Wireless connection works, cable connection does not!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lyautey
  • Start date Start date
L

Lyautey

I am having the worst problems connecting using a cable connection, which I
need because as I am in Europe at the moment, many sites or private homes are
not equipped with wireless. Now, when I connect with cable, everything seems
to be working fine, the Toshiba connectivity doctor tells me I am connected,
the diagnose program assures me that the problem has been resolved etc. etc.
and yet whenever I try to connect (IE, Mozilla, Google, I have tried them
all), I get an error screen. I have tried everything I could think of,
checking my settings etc. Nothing works.
Let me emphasize that:
1) wireless connection works fine
2) it is a problem with my computer, not the host, since I have encountered
the same problem everywhere (libraries with password protected access,
private homes without password protected access etc.).
Can anyone help?
 
Lyautey said:
I am having the worst problems connecting using a cable connection, which
I need because as I am in Europe at the moment, many sites or private
homes are not equipped with wireless. Now, when I connect with cable,
everything seems to be working fine, the Toshiba connectivity doctor tells
me I am connected,
the diagnose program assures me that the problem has been resolved etc.
etc. and yet whenever I try to connect (IE, Mozilla, Google, I have tried
them all), I get an error screen. I have tried everything I could think
of, checking my settings etc. Nothing works.
Let me emphasize that:
1) wireless connection works fine
2) it is a problem with my computer, not the host, since I have
encountered the same problem everywhere (libraries with password protected
access, private homes without password protected access etc.).
Can anyone help?
Click to expand...

1. What does the error screen say? Please quote exactly without
paraphrasing.

2. Is the wired network adapter enabled? Look in Device Manager.

3. What antivirus/security program(s) do you have installed? I've seen cases
where McAfee (for instance) firewalls the wired and wireless connections
separately and you need to configure them accordingly.

4. The First Question Of Troubleshooting: If the problem is new, what
changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?

Malke
 
Thanks for your response.

1. What does the error screen say? Please quote exactly without
paraphrasing.

I have been getting several, like "This computer has limited or no
connectivity.
Cannot communicate with primary DNS server (134.157.0.129)" or "Windows
failed to find the well-known host "www.microsoft.com" using DNS. The server
may be down."


2. Is the wired network adapter enabled? Look in Device Manager.

I did, thank you for the suggestion. Both the Atheros wireless adapter and
the Realtek RTL8101 are working properly. I noticed yellow exclamation marks
next to Microsoft 6to4 adapter and ISATAP adater no. 3. When I clicked on the
link I found a message indicating "This device is not working properly
because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31)
Click 'Check for solutions' to send data about this device to Microsoft and
to see if there is a solution available." I did in both cases.

3. What antivirus/security program(s) do you have installed? I've seen cases
where McAfee (for instance) firewalls the wired and wireless connections
separately and you need to configure them accordingly.

I got rid of McAfee, which came with my Toshiba, about a year ago, having
noticed hat it kept causing freezes and other problems. Now I have Symantec,
to which I can connect (when I can connect) as a member of the Vassar College
community. I haven't noticed any particular problems.

4. The First Question Of Troubleshooting: If the problem is new, what
changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?

This I can't answer because I cannot remember when or how the problem
started. As I said, generally I do not need a wired connection because in the
US most places are wireless now, but Europe is way behind and a wired
connection is needed in most places.

Thanks for continuing to advise if you can.
 
Hi Lyautey,

Open cmd prompt and type:
ipconfig /all

If everything is OK, you should get a valid IP address for your wired
network connection from a local DHCP service.

If DHCP service is not available, your IP address will look like:
169.254.y.z (where y and z = 1 - 254)
This range of addresses is known as APIPA and allows you to communicate only
on the local network, but not on the Internet.
If you get that address, you should ask the person who is in charge of that
wired network for help .

Another thing. When you use wired connection, make sure that wireless
connection is turned off.
 
Lyautey said:
Thanks for your response.

1. What does the error screen say? Please quote exactly without
paraphrasing.

I have been getting several, like "This computer has limited or no
connectivity.
Cannot communicate with primary DNS server (134.157.0.129)" or "Windows
failed to find the well-known host "www.microsoft.com" using DNS. The
server may be down."
Click to expand...

OK, it sounds like you are getting an IP address (or possibly not, I can't
tell unless you run ipconfig - see below) but you definitely have a problem
with DNS.

First do this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: cmd
When cmd appears in Results above, right-click and choose "run as
administrator". This will get you an elevated command prompt. At the
command prompt type:

ipconfig /all [enter]

See what IP address is assigned to the ethernet (wired) adapter. See what
DNS servers are listed. Post back with that information.

In the meantime: Is this computer a member of a domain? It sounds like you
have the wired adapter set to get DNS from 134.157.0.129. This was possibly
set up because of the college network. You need to set the wired adapter to
get its IP and DNS automatically. While you're at it, disable IPv6 too.
This Microsoft Knowledge Base article tells you how to do these things:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/e070bf7b-6d5e-4f49-b4f7-10aa8d8b11e21033.mspx
I noticed yellow exclamation
marks next to Microsoft 6to4 adapter and ISATAP adater no. 3.
Click to expand...

This is nothing to worry about and unconnected to your problem. Let's
address the IP/DNS issues.

Malke
 
Hi Delphin, thanks for your message and suggestions.

Here is the information I get after typing ipconfig /all (I am skipping what
obviously has to do only with wireless):

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description: Realtek RTL8101 Family PC1-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address: 00-1B-38-3D-F9-86
DHCP Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::ecc3:a195:8d25:53b3%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address: 82.224.27.22 (Preferred)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:18:42 PM [EST]
Lease Expired: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Default Gateway: 82.224.27.254
DHCP Server: 82.224.26.254
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip: Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 00-00-54-4E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(AE9D600A-786D-4646-93E3-DCBC340c9835)
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 15:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(75E43715-D7C1-4D0B-9238-71CEA9C99C8)
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 16:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 6TO Adapter
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
IPv6 Address: 2002:52e0:1b16::52e0:1b16 (Preferred)
Default Gateway:
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcip: Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 17:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.ens.fr
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Does this make sense? Can you figure out what is wrong? Of course I did turn
off the wireless connection. And I was still getting hat vexing message from
the connectivity doctor about there being no problem with my connection!

Best,

Lyautey
 
Hi there, thanks for the suggestions, I will try what you suggest. In the
meantime, here is the information I get after typing ipconfig /all (I am
skipping what obviously has to do only with wireless):

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description: Realtek RTL8101 Family PC1-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address: 00-1B-38-3D-F9-86
DHCP Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::ecc3:a195:8d25:53b3%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address: 82.224.27.22 (Preferred)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:18:42 PM [EST]
Lease Expired: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Default Gateway: 82.224.27.254
DHCP Server: 82.224.26.254
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip: Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 00-00-54-4E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(AE9D600A-786D-4646-93E3-DCBC340c9835)
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 15:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(75E43715-D7C1-4D0B-9238-71CEA9C99C8)
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 16:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 6TO Adapter
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
IPv6 Address: 2002:52e0:1b16::52e0:1b16 (Preferred)
Default Gateway:
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcip: Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 17:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.ens.fr
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

(And of course I did turn off the wireless connection as you advised but it
made absolutely no difference).

Malke said:
Lyautey said:
Thanks for your response.

1. What does the error screen say? Please quote exactly without
paraphrasing.

I have been getting several, like "This computer has limited or no
connectivity.
Cannot communicate with primary DNS server (134.157.0.129)" or "Windows
failed to find the well-known host "www.microsoft.com" using DNS. The
server may be down."
Click to expand...

OK, it sounds like you are getting an IP address (or possibly not, I can't
tell unless you run ipconfig - see below) but you definitely have a problem
with DNS.

First do this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: cmd
When cmd appears in Results above, right-click and choose "run as
administrator". This will get you an elevated command prompt. At the
command prompt type:

ipconfig /all [enter]

See what IP address is assigned to the ethernet (wired) adapter. See what
DNS servers are listed. Post back with that information.

In the meantime: Is this computer a member of a domain? It sounds like you
have the wired adapter set to get DNS from 134.157.0.129. This was possibly
set up because of the college network. You need to set the wired adapter to
get its IP and DNS automatically. While you're at it, disable IPv6 too.
This Microsoft Knowledge Base article tells you how to do these things:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/e070bf7b-6d5e-4f49-b4f7-10aa8d8b11e21033.mspx
I noticed yellow exclamation
marks next to Microsoft 6to4 adapter and ISATAP adater no. 3.
Click to expand...

This is nothing to worry about and unconnected to your problem. Let's
address the IP/DNS issues.

Malke
Click to expand...
 
Lyautey said:
Hi there, thanks for the suggestions, I will try what you suggest. In the
meantime, here is the information I get after typing ipconfig /all (I am
skipping what obviously has to do only with wireless):

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description: Realtek RTL8101 Family PC1-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address: 00-1B-38-3D-F9-86
DHCP Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::ecc3:a195:8d25:53b3%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address: 82.224.27.22 (Preferred)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:18:42 PM [EST]
Lease Expired: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Default Gateway: 82.224.27.254
DHCP Server: 82.224.26.254
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip: Enabled
Click to expand...

Your computer is set to get an address from a DCHP server at 82.224.27.254.
A Whois lookup for that IP address produces this:

netnum: 82.224.26.0 - 82.224.27.255
netname: FR-PROXAD-ADSL
descr: Proxad / Free SAS
descr: Static pool (Freebox)
descr: menilmontant-5 (th2)
descr: NCC#2003105812
country: FR

(For more see: http://whois.domaintools.com/82.224.27.254)

So I assume since you said that you are in Europe that you are in France and
this is the ISP you're using. However, the DNS server is located at the
Universite Pierre et Marie Curie:

inetnum: 134.157.0.0 - 134.157.255.255
netname: FR-UPMC-NET
descr: Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
descr: Centre de Calcul Recherche
descr: 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris CEDEX 05, France
country: FR

(For more see: http://whois.domaintools.com/134.157.0.129)

You are properly getting a public IP address from the ISP but failing on
DNS. Make sure your computer is set to get DNS automatically as described
in my last post to you (and disable IPv6 while you're there). Then flush
your DNS cache by:

Start Orb>Search box>type: cmd
When cmd appears in Results above, right-click it and choose "Run as
administrator". This will give you an elevated command prompt. At the
command prompt type:

ipconfig /flushdns [enter]

Exit the command prompt and try to connect to the Internet. Report back.

Malke
 
Hi Delphin, I think we have solved it. Malke explained to me that I had to
flush the DNS cache and make sure that my settings had to specify that my DNS
had to be automatically assigned. I suspect someone at the school where I
taught last year had changed the settings without making the implications
clear to me. I certainly would never have figured it out by myself!
Thanks again for your help.
Lyautey

Lyautey said:
Hi Delphin, thanks for your message and suggestions.

Here is the information I get after typing ipconfig /all (I am skipping what
obviously has to do only with wireless):

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description: Realtek RTL8101 Family PC1-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address: 00-1B-38-3D-F9-86
DHCP Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::ecc3:a195:8d25:53b3%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address: 82.224.27.22 (Preferred)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:18:42 PM [EST]
Lease Expired: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Default Gateway: 82.224.27.254
DHCP Server: 82.224.26.254
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip: Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 00-00-54-4E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(AE9D600A-786D-4646-93E3-DCBC340c9835)
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 15:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.(75E43715-D7C1-4D0B-9238-71CEA9C99C8)
Physical Address: 02-00-54-55-$E-01
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 16:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: 6TO Adapter
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
IPv6 Address: 2002:52e0:1b16::52e0:1b16 (Preferred)
Default Gateway:
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcip: Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 17:

Media State: Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: isatap.ens.fr
Physical Address: 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled: No
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes

Does this make sense? Can you figure out what is wrong? Of course I did turn
off the wireless connection. And I was still getting hat vexing message from
the connectivity doctor about there being no problem with my connection!

Best,

Lyautey

delphin said:
Is that ip address assigned manually,or its getting from dhcp server?
You can find this by typing *ipconfig /all* in command prompt.

disable the wireless adapter while connecting through wired. The
gateway of your wireless adapter may interrupt your wired connection.

keep us informed
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Lyautey said:
Hi Delphin, I think we have solved it. Malke explained to me that I had to
flush the DNS cache and make sure that my settings had to specify that my
DNS had to be automatically assigned. I suspect someone at the school
where I taught last year had changed the settings without making the
implications clear to me. I certainly would never have figured it out by
myself! Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that sorted it for you. Thanks for letting us know.

Malke
 
I think you solved it! I have been able to connect at the BnF (I am indeed in
Paris since I have been teaching in France this past year). Many thanks!
Lyautey

Malke said:
Lyautey said:
Hi there, thanks for the suggestions, I will try what you suggest. In the
meantime, here is the information I get after typing ipconfig /all (I am
skipping what obviously has to do only with wireless):

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix :
Description: Realtek RTL8101 Family PC1-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address: 00-1B-38-3D-F9-86
DHCP Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::ecc3:a195:8d25:53b3%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address: 82.224.27.22 (Preferred)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:18:42 PM [EST]
Lease Expired: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Default Gateway: 82.224.27.254
DHCP Server: 82.224.26.254
DNS Servers: 134.157.0.129
134.157.29.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip: Enabled
Click to expand...

Your computer is set to get an address from a DCHP server at 82.224.27.254.
A Whois lookup for that IP address produces this:

netnum: 82.224.26.0 - 82.224.27.255
netname: FR-PROXAD-ADSL
descr: Proxad / Free SAS
descr: Static pool (Freebox)
descr: menilmontant-5 (th2)
descr: NCC#2003105812
country: FR

(For more see: http://whois.domaintools.com/82.224.27.254)

So I assume since you said that you are in Europe that you are in France and
this is the ISP you're using. However, the DNS server is located at the
Universite Pierre et Marie Curie:

inetnum: 134.157.0.0 - 134.157.255.255
netname: FR-UPMC-NET
descr: Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
descr: Centre de Calcul Recherche
descr: 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris CEDEX 05, France
country: FR

(For more see: http://whois.domaintools.com/134.157.0.129)

You are properly getting a public IP address from the ISP but failing on
DNS. Make sure your computer is set to get DNS automatically as described
in my last post to you (and disable IPv6 while you're there). Then flush
your DNS cache by:

Start Orb>Search box>type: cmd
When cmd appears in Results above, right-click it and choose "Run as
administrator". This will give you an elevated command prompt. At the
command prompt type:

ipconfig /flushdns [enter]

Exit the command prompt and try to connect to the Internet. Report back.

Malke
Click to expand...
 
Lyautey said:
I think you solved it! I have been able to connect at the BnF (I am indeed
in Paris since I have been teaching in France this past year). Many
thanks! Lyautey
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

Malke
 
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