Connecting Windows XP

 

If your modem is connected to the internet, but your computer is not getting online, you should check the network settings on your computer.

 

First, check the network connection:

 

1. Go to the Start menu, then select "Control Panel" in the right-hand column.  (If you have Windows XP in Classic Mode, it will be located under "Settings.")



2. If the "Control Panel" window shows "Pick a category" in large letters, click "Switch to Classic View" to the left.  (If the double-arrow next to "Control Panel" is pointed down, you will need to click the double-arrow to see this option.)



3. Double-click on the "Network Connections" icon.



4. Under "LAN or High-Speed Internet," double-click "Local Area Connection."  This could also be labeled something else, such as "Broadband Connection."  If you do not have any icons listed under "LAN or High-Speed Internet," you will want to make sure your Network Interface Card is correctly installed (below).  When you double-click your connection icon, you will either open a "Properties" window or a "Status" window.

If the window that opens is labeled "Local Area Connection Properties" (or other "Connection Properties," if the connection is named something else), then the computer is not online.  Confirm that the modem is connected. 

 

If you are certain that your modem (and router, as necessary) is online, you will want to verify the Connection Properties:

 

1. In the "Local Area Connection Properties" window (or other "Connection Properties" as appropriate), select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click the "Properties" button.



2. In the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties" window, select "Obtain an IP address automatically."



3. Select "Obtain DNS server address automatically."



4. Click the "Advanced" button.



5. In the "Advanced TCP/IP Settings" window, on the "IP Settings" tab, make sure that "IP Addresses" show "DHCP Enabled."



6. Select the "DNS" tab, and make sure no "DNS server addresses" are listed.



7. Select "Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes" with a check in the box for "Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix."



8. Select the "WINS" tab, and make sure that no "WINS servers" are listed.



9. Select "Enable LMHOSTS lookup" and under "NetBIOS setting" select "Default," then click the "OK" button.



10. In the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties" window, select the "Alternate Configuration" tab.



11. Select "Automatic private IP address," then click the "OK" button.



12. In the "Local Area Connection Properties" window (or other "Connection Properties" as appropriate), click the "OK" button.



13. Restart your computer.

If the window that opens is labeled "Local Area Connection Status" (or other "Connection Status," if the connection is named something else), then the computer currently shows the connection is working correctly.  Select the "Support" tab and check the IP address:

 

• If the IP address is 0.0.0.0 or begins 169.254.x.x, then your computer is not showing an active connection.  Click the "Repair" button to attempt to resolve a new IP address.



• If the IP address begins 192.168.x.x, then either your computer is connected to a router, or your computer is connected directly to the cable modem, but the modem is not online (see Connecting Your Modem).



• If the "IP Address" field has any other address, then your computer should be connected to the internet.

If you cannot get any IP address other than 0.0.0.0 or beginning 169.254.x.x, or if you have an IP address that indicates you should be connected to the internet, but no connections to the internet work, you may wish to clear your TCP/IP connection and establish a new one:

 

1. Go to the Start menu, then select "Run."



2. Clear anything already in the "Open" line and type cmd, then click "OK."



3. In the DOS window that appears, following any prompt that is given, type netsh int ip reset log then press <Enter>.



4. Restart your computer.

If you do not have any network connections listed under "LAN or High-Speed Internet" in the "Network Connections" control panel, your Network Interface Card (NIC) may not be installed correctly.  You should verify the status of your NIC:

 

1. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop and select "Preferences."



2. In the "Preferences" window, select the "Hardware" tab, then click on the "Device Manager" button.



3. Find "Network Adapters" in the listing, and click the plus sign (+) if one is next to it.



4. You may have several adapters listed - your NIC will likely say "ethernet" or "network" in the description.  Note the name of the NIC, as it is important when getting your computer online.



5. If there is a symbol on the green icon for your NIC, such as !, ? or X, this indicates an error that needs to be corrected.  Right-click on the NIC and see what options are available.  If your NIC is currently disabled, you can select "Enable" and the symbol should disappear.  Otherwise you may need to select "Repair" or "Update driver" to correct any problems with the NIC.



6. If you do not have a NIC, or ethernet card, listed under "Network Adapters", you should check under "Other Devices".  If your NIC is listed there, you will need to reinstall the device drivers for that hardware so it is listed under "Network Adapters" before your computer is working correctly to connect to the cable modem.

In Windows XP, it is often very easy to reinstall the driver for your NIC, as that version of Windows is programmed to automatically install any hardware without drivers.  Simply right-click on the NIC and select "Uninstall."  Once the NIC disappears from the Device Manager, restart your computer.  After the desktop reloads, Windows XP should display a window indicating it has found new hardware, and reinstall the NIC driver for you.

 

However, if this does not work, you will require either your Windows install discs (if the NIC came built-in for your computer), or the install disc that came with the NIC (if the NIC was added later).  If you need help doing this, you should call the tech support department that supports you computer, or the manufacturer of the NIC.

 

Still have questions? Please contact us at 1-888-222-5314.