Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
the Internet.

The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to
a cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows
2000 can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a
Windows 2000 installation CD and there's no indication there's a
recovery partition on the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a
replacement computer.

The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the
Internet is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited
connectivity to an "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on
the ISP's web site (obtained and printed out on another computer at
another location) the cable modem is connected to the computer in the
recommended way (directly with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various
TCP/IP settings are as the ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone
conversation with one of the ISP's customer service representatives I
rechecked the TCP/IP settings, disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet
cable at both ends and cycled the power on the cable modem to reset it.
the CS representative reset the modem via remote control as well and
indicated that his terminal indicated that the computer's network
adapter was visible through the cable modem. All the resets, power
cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the computer reporting the
disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the connect. Unfortunately the
computer always resumed the "limited connectivity" to the "unknown network"

The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!

MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the
computer and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later
acquired a router and the additional cables to connect the components.
The computer had no problem detecting the different connection.

With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to
see if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With
the same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the
computer connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows
XP computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new
Vista computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed
in the ISP's web article.

Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had
the opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not
to use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power
supply and cables.

Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
there some difference between the communications protocols required by
the Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

Some do, but usually they just act as a DHCP server and assign an IP
automatically to the computer.
Are you using a fixed IP address? Or is Vista set to automitacally get an IP
address?.

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to a
> cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows 2000
> can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a Windows 2000
> installation CD and there's no indication there's a recovery partition on
> the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the Internet
> is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited connectivity to an
> "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on the ISP's web site
> (obtained and printed out on another computer at another location) the
> cable modem is connected to the computer in the recommended way (directly
> with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various TCP/IP settings are as the
> ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone conversation with one of the
> ISP's customer service representatives I rechecked the TCP/IP settings,
> disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet cable at both ends and cycled
> the power on the cable modem to reset it. the CS representative reset the
> modem via remote control as well and indicated that his terminal indicated
> that the computer's network adapter was visible through the cable modem.
> All the resets, power cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the
> computer reporting the disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the
> connect. Unfortunately the computer always resumed the "limited
> connectivity" to the "unknown network"
>
> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>
> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the computer
> and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later acquired a router
> and the additional cables to connect the components. The computer had no
> problem detecting the different connection.
>
> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to see
> if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With the
> same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the computer
> connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows XP
> computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new Vista
> computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed in the
> ISP's web article.
>
> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had the
> opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not to
> use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power supply and
> cables.
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
> there some difference between the communications protocols required by the
> Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

Not Me wrote:
> Some do, but usually they just act as a DHCP server and assign an IP
> automatically to the computer.
> Are you using a fixed IP address? Or is Vista set to automitacally get an IP
> address?.
>
> "RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
>> the Internet.
>>
>> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
>> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to a
>> cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
>> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows 2000
>> can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a Windows 2000
>> installation CD and there's no indication there's a recovery partition on
>> the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a replacement computer.
>>
>> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
>> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the Internet
>> is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited connectivity to an
>> "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on the ISP's web site
>> (obtained and printed out on another computer at another location) the
>> cable modem is connected to the computer in the recommended way (directly
>> with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various TCP/IP settings are as the
>> ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone conversation with one of the
>> ISP's customer service representatives I rechecked the TCP/IP settings,
>> disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet cable at both ends and cycled
>> the power on the cable modem to reset it. the CS representative reset the
>> modem via remote control as well and indicated that his terminal indicated
>> that the computer's network adapter was visible through the cable modem.
>> All the resets, power cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the
>> computer reporting the disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the
>> connect. Unfortunately the computer always resumed the "limited
>> connectivity" to the "unknown network"
>>
>> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>>
>> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
>> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
>> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the computer
>> and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later acquired a router
>> and the additional cables to connect the components. The computer had no
>> problem detecting the different connection.
>>
>> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to see
>> if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With the
>> same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the computer
>> connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows XP
>> computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new Vista
>> computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed in the
>> ISP's web article.
>>
>> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
>> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had the
>> opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not to
>> use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power supply and
>> cables.
>>
>> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
>> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
>> there some difference between the communications protocols required by the
>> Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

Both computers were, and continue to be set to obtain the IP and DNS
server addresses automatically, as recommended by the ISP's web article.
On IP settings DHCP Enabled, Automatic Metric, Append primary and
connection specific DNS suffixes selected, Register this connection's
addresses in DNS, Enable LMHOSTS lookup, NetBIOS setting default (all as
recommended in the ISP'd article). The ISP made no mention of any
settings to clear or set on XP's Advanced TCP/IP Settings options tab
(Vista doesn't display that tab).

The router on my computer is set to obtain the IP address on the WAN
side automatically, DHCP is enabled on that separate tab of the router's
HTML control interface. As I am only using the wired functions of the
router, I have deactivated the Wireless Access Point.

In LAN adapter properties, have you tried disabling IPv6?
Not all ISPs support it yet.

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:OHZPxNJ7IHA.2332@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Not Me wrote:
>> Some do, but usually they just act as a DHCP server and assign an IP
>> automatically to the computer.
>> Are you using a fixed IP address? Or is Vista set to automitacally get an
>> IP address?.
>>
>> "RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
>> news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
>>> the Internet.
>>>
>>> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
>>> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to
>>> a cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
>>> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows
>>> 2000 can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a
>>> Windows 2000 installation CD and there's no indication there's a
>>> recovery partition on the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a
>>> replacement computer.
>>>
>>> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
>>> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the
>>> Internet is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited
>>> connectivity to an "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on
>>> the ISP's web site (obtained and printed out on another computer at
>>> another location) the cable modem is connected to the computer in the
>>> recommended way (directly with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various
>>> TCP/IP settings are as the ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone
>>> conversation with one of the ISP's customer service representatives I
>>> rechecked the TCP/IP settings, disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet
>>> cable at both ends and cycled the power on the cable modem to reset it.
>>> the CS representative reset the modem via remote control as well and
>>> indicated that his terminal indicated that the computer's network
>>> adapter was visible through the cable modem. All the resets, power
>>> cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the computer reporting the
>>> disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the connect. Unfortunately the
>>> computer always resumed the "limited connectivity" to the "unknown
>>> network"
>>>
>>> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>>>
>>> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
>>> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
>>> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the
>>> computer and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later
>>> acquired a router and the additional cables to connect the components.
>>> The computer had no problem detecting the different connection.
>>>
>>> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to
>>> see if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With
>>> the same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the
>>> computer connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows
>>> XP computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new
>>> Vista computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed
>>> in the ISP's web article.
>>>
>>> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
>>> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had
>>> the opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not
>>> to use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power
>>> supply and cables.
>>>
>>> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
>>> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
>>> there some difference between the communications protocols required by
>>> the Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?
>
> Both computers were, and continue to be set to obtain the IP and DNS
> server addresses automatically, as recommended by the ISP's web article.
> On IP settings DHCP Enabled, Automatic Metric, Append primary and
> connection specific DNS suffixes selected, Register this connection's
> addresses in DNS, Enable LMHOSTS lookup, NetBIOS setting default (all as
> recommended in the ISP'd article). The ISP made no mention of any settings
> to clear or set on XP's Advanced TCP/IP Settings options tab (Vista
> doesn't display that tab).
>
> The router on my computer is set to obtain the IP address on the WAN side
> automatically, DHCP is enabled on that separate tab of the router's HTML
> control interface. As I am only using the wired functions of the router, I
> have deactivated the Wireless Access Point.

what router? does it have the latest firmware? do you have the
latest driver for the wired adapter?

see http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/928233/en-us for
the Vista computer.



On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:12:10 -0400, RobertVA
<robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote:

>
>The router on my computer is set to obtain the IP address on the WAN
>side automatically, DHCP is enabled on that separate tab of the router's
>HTML control interface. As I am only using the wired functions of the
>router, I have deactivated the Wireless Access Point.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect
> to the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer
> for several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer
> directly to a cable modem. That computer developed registry problems
> that it cannot recover from with the "last known good configuration"
> option. Windows 2000 can't start in safe mode either. The relative
> doesn't have a Windows 2000 installation CD and there's no indication
> there's a recovery partition on the small hard drive. She decided to
> acquire a replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the
> Internet is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited
> connectivity to an "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles
> on the ISP's web site (obtained and printed out on another computer at
> another location) the cable modem is connected to the computer in the
> recommended way (directly with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various
> TCP/IP settings are as the ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone
> conversation with one of the ISP's customer service representatives I
> rechecked the TCP/IP settings, disconnected and reconnected the
> Ethernet cable at both ends and cycled the power on the cable modem to
> reset it. the CS representative reset the modem via remote control as
> well and indicated that his terminal indicated that the computer's
> network adapter was visible through the cable modem. All the resets,
> power cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the computer
> reporting the disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the connect.
> Unfortunately the computer always resumed the "limited connectivity"
> to the "unknown network"
>
> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>
> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the
> computer and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later
> acquired a router and the additional cables to connect the components.
> The computer had no problem detecting the different connection.
>
> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to
> see if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With
> the same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the
> computer connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my
> windows XP computer appeared to be having the same problem the
> relative's new Vista computer was having! My settings also correspond
> to those listed in the ISP's web article.
>
> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had
> the opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer
> not to use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power
> supply and cables.
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to
> the computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require
> one. Is there some difference between the communications protocols
> required by the Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side
> of a router?

Some cable internet services only provide IP addresses to the MAC
address registered for the account. Generally, you can call the ISP,
explain the problem and provide the new MAC Address and have them update
their DHCP server and be back in business.

An alternative would be to install a router that allows changing the
external MAC address (most do) and change it to the MAC address of the
original NIC in the Windows 2000 PC, if you can somehow determine what
that MAC address is.

Regards,

Dave

most cable modems will "lock in" on 1 MAC address and not allow "on the fly"
changes. Usually cycling the power or resetting the modem is required to
switch devices. My cable modem has a built in battery back-up so simply
turning it off doesn't do it. Pull the power cord and make sure all the
lights go out. leave it off for 2-3 minutes. Make sure the new PC is
connected and turned on before turning the modem back on. If that doesn't
work, I would suggest trying your router. Also, on the new pc, make sure
you have network discovery on, and you have the new network set up as a
private network.


"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to a
> cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows 2000
> can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a Windows 2000
> installation CD and there's no indication there's a recovery partition on
> the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the Internet
> is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited connectivity to an
> "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on the ISP's web site
> (obtained and printed out on another computer at another location) the
> cable modem is connected to the computer in the recommended way (directly
> with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various TCP/IP settings are as the
> ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone conversation with one of the
> ISP's customer service representatives I rechecked the TCP/IP settings,
> disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet cable at both ends and cycled
> the power on the cable modem to reset it. the CS representative reset the
> modem via remote control as well and indicated that his terminal indicated
> that the computer's network adapter was visible through the cable modem.
> All the resets, power cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the
> computer reporting the disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the
> connect. Unfortunately the computer always resumed the "limited
> connectivity" to the "unknown network"
>
> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>
> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the computer
> and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later acquired a router
> and the additional cables to connect the components. The computer had no
> problem detecting the different connection.
>
> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to see
> if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With the
> same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the computer
> connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows XP
> computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new Vista
> computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed in the
> ISP's web article.
>
> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had the
> opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not to
> use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power supply and
> cables.
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
> there some difference between the communications protocols required by the
> Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
> there some difference between the communications protocols required by the
> Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

A difference in configuration between router and non-router is the PPPoE
protocol in my setup. With a router, it supplies the PPPoE protocol. Without
a router the computer must. Just in case:

Create a PPPoE connection to the Internet

The Connect to the Internet wizard will guide you through the steps of
setting up a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Internet
connection.

Click to open the Connect to the Internet wizard.

On the How do you want to connect? page, select Broadband (PPPoE).

Continue to follow the steps in the wizard.

Hi
Maybe this can Help.
How to Fix Cable/DSL Internet authentication (password). -
http://www.ezlan.net/broadband.html
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to a
> cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows 2000
> can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a Windows 2000
> installation CD and there's no indication there's a recovery partition on
> the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the Internet
> is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited connectivity to an
> "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on the ISP's web site
> (obtained and printed out on another computer at another location) the
> cable modem is connected to the computer in the recommended way (directly
> with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various TCP/IP settings are as the
> ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone conversation with one of the
> ISP's customer service representatives I rechecked the TCP/IP settings,
> disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet cable at both ends and cycled
> the power on the cable modem to reset it. the CS representative reset the
> modem via remote control as well and indicated that his terminal indicated
> that the computer's network adapter was visible through the cable modem.
> All the resets, power cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the
> computer reporting the disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the
> connect. Unfortunately the computer always resumed the "limited
> connectivity" to the "unknown network"
>
> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>
> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the computer
> and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later acquired a router
> and the additional cables to connect the components. The computer had no
> problem detecting the different connection.
>
> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to see
> if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With the
> same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the computer
> connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows XP
> computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new Vista
> computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed in the
> ISP's web article.
>
> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had the
> opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not to
> use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power supply and
> cables.
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
> there some difference between the communications protocols required by the
> Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

info in the OP's header shows that he is a Cox customer. Cox does
NOT use PPPoE.

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:39:12 -0700, "Cameron Snyder"
<dntbther@tellpacbell.net> wrote:

>A difference in configuration between router and non-router is the PPPoE
>protocol in my setup. With a router, it supplies the PPPoE protocol. Without
>a router the computer must. Just in case:
>
>Create a PPPoE connection to the Internet
>
>The Connect to the Internet wizard will guide you through the steps of
>setting up a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Internet
>connection.
>
>Click to open the Connect to the Internet wizard.
>
>On the How do you want to connect? page, select Broadband (PPPoE).
>
>Continue to follow the steps in the wizard.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

>> The router on my computer is set to obtain the IP address on the WAN
>> side automatically, DHCP is enabled on that separate tab of the router's
>> HTML control interface. As I am only using the wired functions of the
>> router, I have deactivated the Wireless Access Point.

Barb Bowman wrote:
> what router? does it have the latest firmware? do you have the
> latest driver for the wired adapter?
>
> see http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/928233/en-us for
> the Vista computer.
>
>
>
> On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:12:10 -0400, RobertVA
> <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote:

MY router is working fine. I was only trying to connect through my cable
modem without the router with the intent of taking my computer to the
relative's home to determine if her cable modem is working properly. As
it didn't work here I didn't think there was much point to further
disconnection of my computer and taking it over there.

It's the relative's brand new computer with an integrated network
adapter that's having trouble recognizing the proper IP address
information. The relative doesn't have a router, and since the cable
modem is supposed to work without one prefers to remain directly
connected to the cable modem (router, 2nd Ethernet cable and the
router's power supply would be unnecessary). I suspect the manufacturer
would have configured the computer to install the network adapter
drivers automatically (probably as part of the drive image before
installing the hard drives in the computers).

Thank you for the effort though.

RobertVA wrote:
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to
> a cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows
> 2000 can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a
> Windows 2000 installation CD and there's no indication there's a
> recovery partition on the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a
> replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the
> Internet is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited
> connectivity to an "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on
> the ISP's web site (obtained and printed out on another computer at
> another location) the cable modem is connected to the computer in the
> recommended way (directly with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various
> TCP/IP settings are as the ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone
> conversation with one of the ISP's customer service representatives I
> rechecked the TCP/IP settings, disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet
> cable at both ends and cycled the power on the cable modem to reset it.
> the CS representative reset the modem via remote control as well and
> indicated that his terminal indicated that the computer's network
> adapter was visible through the cable modem. All the resets, power
> cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the computer reporting the
> disconnection and attempt to renegotiate the connect. Unfortunately the
> computer always resumed the "limited connectivity" to the "unknown network"
>
> The relevance to the Windows XP group IS coming!
>
> MY computer is running Windows XP SP2 and I am using a different brand
> cable modem with dual USB and Ethernet interfaces (same ISP). When I
> upgraded to broadband I was using the USB connection between the
> computer and cable modem (loading a driver was required). I later
> acquired a router and the additional cables to connect the components.
> The computer had no problem detecting the different connection.
>
> With the intention of taking my computer to my relative's residence to
> see if her cable modem was working properly I bypassed my router. With
> the same Ethernet cable I normally use between the router and the
> computer connected directly to MY cable modem in my residence my windows
> XP computer appeared to be having the same problem the relative's new
> Vista computer was having! My settings also correspond to those listed
> in the ISP's web article.
>
> Not wanting to spoil my settings for operating through the router I am
> reluctant to make any changes to my computer's settings. I haven't had
> the opportunity to try the router on her system and she would prefer not
> to use the additional piece of equipment with the additional power
> supply and cables.
>
> Do cable modems normally require a driver when connected directly to the
> computer's Ethernet adapter? My router doesn't appear to require one. Is
> there some difference between the communications protocols required by
> the Ethernet side of a cable modem and the computer side of a router?

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I'm hoping the ISP's customer service representative (and/or his script)
was prepared to reset any authorization protocols on their end to accept
the relative's new computer with the new computer's MAC address if that
is required for the ISPs authentication. I'm also hoping anything that
could have be achieved by reseting the modem would have responded to the
multiple times he remotely instructed the modem to reset. On each of
these resets I was able to report indicator light patterns that the CS
representative accepted as indication the modem had properly reset.

While I'm not certain, I believe the ISP is using an ID number in the
modem for authentication. My modem carton is labeled with an number
labeled "HFC MAC ID..." with is duplicated on the modem itself (there
are four spare stickers like the one on the modem). The stickers also
bear a "USB CPE MAC ID...". I see no mention of a CPE Ethernet MAC ID.
When I switched from the USB connection to the Ethernet connection
through the router on my computer the connection was promptly
established and has been operating properly (at least through the
router) for several months since. My cable modem was purchased over the
counter at the ISP's service and payment center.

While I did use the modem's installation CD to get the USB interface
running, I didn't find it necessary to use the ISP's setup CD for either
the connection via USB or connection via the router. The ISP
installation CD I have predates the release of Windows Vista and refuses
to run on the relatives Vista system.

My relative has made an appointment for a field technician, so my quest
has been reduced to an educational exercise in the event she or some
other acquaintance has future problems. I doubt she will be able to
understand what the field technician does well enough to relay it to me.
In the near future I will be visiting with some blank DVD-Rs to make a
set of recovery disks and help her with issues like the OS and Office
suite (trial version) user interface changes. I'm not certain how long
it will take to convince her to buy an external hard drive for other
backup purposes. On her Windows 2000 machine she never burned a CD-R.

yes, you CAN take a chance and connect directly to a cable modem,
but the protection a router offers should be evaluated on its own.

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:43:37 -0400, RobertVA
<robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote:

>The relative doesn't have a router, and since the cable
>modem is supposed to work without one prefers to remain directly
>connected to the cable modem (router, 2nd Ethernet cable and the
>router's power supply would be unnecessary).
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

who is the ISP?
using Ethernet is much preferred over USB.

On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:38:31 -0400, RobertVA
<robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote:

>While I'm not certain, I believe the ISP is using an ID number in the
>modem for authentication. My modem carton is labeled with an number
>labeled "HFC MAC ID..." with is duplicated on the modem itself (there
>are four spare stickers like the one on the modem). The stickers also
>bear a "USB CPE MAC ID...". I see no mention of a CPE Ethernet MAC ID.
>When I switched from the USB connection to the Ethernet connection
>through the router on my computer the connection was promptly
>established and has been operating properly (at least through the
>router) for several months since. My cable modem was purchased over the
>counter at the ISP's service and payment center.
>
>While I did use the modem's installation CD to get the USB interface
>running, I didn't find it necessary to use the ISP's setup CD for either
>the connection via USB or connection via the router. The ISP
>installation CD I have predates the release of Windows Vista and refuses
>to run on the relatives Vista system.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

Did you reset the cable modem. ???? Connect to the computer and unplug the power source to the modem in the back for 5-10 seconds and plug it back on. Now open your computer and it will recognize the modem and vica versa

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@invalid.com> wrote in message news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Main issue is a problem getting a relative's new computer to connect to
> the Internet.
>
> The relative has been operating a non-branded Windows 2000 computer for
> several years with an Ethernet cable connecting the computer directly to
> a cable modem. That computer developed registry problems that it cannot
> recover from with the "last known good configuration" option. Windows
> 2000 can't start in safe mode either. The relative doesn't have a
> Windows 2000 installation CD and there's no indication there's a
> recovery partition on the small hard drive. She decided to acquire a
> replacement computer.
>
> The new Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit computer doesn't appear to be
> recognizing the IP address setting from the ISP. As a result the
> Internet is inaccessible and the computer is reporting limited
> connectivity to an "Unidentified network". By comparison to articles on
> the ISP's web site (obtained and printed out on another computer at
> another location) the cable modem is connected to the computer in the
> recommended way (directly with a standard cat 5 cable) and the various
> TCP/IP settings are as the ISP recommends. As prompted in a telephone
> conversation with one of the ISP's customer service representatives I
> rechecked the TCP/IP settings, disconnected and reconnected the Ethernet
> cable at both ends and cycled the power on the cable modem to reset it.
> the CS representative reset the modem via remote control as well and
> indicated that his terminal indicated that the computer's network
> adapter was visible through the cable modem. All the resets, power
> cycling and cable reconnect ions resulted in the computer r