I'm currently trying to fix a windows XP machine. It had Windows 2000 on it. The problem was that the computer was gaining any access to the internet. I tried some command prompt commands, it detected my router, had an IP of 192.168.1.110, I installed Windows XP w/ SP2, it still doesn't connect, I do virus scans, no viruses, I insert a new network card, still no connection, I insert a USB wireless, still no connection. I really have no clue what the problem with the machine is. I need some help. Thank you.
DaveyPocket
PC detects network, but no connection.
April 20, 2008 - 12:04pm
#1
PC detects network, but no connection.
Did you do a clean install of WinXP, or just an upgrade from Win2K? If you upgraded, you may have just carried the problem over to the new system.
Do you have a Linux install disc lying around, like Ubuntu or Fedora? They're free from the publishers on their websites -- download from a PC or Mac with a fast, reliable connection and burn to a CD or DVD.
Boot to the live CD and see if you have a connection there. If you do, it's a Windows problem. If you don't, it's a hardware problem.
I have a copy of Ubuntu, I will try booting from that disk.
Yes, I upgraded directly from Win2k, if it is a software problem, then I might have carried it over, the file system is formatted in FAT32 and is partitioned. If it is a software problem, I will back everything up and do a fresh install, if it's hardware(most likely not) then I might have to get a new machine.
I booted from live CD, it works absolutely fine. Windows is the problem, but I don't know what is causing windows to not connect. the TCP/IP settings are set to auto detect, firewall settings are set correctly. I don't know what else could be the problem.
DaveyPocket
Do you have a spare HD lying around, so you can go back to your original Windows HD if necessary?
If so, install it in place of the old HD and install a fresh copy of Windows XP SP2. Let us know whether this allows you to connect.
I do have a spare HD, but this is not my computer, I'm repairing it for someone else. The computer seems to be a server, though it is not used as one. The hard drive that is inserted in their right now is connected by RAID to a RAID card, I'm going to back everything up onto another hard drive, then erase the original hard drive, then put all of the files back onto the original.
DaveyPocket
Is your router providing DNS for your local network?
Have you checked your DNS settings in your Windows setup?
Try connecting your web browser to 216.168.61.85, that's AF's IP, or try google @ 64.233.167.99. If you can enter one of those and get the server, then your DNS ain't working and that's where you need to focus your troubleshooting.
dan k
Well, first of all, I noticed it was the comp. My computer works, all 4 of my mac's work, all the PC's in my house work, the xbox works, the Wii works, it's the computer. My router is operating just fine, I can't figure out what the problem is, so I'm just going to format the hard drive and put all the apps and files back on.
You posted the Ubuntu worked. Has something changed? A DNS issue sound quite likely, esp. from what I've seen on Win systems.
I just reformatted the hard drive. Two reasons, one because of the network issues, and the second one because the system was on 8 GB of FAT32, 20 GB left over for NTFS, I wanted to make it one big NTFS drive.