Vista - What's different connecting directly to a cable modem?

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

Not Me wrote: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@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OHZPxNJ7IHA.2332@xxxxxx

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@xxxxxx> wrote:
--

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

"RobertVA" <robert_c72athotmail@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@xxxxxxA 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@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%231gOUhI7IHA.5024@xxxxxx

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@xxxxxx> wrote:
--

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