Odd IP behavior while installing wireless

[Cemtech]

Never seen anything like this. Would like some suggestions from those here about possible solutions. This is a copy/paste to Linksys email TS...

I was installing the wireless system but came across an problem..

Toshiba Satellite 1800-S203 with Linksys Wireless WPC11 adapter.

The Toshiba can see other computers on the local network fine via NetBIOS. Wired computers to the wireless BEFW11S4 Broadband router Version 4 can access the Internet with no problem. BUT, the Toshiba can not see the Internet.

Signal is strong. IP address is being given to the Toshiba by the DHCP, 192.168.1.102. But the laptop can ONLY ping itself. It is unable to ping the BEFW11S4, nor any other computer on the LAN.

All drivers and firmware were updated. RTC was changed per Linksys Tech Phone Support with no change in results.

WIN 98 2nd Ed (drive reformatted)was reinstalled and no change in results.

Channel was changed per Linksys Tech Phone Support with no change in results.

Linksys software on the Toshiba shows 100percent signal strength with the BEFW11S4, but shows it can not see the Internet.

? :confused:

[Greenstead]

It can be that the laptop does not pick up the gateway and/or DNS address. Put 192.168.1.1 in both (or whatever your router LAN address is).

[Cemtech]

Nuts, I should have posted that I did try a static IP with gateway and DNS IPs. I used both the 192.168.1.1 and a correctly working, wired computer's DNS and Gateway IPs as shown by winipcfg.

Results were the same. :(

[Greenstead]

I didn't notice before that you said you cannot ping anything on the LAN.

That is strange given you say you can see the other PCs. Can you access their shares ?

Are you using Netbios over TCP/IP for your LAN comms or another protocol (IPX or Netbuie).

I would suggest reinstalling TCP/IP.

[Cemtech]

Aye, I can see the other computers on the local network via NetBIOS over TCP/IP. But yet can't ping their IPs, nor the IP of the very DCHP service that handed it it's own IP address of 192.168.1.102. But it can only ping itself.

Not only did i uninstall/reinstall TCP/IP, I also did the same for the adapter and the router. When that didn't work, I reinstalled the OS.

All results the same, can only ping itself. I was totally baffled spending 8 hours on it. Never seen anything like it. :eek:

[Greenstead]

Puzzling.

Have you tried a wired connection form the laptop to the router. Does that work ?

Any response from Linksys ?

[Cemtech]

I wish I could have but they and I don't have a spare adapter to try that with. But I think I know what's going on.

They recieved their new desktop which they also bought a wireless adapter for. I set it up using the defaults and it show the same problem (XP home edition). After some tinkering with the router's settings, I set the authentification under the Wireless tab from both (default) to Shared. The desktop was able to see the internet for bout 30 seconds. It kept dropping after a short time, and I tried to get the desktop's configuration to use Shared, but for some unknown reason, the software would reset back to Open. So, I set the router's authentification from Shared to Open. Now the desktop tends to stay connected to the internet. :)

About 1 time every hour it does drop, but connecting back up is quick. The signal strength is erractic where it is. Goes from very strong to weak.

Unfortunately, none of the changes affected the laptop with the original problem. This computer uses WIN98, and I tried looking thru the IP and adapter's properties and profiles to set it's Authentification to Open but could not find such a setting to match the desktop's. :eek:

Linksys's email solutions recommended everything (so far) that I've already tried.

My feeling is that the router isn't working 100percent. It's behavior seems erractic, such when rebooting it, it has a difficult time obtaining an IP from the ISP (uses PoPPE over DSL) and the Authentification of Both (shared and open) doesn't work as well.

So, they plan to take the router/laptop adapter package back in for an exchange. Hoping the next one works out. ;)

BTW, many thx for helping me with this nightmare out. :D