Cannot reach DHCP server

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chen Yaohan
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Chen Yaohan

I bought a NetGear GA621 fiber optic adapter to connect to my school
network. It installed successfully, and the LINK LED on the back of the card
turns on. But I cannot get an IP address on the network, only the auto
196.254.x.x address.

I read on some pages that this situation usually means I have bad cabling,
but I've switched cards, cables, faceplates, and moved the card to different
slots, and nothing solved the problem. It seems the problem is with my
computer or software. I have an M810LR motherboard, which has a built-in
10/100 Ethernet controller. Disabling it doesn't work either (I used to use
the built-in in my home network, so I think at least the TCP/IP files
shouldn't be corrupt). Uninstalling ZoneAlarm Pro was no solution either.
The school tech people couldn't find anything wrong in the TCP/IP and other
settings, and suspect incompatibility, but I cannot find anything about
incompatibility between GA621 and my motherboard on either manufacturers'
sites. Also, is it likely for the card to be recognized by Windows and get
installed successfully if it's incompatible?

I'm trying to get an answer from the manufacturers of my adapter and
motherboard. Meanwhile, does anyone have any suggestions on this problem?
Thank you very much.


Yaohan Chen
 
I guess the last post was too long. Here is a summary of my problem:

My network card (NetGear GA621) cannot reach the DHCP server to get an IP
address, and is automatically configured a 196.254.x.x address. Windows (XP
Home) connection status reports that there is scarce amount of received
packets. The link LED and Windows connection status indicate that the
physical link should be fine. I've also made sure of this and that the card
is working by switching cards and cables, etc.

What else could cause this problem?

I also have Windows 2000 Professional installed on the same machine.
Basically the same problem occurs on that OS, but an interesting thing is
that on Windows 2000 connection status the number of received packets
increases as time goes by.

I'm suspecting that the network card is not comptible with something on my
computer, possibly my motherboard. But is it possible for the card to be
detected, installed and configured by Windows in that case?


Thank you very much,

Yaohan Chen
 
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