Strange Network Problem

[Steve Maskery]

Hi all,
I wonder if anyone can get me out of a hole.

My mate Brian has an old desktop and a new laptop. This is the setup

Wireless router - 192.168.100.1
Wired desktop - 192.168.100.2
Wireless laptop - 192.168.100.3, gateway 192.168.100.1

The weird thing is that the laptop connects to the Internet only when the desktop is switched on, as if that was the gateway. It should be independent, shouldn't it? What else should I be looking for? It all works fine when the desktop is on, it doesn't work at all when it isn't.

I bet it's something embarrassingly simple.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Argee]

Has the desktop got "Internet Sharing" turned on?

Is the laptop set to connect directly to the Internet?

Can't see what else it could be.

Ray

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Ray
Thank you for thinking about this.

Where do I find Internet Sharing (XP)?
Doesn't setting the gateway tell the laptop to connect directly?

Cheers
Steve

 

[Lord Nibbo]

open the control panel then open network & Internet it's should be there.

 

[Terry Smart]

Hi Steve

This is so emabarrassingly simple (goes with my knowledge of computers) that I almost don't want to post it, but I will because it's how I have my system set up although I haven't been caught out by it...

I assume that when the desktop system is turned off there is still power going to the router and modem and both of these are still on?
When I shut down I turn off the power to my computer which also turns off the modem and router...

 

[Steve Maskery]

LN - TY

Terry , but yes there is power. That was my first thought, too.

S

 

[Woody Alan]

Steve I have to ask, why are you not using auto DHCP and thus not have to bother to hard code the IP's. Unless you are not hard coding them and it's auto DHCP doing the allocating and then depending which machine gets turned on first will depend which ip address it gets allocated....which in turn means that normally when the desktop is on the laptop is on 192.168.100.3
but when it's off it becomes 192.168.100.2 and is somehow blocked in the wireless range of IP's.
Just guessing, no real knowledge of these things I stumble my way through.

Alan

 

[Steve Maskery]

Woody
I'm hard coding because that's what I understand.

However problem solved and I told you it would be embarrassingly simple, and Terry is going to be laughing his socks off, although I blame Brian for giving me duff info.

I did check that the router was on and working. However the modem, which is tucked away out of sight, is on the kind of power block that turns everything off with the PC....

So at least there was nothing wrong with my configuration. I've called Brian some rude words today, and felt an idiot myself.

Thank you all. I think I'll delete this thread now so that my embarrassment is not preserved for posterity.

Cheers
Steve

 

[TrimTheKing]

Steve I have to ask, why are you not using auto DHCP and thus not have to bother to hard code the IP's. Unless you are not hard coding them and it's auto DHCP doing the allocating and then depending which machine gets turned on first will depend which ip address it gets allocated....which in turn means that normally when the desktop is on the laptop is on 192.168.100.3
but when it's off it becomes 192.168.100.2 and is somehow blocked in the wireless range of IP's.
Just guessing, no real knowledge of these things I stumble my way through.

Alan

Hi Alan, both hard coding and DHCP are perfectly valid methods of allocating IP addressing, DHCP just makes it simpler in taking away the need to manually allocate DNS and/or WINS and taking out human error.

I'm not entirely sure what your understanding is when you say it could somehow get blocked in the range of IP's. Unless Steve had created some kind of IP Access Control List there should be no need to create any kind of ACL's in a simple home setup.

Anyway, it was a simple solution, so all is good.

Cheers

Mark

 

[Woody Alan]

Hi Alan, both hard coding and DHCP are perfectly valid methods of allocating IP addressing, DHCP just makes it simpler in taking away the need to manually allocate DNS and/or WINS and taking out human error.

I thought it was clear I understood that from the first sentence I posted.

Alan

 

[Terry Smart]

Chuckle chuckle... mind you, I'm just excited I answered a computer question!

 

[TrimTheKing]

Just guessing, no real knowledge of these things I stumble my way through.

Alan

Agreed, but then you finished with this...

No offence intended, just trying to be helpful...

Mark

 

[penman]

Try setting all your computers to DHCP and check that all your computers have a different network name. ieC1, PC2 etc.
But make sure they are all in the same workgroup

Malcolm

 

[Woody Alan]

Agreed, but then you finished with this...

yes, that would be my way of trying to be humble and not patronising obviously I'm not very good at it, and have no intention of continuing this pointless exchange, by saying something designed to evoke yet another response.

Alan... also no offence intended, I'm sure if we were sitting in a pub the most amiable of exchanges and knowing looks would be taking place.

Alan

 

[TrimTheKing]

Agreed, but then you finished with this...

yes, that would be my way of trying to be humble and not patronising obviously I'm not very good at it, and have no intention of continuing this pointless exchange, by saying something designed to evoke yet another response.

Alan... also no offence intended, I'm sure if we were sitting in a pub the most amiable of exchanges and knowing looks would be taking place.

Alan

my fault, just misinterpreted what you wrote. Please accept this ccasion5: by way of an apology. :wink:

Cheers

Mark

 

[Woody Alan]

Mark no worries, a few of us are meeting in the "Fat cat" (Norwich) tomorrow. I guess we are the eastern section of the UK workshop, I can assure you I will take you up on your very kind offer, and drink to your health, and the rest of UK w'kshp, a very knowledgeable and helpful bunch all round.

Alan

 

[TrimTheKing]

Good man. We Norveners are meeting at Dan Tovey's place tomorrow, so I will raise a bacon butty to you

Enjoy the meet mate.

Cheers

Mark