I have a very modest home "network." I've always considered it much less than a network but there are two PCs on it, both laptops. Both PCs are running Windows XP Pro. One PC was made by Toshiba; the other by HP. About a week ago, I created a problem with Internet access from this "network." I thought that solving this problem would be trivial but it hasn't worked out that way. The problem relates to the network's four-port wired router, a D-Link EBR-2310 which had worked flawlessly for approximately four years before I accidentally did my dirty work. Before I try to post my question to the wrong forum, can somebody please tell me on which forum it would be appropriate to post. I did not notice a Networking forum (Home Networking would probably be even better). If there is one, that would seem to be the one I want. I'm still hoping that I've merely screwed up the connection of the RJ-45 cables, but I'm no longer confident that the solution is simply reconfiguring what is connected to what.
Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 2039 Mb
Graphics Card: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family, 128 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 114282 MB, Free - 75273 MB; N: Total - 446423 MB, Free - 406146 MB; O: Total - 30499 MB, Free - 27781 MB;
Motherboard: TOSHIBA, Portable PC
Antivirus: McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware, Updated: Yes, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled
I was pretty confident that my inability to communicate with the Web when I returned the router to the system was caused by incorrect connection of the network elements (two PCs, router, and DSL modem). The modem is a stand-alone unit (Broadxent Brightport 8012-G, IIRC). Everything works OK when I connect the DSL line (from the house wiring) to the modem's DSL input and the modem's output to the #1 PC's broadband I/O. (Router not in the system.) I'm pretty sure everything would still work OK if I connected to the #2 PC instead of the #1 PC. However, when I connect the router input to the modem's output and connect each of the two PCs' broadband I/O to one of the router's outputs, I can no longer communicate with either PC. (Before I check the communication, I turn on the 5V DC power to the router.) Note that all six of the LEDs on the router's "front panel" are now illuminated. IIRC, when the router was working properly, a maximum of four LEDs lit up. The two LEDs that didn't used to light but are lighting up now are the ones for PC #s 3 and 4. Those two PCs don't exist and never have! I wonder whether I have blown up something inside the router. But if I had blown up something inside the router, wouldn't NO LEDs (or at least none of the LEDs that indicate that the router is communicating with the PCs) illuminate? If I need to replace the router, so be it; they aren't terribly expensive. But if the router is delicate enough for me to have blown it up, what condition must I avoid? (IOW, what must I not do to make sure that I don't blow up a second router?)
Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 2039 Mb
Graphics Card: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family, 128 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 114282 MB, Free - 75273 MB; N: Total - 446423 MB, Free - 406146 MB; O: Total - 30499 MB, Free - 27781 MB;
Motherboard: TOSHIBA, Portable PC
Antivirus: McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware, Updated: Yes, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled
I was pretty confident that my inability to communicate with the Web when I returned the router to the system was caused by incorrect connection of the network elements (two PCs, router, and DSL modem). The modem is a stand-alone unit (Broadxent Brightport 8012-G, IIRC). Everything works OK when I connect the DSL line (from the house wiring) to the modem's DSL input and the modem's output to the #1 PC's broadband I/O. (Router not in the system.) I'm pretty sure everything would still work OK if I connected to the #2 PC instead of the #1 PC. However, when I connect the router input to the modem's output and connect each of the two PCs' broadband I/O to one of the router's outputs, I can no longer communicate with either PC. (Before I check the communication, I turn on the 5V DC power to the router.) Note that all six of the LEDs on the router's "front panel" are now illuminated. IIRC, when the router was working properly, a maximum of four LEDs lit up. The two LEDs that didn't used to light but are lighting up now are the ones for PC #s 3 and 4. Those two PCs don't exist and never have! I wonder whether I have blown up something inside the router. But if I had blown up something inside the router, wouldn't NO LEDs (or at least none of the LEDs that indicate that the router is communicating with the PCs) illuminate? If I need to replace the router, so be it; they aren't terribly expensive. But if the router is delicate enough for me to have blown it up, what condition must I avoid? (IOW, what must I not do to make sure that I don't blow up a second router?)