Topic: Connection problems

[Clive]

I have 3 computers connected to wireless router via a network.  PC1, PC2 (both ethernet) and a Mac (wireless).  A few days ago PC2 became infected with a shedload of viruses and trojans after visiting a single Russian website that wasn't even dodgy.  Sigh... nobody believes me!    Well, Ad-Aware and Spywareblaster delivered in spades and removed all the crap and restored PC2 to the internet.  All was well until late yesterday afternoon when all 3 machines were denied internet access.  I have had intermittent access on PC1 today - even on standby dialup but managed to fire off a few e-mails including one to Simon bewailing my plight.  Bright young genius as he is (how that hurt!!) he suggested that my network may be at fault, and sure enough it transpired that when PC2 is switched on, it stops all machines accessing the internet.  Switch PC2 off and PC1 and Mac get access.  My network status on PC1 claims I don't have a card and shows a red circle with a white cross in the centre.  Any ideas what's gone wrong because there is definitely a card inside.  PC2 just denies having a network at all.                     

[Simon]

Bright young genius he may be    but he hasn't a clue about how to rectify Clive's problem, so any help from a real expert would, I'm sure, be appreciated. 

[sam]

pc2 does no network admin stuff does it??

also is your router dynamically giving ip addresses.. just thinking that pc2 could be after one in particular... alos are you sure you got rid of all the crap?

[Sandra]

Assuming that when its sorted the Mac on wireless is ok lets ignore that one for the moment.

On PC 1 and PC 2 check the device manager to make sure that the ethernet drivers are showing as installed ok without any yellow ! or ?.

Reinstall the drivers if they are not ok and if they are then go to Start/Run on one PC, with the other PCs running, and type CMD and click on OK.
This will open a DOS window.

Type in ipconfig /renew and press enter on keyboard.
That should release and renew the IP addresses on all your PCs and possibily fix anything thats gone wrong with the DHCP.

[Clive]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Looks as if I have a busy weekend ahead of me!   

[Clive]

I've managed to solve the problem by swapping PC2 to router port 3 from port 2.  I can only presume there may be a fault with port 2 because it's all behaving pefectly now!  Yippeeeee! 

[Simon]

Maybe port 2 is being blocked by the router firewall?

[Sandra]

Its probably just reassigned the LAN IPs Clive, same as doing the IPCONFIG /Renew would have done 

[Clive]

That's a possibility Simon.  This is quite a complicated router to set up and even Sean didn't find it straightforward when he originally configured it for me.  It's now 5 years old and quite pathetic by today's standards.  However, next time I change my machines I will get something more up to date and easier to understand.

[Clive]

Thanks for that idea Sandra.  That may suggest my router will last a bit longer after all!