Another computer question - help me out!

CarreraS2 · 10:22 PM

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FrayAdjacent911 · 12-22-2005, 07:39 PM

Is your work laptop connecting to a domain at work? That could possibly prevent you from getting on a different network if you plug it in somewhere else.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
But when I bring the work computer home, and plug it into my cable modem (cox cable), it doesn't work.

Do you have a static IP (assigned by your work) or DHCP?

Sounds like you're going to have to configure a 2nd set of network settings (DHCP||IP, DNS, default gateway, etc) for home.

EdT82SC · 12-22-2005, 09:36 PM

I had a similar problem with Cox when I added a home router a few years ago. The problem was that the MAC address of the router was different then the one on the PC. When I set up the router to use the MAC address of my PC I was able to connect. They may have changed the way they do things, but I if not then this is your problem. You can either configure the network adapter on your work laptop to use the same MAC address as you home laptop or call up Cox, and tell them you have a second PC, and ask them to allow either one to access the net. They may want to charge you extra for that though.... I know it used to be an extra $5 per PC each month.

Of course this was over three years ago when I went through all that so Cox could have changed everything by now.

930addict · 930addict's Garage

I second Widebody's suggestion. Check to see if your work laptop has a static address. To do this get to a command prompt and type IPCONFIG /ALL and press enter. A bunch of stuff will appear on the screen. You're looking for a line that says DHCP enabled. If that says no then you have a static address. If that says yes ther is probably something else going on. Are you connecting through a router at home?

slodave · slodave's Garage

Cable modems learn the MAC address of a computer or home router. If you were to plug your work laptop directly into your cable modem, you must first unplug the cable modem from the wall for about 5 minutes, then plug it back in and then plug the laptop into the modem.

Dave

HardDrive · 12-22-2005, 10:30 PM

You guys need to be more specific about the MAC issue. A MAC address is a hardware address that is hard coded into your network card. The reason it could be an issue is that MAC filtering could be turned on. I don't know who set up your wireless, but in some instance, the wireless router is configured to only allow machines with certain MAC addresses to use the network. It is a crude way of preventing your neighbors from using your access point (totally ineffective btw....).

SoCal, plug your work computer into the home network, then type IPCONFIG from a command prompt. To get to a command prompt, type cmd from a run command and hit enter.

What do you see in the IP Address field?

192.168.x.x (x could be any number up to 254) ??

169.254.x.x ????

dad911 · 12-23-2005, 05:34 AM

Is the one that works running windows xp, and the other a different version of windows? XP will fix the internet connection automatically, earlier versions do not.

Does the netgear router have a reset button or a way to restore factory defaults? then you can enter new WEP.

island_dude · 12-23-2005, 06:01 AM

I'll add my voice to the chorus. If you have Cox cable service, they machine that you register with becomes the only one that can get an IP address. The best solution is to get a firewall/router. The installation process for the firewall will duplicate the MAC address of the PC that you registered with Cox. From that point on, any PC or laptop plugged into the firewall will work.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by island_dude
If you have Cox cable service, they machine that you register with becomes the only one that can get an IP address.

If this is true, then that's Cox suckage of incredible magnitude.

FrayAdjacent911 · 12-23-2005, 09:34 AM

Wow, I didn't know Cox did that kind of crap. I believe, though, if you have a router that can spoof your PC's MAC address, then the PCs connecting to it should then be able to get through the router, since it uses NAT.

I'd probably get the router's MAC address, and call Cox, give them that, and tell them you got a new PC, so you need to change it. THEN anything you connect to that router should be able to go through it.

I'm glad Time Warner doesn't do that crap.

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Check the speed setting on the network card, you might just need to set it to auto; 100 full; or something. Auto would probably be your best bet.

slodave · slodave's Garage

What about proxy settings? I Explorer -> tools-> Internet Options -> Connections (tab) -> LAN Settings. Make sure the "Automatically detect settings" is unchecked.

Dave

masraum · 12-23-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
If this is true, then that's Cox suckage of incredible magnitude.

Hahah, ROFLMAO. So True.

SoCal,
I worked in a call center for Bell-Atlantic back when they first introduced DSL. At the time they were registering the MAC address of the remote device and that was the only device/MAC that would get an address. I'm sure they've changed, and my DSL here in Houston is like that, but since he has a cable modem and a router, if the topology is the norm then the mac shouldn't be an issue.

The norm is

sp~~~~~~modem-----router------PC

With that setup the PC MAC should never come into play as far as the SP is concerned. The router MAC should be the only MAC that the SP sees. That's the whole point of those routers. Is for the SP to see one device and for the user to be able to plug several devices into the back of the router that can all connect simultaneously despite only having one connection and one IP from the SP.

Like Thom says. If Cox is somehow not working like that....