XP install and no connection..

Hello all ..
Ive just installed Windows XP Pro which ive done before but this time when I was done installing and went to browse and get all my needed updates ...I opened browser and it said "detecting proxy settings" then "page cannot be displayed" usually on my other installs I didnt need to configure anything it just worked...so then I went to "internet options "then "connections" and set it up as LAN cuz I have cable ....same thing no connection...I have it set to "obtain ip automatically "like a do always ..also I went to Command prompt and typed "ipconfig /all" and I think it said something like ip auto configuration and all the dns stuff was empty....the only different thing I did on this install is I didnt have ethernet cable from modem plugged into the puter during installation ...of course I remembered to plug in after the install Is it possible it didnt configure properly cuz it wasnt connected when I installed? and if so how do I fix ?
THANKS

 

Assuming your NIC is operational (try ping 127.0.0.1 to test) and your cable/modem are both working, you should be able to do

ipconfig /release
and then
ipconfig /renew

and be up and running.

If the ping works and the ipconfig /renew doesn't repopulate your settings, my guess is the cable or the modem or possibly a glitch with your ISP.

To test the ISP part, get from them their name & ip address and then put an entry in your hosts file with the name and ip address paired. If you can't connect then, you have an issue with cable-to-modem or modem.

 

Curious about your answer, Newt (I'm always trying to learn more about this voodoo they call "Windows "). Are you saying that even if you don't know your Internet and/or DSL settings (e.g., gateway, bindings, et. al.), you can just execute those IPconfig /release and /renew commands and it'll set it self up automatically?

The reason I ask is, I've got a wonderful DSL setup and a home network and I get blazing 1500 speeds -- and I'm afrqaid to even look at it crosseyed for fear I'll lose it and not know how to recreate it all. It sure would be nice if Windows was smart enough to do it for me.

I know, I know. I'm probably dreaming...

 

dkline - you potentially have several choices in setting up all the network parameters.

If there is a DHCP server it will do the honors if you let it. Most broadband ISPs I'm familiar with want to do just that. I seem to remember the dial-up ones didn't.

If you have a router/switch like the linksys and netgear ones made for home use, they function as DHCP servers for your local LAN and take settings from your ISP.

Or you can do things by hand. In that case, the DHCP server will only set those values it has and that you didn't set manually.

I forget exactly but I know there are over 30 including IP address, subnet mask, gateway, domain name, and others that are not so familiar to most. DHCP can be set up to configure any or all of those.

 

Thanks, Newt. I have a Netgear HPNA router and DSL. This is probably just academic, but in case something goes ka-boom, I would like to know how to recreate my Net settings. But I'm not clear what DHCP is and how it does that for me.

 

well I am able to Ping things from command prompt but cant goto any sites with browser or use even msn messanger while my norton firewall is enabled ....if firewall off everything is fine..i reinstalled norton figured maybe i messed up something but still the same thing ...i thought in the mean time I read someone talkn about KERIO firewall in this forum so i downloaded it and it seems to be working ..hope its good if it works ill just use that one ...I gotta read up on it..thx

 

THunDA - that is a good firewall and should work fine for you. No idea why the Norton one is not doing as it should.

dkline - DHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A full-blown DHCP server is very flexible. Home router/switches aren't always. Since you say you have a NetGear HPNA and HPNA = Home Phoneline Networking Alliance and HPNA gear comes in several versions, there is no way I can tell you exactly what settings yours will allow without more detail. But at a minimum it will have to allow you to set up a pool of IP addresses (probably 254), a subnet mask, and a default gateway, and primary/secondary DNS servers.

What basically happens with a PC whose TCP/IP settings call for "obtain an IP address automatically" is the PC when booted up will send a broadcast message saying "is there a DHCP server out there anywhere? This is Charlie asking." The DHCP server is designed to respond to those broadcasts and will pick out the IP address for Charlie and send a response "Yup. I'm here." From there, via the established connection (so no more broadcast messages)

Charlie: set me up please
DHCP: OK. Let me check what you already got. Hmmm. IP, no. DNS, no. Gateway, no. Now lemme check my data base for what you had before that is still good. Hmmm. OK, the lease on your last IP address still has time to run so you get it back. So here is the IP, netmask, DNS's, gateway I want you to use.
Charlie: Got it. Setting em up. Done. Bye DHCP.
DHCP: Bye Charlie. Have fun there fella.

If the IP lease had expired but the most recently used IP was still available, Charlie would get it. Otherwise, he would get another from the pool established for DHCP. If DNS addresses were already there, Charlie wouldn't get any new values for that and would use what was there - be it right or wrong. Same for gateway.

Charlie's original broadcast would include the MAC (hardware) address of the NIC since there would be no IP address to use at that point. Each NIC has a unique MAC address so no problems for the DHCP server to locate the correct machine.

If you want more information about home networking including a good DHCP primer, there is an excellent article Here.

 

thx for response ...ill just stick with this one

 

Thanks, Newt! Your explanation was very clear. So clear, in fact, that I almost understand what you're saying.

And thanks for the link to the primer.