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@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@xxxxxx
Quote:
> 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?