Modem to pc=no internet. modem to router to pc=ok?

[Denvers Dawgs]

I was just fooling around on my pc, and decided to unplug my router and run the internet directly to my pc, and it wouldn't work? So I plugged it all back into the router, and low and behold working again. So i figured it must have been some random act of computer stupidity so I once again ran a direct line from the modem to my pc, and it still won't work. What gives? Why won't it work with direct connection from the modem to the computer, but it will work if I put it through the router? This is driving me nuts.....any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[tekkieman]

I assume modem refers to cable or DSL modem? You did not state whether or not you rebooted the pc.

While I will be the first to admit not fully understanding all there is to know about networking, it seems to me that the modem is acting as the DNS server. It has established all communication to go to the IP of the router. The router in turn has assigned local IPs to the PCs. Since the IP of the computer does not match the IP of the router, which is where the modem is routing internet traffic to.....no internet when directly connected.

You could try a release/renew on the pc and see if you can then access the internet directly from the modem.

[redwudz]

The modem to computer connection commonly uses a reverse Cat 5 cable. The router may automatically switch leads and may have a straight cable from the modem.

Check each end of the cable and see if the connections are reversed from end to end. My modem won't work either if plugged directly into the computer without the reverse cable.

EDIT: Thanks, gmatov, you are correct. Sorry. I believe that setup I described was with an older cable/dialup modem with no router.

[beavereater]

I have the opposite problem. I had 2 PC's hooked through a router, and it worked well. BUT when I switched to cable, it would only work WITHOUT the router. I am currently trying to contact the router company for help...but no answer yet.

Sorry, couldn't help with the original question!!

[ViRaL1]

Depending on your ISP, you may need additional software installed to use your modem (cable or DSL?) without a router installed. Most times, connecting to the internet involves logging on to your ISP account with a username and a password. The router usually takes care of this once you set it up. If you plug directly into the computer, you need another way to log on. WindowsXP has an applet for this built in but 2000 doesn't. Check with your ISP and find out if their software based configuration is available for download. You may also want to try it out and see how bloated it is (spyware / extra apps you don't need). If the router isn't causing you any problems, keep it in place as it also adds another layer of protection from the outside world. If you MUST remove it, software should to the trick, but you may want to pick up a software firewall as well.

[gmatov]

Beavereater,

Are you saying you had used this router with another service, DSL or something, and now have cable?

The first thing you have to do with any service is to get the computer connected by itself, through the modem, whichever type it is.

Then you interpose the router and reconfigure it to your new service. As is, it is most likely trying to connect to your old service.

If you open a browser and type http://192.168.1.1 you should get to your router setup . Here you may have to get settings from the ISP.

With my Linksys, you leave the User Name blank and enter admin as default password to do setup.

As remarked above, it may help to shut everything down, modem, router, and PC, turn on modem, wait till it goes to steady lights ( mine has 4 green and an amber, when it has connected, all are lit ), then the router, wait till it goes to steady state, then the PC.

You'll have to ask someone else how to get to ipconfig in XP.

Redwudz,

I think you are mistaken on the crossover cable. That is strictly for peer-to-peer, one computer to another. Many, probably most, cable/DSL comnpanies don't even like for you to connect a second machine, they certainly aren't going to supply you with a crossover to connect a router, as the purpose of a router is to connect more than 1 machine, which they don't particularly like.

DDawgs,

I answered Beaver instead of you, but the same applies. The router, when set up, is the gateway, the prime address, whan you connect directly w/o it, you are requesting a connection with the wrong address. Again, shut everything down, restart from modem, to PC without the router, and it should work.

Again, you have to have a working connection before you CAN install a router. Reboot both items, modem then PC, it should find the net..

Cheers,

George