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Solve : Hooking up multiple computers to a router?

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I have a Linksys wired router and a Westell 6100 modem.  I had these both working well together and now all of a sudden I can't have more than one computer on the INTERNET at a time.  I have three computers that used to be on the Internet all the time.  Two are running Windows XP and one is running Vista Home Basic. 

The other odd thing is that the two XP systems each work when each is connected directly to the modem.  The Vista system used to work, but now when I hook it up to the modem it says limited or no connectivity.  I know it is not the NIC on the Vista system because I borrowed someone elses modem to test it and it worked fine.

I called Verizon and set the modem for Bridge mode so it could work with the router.  Then they told me to CALL Linksys and the Linksys people said that I needed a NEW router.  The router I have is only a month old so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one.  I tried the new router and it still doesn't work.

I still believe it is the modem, but Verizon doesn't think so.  Does anyone have an opinion on this or suggests on things I could try?

Thanks!I think it's the router too.........I did not have good luck with my Linksys router either. You may want to do this:

1- Check the Linksys site to see if they have a new firmware out for your router, if so, upgrade the firmware.

2- Reset the router to factory default setting and then reconfigure it for your network.

Hope this helps.

CheersSo you think the firmware on this router needs to be UPDATED even though it is a brand new router?  I will give this a try later.  (I'm at work right now.)

As far as resetting the router to factory defaults, I've done that a number of times already.

I don't understand, when I set it up originally, I don't remember having this much trouble with it.

Do you think it's possible that the modem is starting to get weak?  It confuses me because like I said the two XP systems work, but the Vista one doesn't when hooked directly to the modem.  The Vista system did work when I tested it with another persons modem. 

I'm sorry, but something deep in my gut still tells me that there is an issue with the modem, but I'm reluctant to get another modem because everyone I talk to says it's probably the router.  (I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.)

Thanks for the suggestions. Quote from: Panda25 on September 12, 2008, 11:02:06 AM

I have a Linksys wired router and a Westell 6100 modem.,

How old is the wired router?  Some of those older Linksys wired routers (BEFSR41s in particular) with older firmware have problems with Vista, even with a firmware update.

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The Vista system used to work, but now when I hook it up to the modem it says limited or no connectivity.

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Right-click "Command Prompt" -> Left-click "Run as Administrator" -> Accept UAC prompt -> ipconfig /release -> press Enter -> ipconfig /renew -> press Enter.

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I know it is not the NIC on the Vista system because I borrowed someone elses modem to test it and it worked fine.

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I called Verizon and set the modem for Bridge mode so it could work with the router.

Good thing.  It may have been in "router" mode previously.

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Then they told me to call Linksys and the Linksys people said that I needed a new router.  The router I have is only a month old

...guess that answers my question above...


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so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one.  I tried the new router and it still doesn't work.

I still believe it is the modem, but Verizon doesn't think so.  Does anyone have an opinion on this or suggests on things I could try?

Thanks!

Have you power-cycled the modem (UNPLUGGED it for about 3 minutes, then plug it back in)?

I'm assuming this is DSL, so...are ALL your phones that are sharing the DSL telephone number filtered?  If EVEN one is not filtered, that can bleed the DSL signal into that particular phone and make the signal too weak to support multiple PCs.

If it's PPPoE, then it may require a user name and password to connect.  Since Verizon changed their modem to Bridge mode, you may have to put the PPPoE credentials in the router itself (they were stored in Verizon's modem).My wired router is BEFSR41s, but it has worked before with my Vista system.

Now I'm starting to question if the ethernet port on this modem is going bad.  I tried the USB connection to the Vista system and it works fine.

Yes, I have power cycled the modem numerous times.  Still no dice.

As far as the DSL filter, when I originally got DSL, the phone company put a filter on the outside box so the entire house is filtered.

I tried that putting my user name & pass word into the router for the modem and it still didn't work.

I am currently looking into getting another modem because I strongly believe the ethernet port on this one is dieing.

Thanks for your reply.Just wanted to update everyone that replied to my post about my router and modem not working.  I think the ethernet port had lost some of its power from a lightning storm we had this summer.  The problem was NOT the router.  I purchased a new modem on EBay for $23.00 and now all my computers that were hooked up to the router now work!  Even hooking my Vista computer up directly to the new modem works.  (It didn't before.)  I'm so glad it was a cheap fix.  Hopefully this will help someone else who may have the same problem down the line.


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