PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: jww41005 on November 24, 2007, 17:48
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Hello Pals,
A while ago my PC crashed for no reason. Now I can't connect to the net although my other PC can. (Wireless modem) The PC with the problem connects via a card.
The configuration is on automatic. I've reloaded the drivers for the card, just in case, but still no joy.
Properties for the connection says 'no red available'.
The card appears on the administrator, but there is no information to say if it is working, or not.
When I boot the PC 1 green light is on, and the 2nd flashes. So the card is still alive.
Info for the card says 'radio on' but when I put the cursor on the 'connection condition' it says 'not connected' although it should be.
Now I'm stumped.
Any clues?
John
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Can you possibly connect via a cable, to eliminate the PC setup?
When you say a card, are you talking about a PCMCIA card or something else?
What software are you running for the card, OS or manufacturer's?
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Hello Rik
I reinstalled the server connection software with the cable connected, but it didn't work. A screen asked me to make sure everything was connected.
The card is a 'conceptronic 54g wirless pci card'. The software that came with it is installed. When I put the cursor over the pci card icon a pop up says 'Not Connected!', but according to the 'configuration Utility' for the pci card the signal is 100%. It also picks up other signals.
Everything is on automatic. DHCP enabled.
Could it be the configuration for the pci card?
John
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Is Device Manager flagging any problems, John?
I'm puzzled that the cable connection didn't work either - that's usually very much a plug'n'play. Using the cable, can you not reach the router interface in your browser? What firewall are you using?
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Hi Rik
Yeah! I thought connecting the cable would have done it, but no. Technical support also suggested that. I even tried to reconfigure it with the cable connected.
I turned Norton off for 15 mins to see if it'd work. No.
Device manger says that the pci card is working correctly.
Router interface? Where's he?
I'd still like to know why the pc crashed....
John
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John, the router interface is usually reached by typing 192.168.0.1 into your browser address bar. You will need the username and password for the router. That's with a Netgear anyway, and I think they are all the same.
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What Simon said, John. All routers have a built-in web server, through which you can access the setup. If you can't reach that with a cable, I'd be looking to test the router.
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OK. I'll give it a go.
Back later
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I typed 192.168.0.1 in the browser and the reply was 'can't open page'.
Btw, the device manager says that the 'NVIDIA Network Bus Numerator' can't start. Would that have anything to do with the price of bacon?
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That's a distinct possibility. What router is it? The address varies by brand.
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The router is supplied by the Spanish telephone company 'Telefonica', and it's a ZyXEL. Can't Find more info' on it.
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Try http://192.168.1.1.
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Hi Rik,
The latest number worked. Now a log in page appears.
At the top it says: connect to 192.168.1.1.
and
Prestige 660HW-61
Our hotmail addresses are available in the 'user' box. There is also a 'password' box. I've tried using the password etc that I have. I'm then told: 'Protected Object. This object on the RomPager server is protected'.
You mentioned the router in a previous post, but I don't think that could be the problem since it works alright with the other PC. Could it be that the pci card card simply isn't talking to the router?
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It's more likely to be the PC than the router - the object of the exercise was to see if you can communicate with the router.
Hit Start > Run >type CMD and hit <enter>.
In the resulting 'DOS' window, type ipconfig /all and hit <enter>.
Right click the title bar, select 'Edit', the 'Select all'. Hit <enter> to copy the text and paste it into a notepad file.
Now try connecting via the wireless interface and repeat the exercise. Post the results of the two ipconfig readouts.
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Hi Rik.
Here they are. My windows is in Spanish so what you have here is a rough translation. I wasn't sure about one word so I put a possible translation in brackets (means?)
Looks like the crash turned everything off!
1st. Before attempted connection.
Microsoft Windows XP [Versión 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>ipconfig/all
Windows IP configuration
Name of host . . . . . . . . . : nb-ed8437a9c4e3
Main Suffix DNS . . . . .... . :
Node type . . . . . . . . . . .: difusion
Router enabled........... . . . . .: No
Proxy WINS enabled.... . . . . : No
Adaptor Ethernet 1 :
State/condition of medios(means?). . . .: means disconnected
Description. . . . . . . . . . : Conceptronic 54g Wireless PCI Card
Physical address. . . . . .. . . : 00-80-5A-4D-57-55
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>
2nd. After attempted connection
Microsoft Windows XP [Versión 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>ipconfig/all
Windows IP configuration
Host name . . . . . . . . . : nb-ed8437a9c4e3
Main suffix DNS . . . . . . :
Node type . . . . . . . . . . .: difusion
Router enabled. . . . . .: No
Proxy WINS enabled. . . . . : No
Adaptador Ethernet 1 :
State/condition of medios(means?). . . . : medios disconnected
Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Conceptronic 54g Wireless PCI Card
Physical address. . . . . . . . . : 00-80-5A-4D-57-55
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>
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I'll give Rik a nudge on this one, John. He'll be in later. :)
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1st. Before attempted connection.
>ipconfig/all
Windows IP configuration
Name of host . . . . . . . . . : nb-ed8437a9c4e3
Main Suffix DNS . . . . .... . :
Node type . . . . . . . . . . .: difusion
Router enabled........... . . . . .: No
Proxy WINS enabled.... . . . . : No
Adaptor Ethernet 1 :
State/condition of medios(means?). . . .: means disconnected
Description. . . . . . . . . . : Conceptronic 54g Wireless PCI Card
Physical address. . . . . .. . . : 00-80-5A-4D-57-55
They're both showing a failure in the connection John. Have I misunderstood you, I thought you were able to connect this machine to the router with a cable, and to login to the router interface with that? If that is the case, can you make the cable connection, and repeat the ipconfig /all exercise please.
If that's not the case, can you try the card from the other machine (or just try this card in the other machine)?
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Hi Rik,
Yeah. Sorry about that. I got my wires crossed.
I can't login to the router with the cable connected either.
Regarding changing the cards: I'd rather not touch the outher one while it's working. Besides, my kids would kill me if they caught me!
Here are the results "with the router cable connected":
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>ipconfig/all
Configuración IP de Windows
Name of host. . . . . . . . . : nb-ed8437a9c4e3
Main Suffix DNS . . . . . . :
Node type . . . . . . . . . . .: difusion
Router enabled. . . . ....... .: No
Proxy WINS enabled. . . . . : No
Adaptador Ethernet 1 :
State/condition of means. . . .: means disconnected
Description. . . . . . . . . . . : Conceptronic 54g Wireless PCI Card
Physical address. . . . . . . . . : 00-80-5A-4D-57-55
C:\Documents and Settings\nb>
Cheers!
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Hi John
Is the ethernet connection provided on the wireless card, or is it separate? If the former, a dead card seems likely, if the latter, it sounds like networking is broken in Windows.
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Hi Rik,
I'm not sure about this, have you noticed, but when I tried to reconfigure with the 'configure assistant CD' supplied by the server I was given the oportunity to configure ethernet or the PCI card. Also, I've just had a look at the receipt that came with the PC, which was built for me, and it says; Net Card 10/100MB and Wireless Net Card 54 MPS PCI.
The actual model of the PCI is conceptronic C54Ri.
Apart from that I couldn't tell how the ethernet connection is provided.
Btw, the green lights on the PCI card still light up.
Cheers Rik
John
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Take a look at the back of the computer, John. The wireless card will usually have an antenna attached. Is the socket for the ethernet connection on the same back plate, or is it elsewhere?
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LOL.........
Right!
The wireless card has an antenna attached.
The socket for the ethernet connection is on the motherboard, which is a Rockwell.
Btw, earlier this year the motherboard failed and had to be replaced.
John
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OK, it's unlikely that both bits of hardware have failed.
Try Start > Settings > Network connections (the location may be different for you, I use classic menus).
You should see the wireless connection there, right click on it and select properties. What is showing in the general tab, eg Client for Microsoft Networks etc.
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Here you are, Rik. A rough translation again.
Clients for microsoft networks
Share printers and files for microsoft networks
Programmer of packets QoS
Internet protocol (TCP/IP)
It also says ?connect using? followed by ?Conceptronic 54g Wireless PCI Card?. When I click on configure it says that it?s working.
Internet protocol (TCP/IP) is on automatic.
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Repeat the process and hit the Repair button, John, then do it again and look at the Status.
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Hi Rik
I hit the repair button and then had a look. Nothing seems to have changed.
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I'm running out of ideas, tbh, John. All I can think to suggest is that you try creating a new network connection on that card, and see if that repairs things, otherwise I'm beginning to think about a Windows re-install. :(
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Hi Rik,
No. It's not looking good. That crash must have knocked out a few things. I reckon that the ethernt and wirless card are working but some software has gone AWOL.
Anyway, have a look at this. It's the properties for the net connection on my kids PC.
and it's an ethernet connection
Client service for NetWare
Client for microsoft networks
Share printers and files for microsoft networks
Programmer of packets QoS
NWLink of NetBIOS
Compatable transfer protocol with NWLink IPX
Internet protocol (TCP/IP)
Quite a bit more there.
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That's more than you actually need, John. It should work with the four you have, but clearly something is broken, which is why I would suggest trying to create a new network connection to see if it resolves anything.
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OK Rik. I'll look into it.
I'd really like to know what caused the crash in the first place.
Anyway, thanks very much for your help and patience, Rik. Even though we didn't quite get to the root of the problem I think I've learnt a lot.
Cheers :thumbs:
John
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It's a computer, John. Crashing is what they do best. ;)
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Touché
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it sounds like the wifi card is bad
i have had some that show they are working but as soon as they are replaced the system works
if you can without buying another try another card
your card could be bad
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Thanks Davy,
Anyway, I've just connected a Thomson usb wireless, which doesn't connect either. So now that's the wireless card, ethernet and now the usb wireless. I sort of hoping it's the card because it's still under guarantee. As a matter of fact, the whole PC is :woot:
John
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It sounds like the network component of Windows has been damaged, John. If you go to the network connection which isn't working, right-click and hit Repair, does that do anything?
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No Rik. I've tried it many times.
After a minute it says that windows can't repair it.
I think I'm going to get someone in to have a look at it.
Cheers!
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It might be worth trying a Windows repair, John.
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I think so, Rik.
I think it's overdue for a reinstall ;)
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Hello Pals,
Long time no post!
Well, I finally got around to doing something about this problem. I have just removed the wifi/ethernet card and put in a new ethernet card and BINGO. My PC is back in business :woot:
I thought I'd let you know
Cheers
John :thumbs:
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Glad you're sorted John. :)
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Thanks for the update, John. :)
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Hello Pals,
It's happened again.
Yesterday for no reason I couldn't connect to the net, and according to my PC the ethernet card was 'null', so I bought a new card and it's working again.
Have you any idea what could be happenining to the cards?
The motherboard is an Asrock and the card is a Belkin.
Cheers
John
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What's the router, John? You might have more luck with a card from the router manufacturer.
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any chance you could try the card in a different machine?
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Or try a different PCI slot for the card?
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Hello Fellas,
Thanks for the feedback.
Sorry for not getting back sooner!
Anyway, I just booted up, and the same problem. So, I rebooted, and nothing happened. Then I swopped the position of the card with the firewire card, and it worked!!
Later on I'll see if the firewire still works.
Fingers crossed
Cheers
John
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Try brushing out the PCI slot with a clean, soft paintbrush, John. It could just be dust it the contacts which is causing the problem. At least you seem to have narrowed it down to that one PCI slot.
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Thanks, Simon,
I'll give it a go :thumbs: