I have Verizon DSL and I did the speed test and I'm supposed to be getting ~700Kps (though I doubt it because of some of the loading time) and this super weird thing keeps happening to me. I normally live in an apartment near my school and there my internet works FINE (my laptop). When I come here to my mom's apartment and I unplug the ethernet and plug it into my computer it either works or it doesn't. Sometimes it works well, other times it says "Limited or no connectivity." It also sometimes says things about not being able to renew or establish an IP when I click "for more information".

It seems to be PRETTY random. Yesterday I used the laptop's internet in the morning for a few hours and it worked fine. Later I used it again around midnight and it wouldn't let me connect. I tested it by putting back onto the PC and the internet worked just fine with it.

Maybe it has something to do with the type of DSL? I know in the old days it'd ask me for a username (on the PC) but that white login box doesn't seem to work (all kinds of error messages which I've ignored for years) now and the internet works fine though I don't log in.

My friends have had similar problems when they brought their laptops here. I've also tried resetting, unplugging and even air cleaning the modem. Nada.

My mom's super old computer is a COMPAQ. I believe it has 256Mb RAM, about 30 Gigs hard drive... it used to have Windows 98 (I think) but we upgraded it years ago to XP. I use IE here becuase the computer is too slow and old for Mozilla.

My computer is a Toshiba Satellite with 2Gb RAM, and about 80 Gb harddrive. I have Windows XP (too lazy to upgrade to Vista though I have the cd). I usually use Firefox with this computer though I also tried IE.

Thanks for your help

What happened to my account here, it seems like it was deleted so I had to make a new one . Oh well.Can you try another internet cable? Maybe the one you're using is damaged.

Also, have you tried resetting the Router and Modem? (unplug them both for 30 seconds)First off. Don't upgrade to Vista. Old computers and Vista don't mix well. Windows XP is much more stable. Use it until you have no choice.

Second: I'm confused. You mention Verizon DSL but then mention that it doesn't work when you got to your Mom's apartment. What ISP does she have?

When you plug in the ethernet port, do this:

Click Start, Run and type "cmd"
Press enter.
In the command window that opens, type ipconfig and press enter.

Does the IP address of the ethernet controller start with "169."? If so, then DHCP didn't work. It would be particularly good to compare when it works to when it doesn't.

You could also open up the control panel and click on the network icon and view network connections. Make sure that the ethernet port isn't disabled for some reason.

I have this feeling that you are picking up someone else's local wireless connection which is just on the cusp of being able to work, so sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

As a more simple test, you could reset your Mom's modem after you move the cable from her PC to your laptop.

Also make sure she doesn't have a special software running on her machine provided by her ISP. If she does you'll probably have to install it on yours as well.

Lastly, its possible her connection requires a password and PPP to work. You need to check her internet connection properties to see how its configured and configure your laptop the same way.

Just some ideas. Good luck,

RaydudeNo I'm not jacking wireless. Sorry for the late reply btw. I live in an apartment near UCLA where I use wireless and sometimes ethernet when I'm downloading stuff. I believe we are using Time Warner internet here as we get cable.

On weekends I go home to my mom's apartment. She has an old computer hooked up to Verizon DSL by an ethernet cord. She has no wireless router. I just unplug the ethernet cord from her computer and plug it into my laptop (I don't use her computer as it takes forever to load webpages and what-not and it always crashes so I always use my school laptop). It turns on and off on my computer/laptop (says limited or no connectivity) or sometimes it works. However when it doesn't work on my laptop, when I plug it back into my mom's old Compaq pc, the internet works just fine.

My mom's pc has the weird Verizon login that doesn't work. (I'd install it but I don't have the CD... we got it years ago and my mom throws everything away... she even threw away my Microsoft Office!!) I'd think it'd be the login thing too but now it doesn't work and never ASKS me to login when I use her computer. I'll try the cmd thing next weekend when I go back.

Sorry, hope that clears things up.

(And yeah I didn't upgrade haha. I'm waiting till a lot of stuff gets compatible.)

And yeah I did reset the modem. Many many times. Doesn't seem to do much. It seems like I just get lucky (I'll leave for a few hours and then it'll miraculously work.).Verizon DSL. I suggest you do a bit of research on Verizon's web site and figure out what their instructions are for installing. If her system works and doesn't ask for a password that may just be because it remembers.

My guess is there is a password and you just need to reset it. You can do that by calling Verizon and giving the account info. It would help to have your Mom around when you CALL. Then you have to reenter it on her machine and then setup your machine according to the web instructions.

As slow as her computer sounds you may want to consider installing an antivirus program (assuming she doesn't have one if she does, make sure you have the latest updates) and do a scan.

If she doesn't have one you can get one for free from http://free.grisoft.com (there are many menus, keep clicking "free" untill you download it).