Author Topic: Need help diagnosing network problem (Read 286 times)

StarOfAfrica2 · « **on:** June 17, 2005, 12:30:15 PM »

I cant decide what it is I did, how bad it is, and what I need to do to fix it. Its even more frustrating when I'm used to being the one who fixes my stuff and all my friends' stuff........

Ok, last night after a couple hours online I decided to try easing up some of my OC settings to try to drop temps a bit. In the process I accidentally changed the memory timings as well, and did a "save & exit" just as my eyes spotted the problem. As expected, the computer wouldnt boot. No biggie, I'd done it before when experimenting, so I shut off the power and used the CMOS reset jumper. On restart, I went into the BIOS and set everything back up, only now I have no internet connection! The onboard LAN is detected fine by Windows, picked up fine by the router as well. To rule out that end, I fired up the wife's computer and hers connects just fine with good throughput. I reset the cable modem and router anyway. I tried two different 3Com NICs I had lying around, got the same response. Windows detects fine, router is seeing the connection, but there is no measurable throughput. Windows even knows when I disconnect the cable from the router or the connection on the computer. Windows sets up a network just fine, detects whichever NIC I am using, everything goes completely normally until it tries to get the IP address.

Now last night I was frustrated and tired. Today at work is busy and I have a dinner to attend tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday my days are promised elsewhere. I dont have time to dig around in this thing. I cant imagine why Windows wont get any throughput when it can tell there's a connection there. Any suggestions?

JB66 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2005, 05:31:01 PM »

First thing I think of is a firewall problem...

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2005, 05:46:07 PM »

I thought of that too, so I disabled the firewall to make sure. The only thing that has changed was the CMOS reset.

There is another possibility I suppose. When I did the reset, I made 2 screw ups.

#1 It always says to pull the power cord out when doing a CMOS reset. I didnt do that this time. Dont know why it says to do that, or what damage might be caused.

#2 It says to leave the jumper in place for 5 seconds, then remove and put back in normal position. I put it over to the 2-3 position for "clear", and then got called out of the room by wife-ack. I hurried, it was only there for maybe 30 seconds, but again, dont know if that can cause problems or not? Wouldnt think so.

38ruk · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2005, 10:14:00 PM »

could be a possible winsock error , when you do an ipconfig release and renew does it give you any type of error ? there some winsock repair utils out there , also you might want to blow out tcpip with a netsh command . GL 38
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299357

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2005, 10:26:20 AM »

Try bypassing the routers and hooking the problem machine right to the cable modem.

If you get a connection there then pull the plug on everything for a couple min then plug it all back in and turn it all back on

Orrr you can just try unplugging everything then plugging back in the cable modem, then the router, then the computers

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2005, 01:05:35 AM »

Turns out JB66 was right after all. After trying all the tricks I knew, and exhausing the tricks of one of the network guys I work with, both of of knew it had to be a problem with Windows, yet neither of us could figure it out. Finally in desperation I went to do a Restore on my install, and noticed there had been an update to SP2 downloaded Thursday. Sure enough, the dang autodownload turned the Windows firewall back on and I never thought to check it. I shut MY firewall down but never thought to make sure the Windows Firewall was off. No harm done except to my pride lol.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. It's appreciated.