Spoiler

[susandennis]

I'll give you the end first... all is fixed.

The Guy After Monica who's name I didn't get, was all set to have me reinstall Windows from the CD. Problem is, my USB keyboard has very limited functionality before the boot is finished so I couldn't boot from the CD. Couldn't get to BIOS and couldn't get to Setup and couldn't get it to understand 'any key' when it offered me 'boot from cd'. (Note to self, do go get that simple backup keyboard before you get yourself in real trouble.)

He went off to his expert and I waited on hold again. He came back and said "I want to try one more thing..." He had me set the dns servers on this machine to 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 and then reboot. Which I did and that fixed the whole fucking thing in a flash!

When I think how close I came to reinstalling Windows (and my Windows CD is pre-any service packs)...

It's quite clear that there is much about networking that I don't get.

This computer is ethernet connected to the modem. When I first got it, I plugged in my ip address and got the Actiontec (that's the modem's name) setup screens and filled in the info that my ISP gave me years and years ago and clicked on 'turn on wireless' and bingo I was in action.

Oh and on this computer, I had the DNS servers set to 'find it yourself, dummy.'

There are two other computers using the wireless connection. And two TiVos. Today:

- The work laptop never lost any connectivity, functionality or networkification. But, I couldn't ping any websites.
- The tiny laptop could get to the webpages already in the browser (I could get new Google email by just clicking on Inbox) but nothing new and no other internet dependent stuff (like posting from Semagic). Pinging timed out.
- This desktop couldn't get squat.

I changed DNS from look it up to those universal IP's and the world was right again everywhere.

Seems to me that the network functionality could be gotten with a small monitor connected directly to the modem and use wireless to connect the desktop as well as the rest. I can't get my brain around why the network connection worked but the computer didn't. I need to think on it some more.

But, meanwhile, I'm back in the saddle again and happy to be here. Whew.

Comments

[aellia.livejournal.com]

That all sounds very complicated. My computer has been a bit strange lately. I made three CDs, like it told me to,when I first got it. I have no clue what's on them! My black and white start up screen flashes up for 2 seconds with the options, I've never had a chance to read it.
And I'm sure that on my last computer, when you sent an error report to Microsoft, there would be a page telling you what caused it, I've never seen it with this one.
Glad you're all fixed up now

[geordie.livejournal.com]

So what are the DNS servers on your other machines? Or was that an ISP guy talking to you? ipconfig /all at a cmd prompt should reveal all.

[susandennis]

GREAT question.

Lifebook AND work laptop - ipconfig /all gives me:

192.168.01
216.162.192.4

desktop, of course, is the 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2

Modem settings say that my WAN DNS is:
216.162.192.12
216.162.192.4 (these are the DNS settings I got from my ISP)

AND the modem lists my LAN IP as 192.168.01

I'm seeing a pattern but I'm clueless about what that pattern is telling me

[geordie.livejournal.com]

So the 216 ones are what the ISP is providing and I guess the wireless system is serving DNS too, hmm, we don't do that.

If you see a performance issue, long delays before hitting new addresses, then I'd change the 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 to the 216 addresses and see if that sorts it out. The problem going to public servers is that they can become slow.

[susandennis]

I asked the Microsoft guy if I shouldn't switch over to the 216 ones and he said not for a bit yet... whatever that means.

It's all been running swimingly with the desktop TCIP properties set to 'assign automatically' until today.

very strange. but thanks for the tip about the slow bit.