the same question twice, but I'm hoping someone with networking expertise can help in this situation. I was forced to replace my old motherboard, the Asus P4P800 Deluxe with its successor, the P4P800 E Deluxe. The motherboard seems to run fine (boots to desktop, all programs function normally, etc), but my computer won't recognize my cable internet connection. It keeps reverting to Automatic Private Address. Before this, my internet connection ran smoothly. Thinking this might be an OS issue since I upgraded the motherboard, I formatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP Home Edition w/Service Pack 1a, starting fresh, but the problem remains. I'm using my cable internet connection with a different computer, and it's running fine; the connection picks up normally, so the problem isn't the modem (Motorola SB5100) or connection. Solutions I've tried: 1. Disabling the onboard LAN in bios and using a Linksys NIC 2. Unplugging modem for an hour to reset it 3. Running Winsockfix 4. Resetting XP TCP/IP Stack 5. ipconfig/release, ipconfig/renew 6. Manually entering IP Address and related information Is this a common problem for the P4P800 E Deluxe, and is there a workable solution?

01-14-2005, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Did you power cycle the cable modem? Have you tried a different cable? Did you try different ports on the router? This sounds like a hardware issue, or the cable modem remembering the old MAC address. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-15-2005, 02:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Well, one thing to try is a different computer attached to the modem (after a power cycle), this will eliminate the modem as the issue. You mention trying that, how are the two computers connected to this modem? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Last edited by johnwill : 01-15-2005 at 02:29 PM.

01-15-2005, 06:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Buy a broadband router, you'll be happy you did. It's a good $15-20 investment, and all this cable swapping and connection issues will be a thing of the past! __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-19-2005, 01:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	We'll be waiting here for when you get the router. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-14-2005, 07:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	Thank you for the reply. I tried power cycling the modem several times, as that usually fixes whatever problems I have with my connection, but it's of no use in this case. I also used two different new ethernet cables to make sure the one I was using wasn't faulty. I don't have a router, however (I connect the modem directly to the computer with the ethernet cable), so I can't try that solution. I had been using the modem with my new computer for over a year. When the motherboard burnt out, I used it with my old computer until the new motherboard was delivered with no problem after cycling the power on the modem, so I don't think the modem is the problem (I could be wrong, however).

01-15-2005, 04:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	I unplug the ethernet cable from one computer and plug it into the other, power cycling each time. I've done this in the past and whatever computer it's plugged into has been able to pick up the connection.

01-17-2005, 01:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	I'm going to get a router later today, I'll post whether it fixes the problem or not. I'm hoping that's all I need. A twenty dollar router is a much more attractive solution than RMAing the new motherboard.

01-19-2005, 02:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	I ordered the router from Amazon (D-Link DI604, if anyone's interested), and the connection finally works. Still don't know why it wouldn't connect directly, but I'd rather have the hardware firewall anyway so I won't be spending too much energy trying to figure out why (I cloned the MAC address from the working computer's NIC card to the router in setup, so I guess it was a MAC address issue even though I've directly connected a total of three different computers in the past year with no trouble). I really appreciate the suggestion; you saved me a frustrated motherboard RMA.

01-20-2005, 09:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	Sorry, I must have misspoken. I already have the router, and with it, the connection now works. I cloned the MAC address of the NIC card in the computer that was able to connect to the Internet directly to the router, and after hooking up the problem computer to the router, the connection works on that one as well. I am curious, though, do some ISPs or cable modems have a limit as to the number of MAC address that can be used with them? I'm satisifed that my connection is now working, but I'm hoping I can figure out what caused the problem in the first place eventually. Regardless, thank you again for your help.

01-20-2005, 03:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Many (most?) broadband accounts limit you to one IP address, hence one MAC address. The obvious way around that is the broadband router, which manages the single Internet connection and allows connection of unlimited (practically) machines. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-20-2005, 09:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
Parqer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP	Thanks for clearing that up.