[layitlo]

I'm working on a dell dimension 2350 tower. I have put a new network card in it to see if I can use my dsl modem on it. I had disabled the onboard networking too cause it would not work either. All was able to get was a message that said there was limited or no activity on them both. I have only been able to connect the dsl modem by a usb port and I feel it's not the best way to use it. Can anyone tell me what I can do with it? I have aleady done a reformat to make sure it wasn't something wrong with the software. But everything is still the same. I can't make sense of any of it. Thanks in advance. I'll check this tomorrow since I'm out of town right now.

[rgreen4]

You posted that you are using a Dell Dimension 2350, and from the model number it would appear to be an older machine.

1. What operating system and SP number has been installed.

2. You state that you have installed a add-on ethernet card. What brand and model, and did you install the drivers?

3. Have you reset the DSL modem? You do this by turning off the power, count to 30 and then reconnect the power.

4. Is this a recent problem?

5. Have you ever connected another machine to this DSL modem via the ethernet cable?

6. Have you tried another cable?

[layitlo]

I'll reply by the list you put on here.



1. It has windows xp pro with sp 3. It's a dell restore disk that I used to work on it.

2. I did put a ethernet card in it and I did install t he drivers well actually xp did. They were already there. It was a netgear card aand I don't have the model number here. The pc is in another state.

3. I have gone thru the reset on the modem and the pc including running ipconfig on it too. I was told to do so by the dsl company.

4. The problem has just happened. They had the pc on one desk. had the dsl turned on and then got a new desk. They unpluged everything and moved it all so they could put in a new desk. They plugged everything back in and then the problem started. It was fine untill that happened.

5. I didn't plug in another pc by using the ethernet card but I did do it by way of the usb cable. I didn't have an extra network cable with me at the time. I was able to surf the net with the other pc.

6. I didn't have another cable to try out with me. The dell was working fine till the new desk was put in. I've been reburbishing pcs and have never seen this before. I hope this helps.

[alchav21]

Okay Lay, let's go back to square one. Take out that extra Ethernet Card, and make sure the Integrated one is working by going to the Device Manager. Now turn everything off computer and Modem. Check all the connections, you say it's DSL so the unfiltered Phone Line should come into the Modem, then a Cat5 Data Cable from the Modem to the Integrated Ethernet Port in the computer. Now turn on the Modem first all the lights will flash and the Power light will go solid, and the DSL or Internet light will start to flash, when this light goes solid green you have an IP Address and Internet. If this light does not go solid you have to find the problem make sure you have the correct Phone Line with DSL Provisioned on it. If you do get the solid green light turn on your computer and you should have Internet. If you don't let us know what other Utility software you have like Anti-Virus, Firewalls, or Spyware, because something is blocking your connection.

[rgreen4]

Alchav21, you have a point. Layitlo, check all the telephone cords in the house. Each telephone connection MUST have the filter installed or it will kill the DSL. The filters I have are like a Y adapter, with a DSL port and a Phone port. Also, if the phone cord had been changed on the one that goes into the DSL modem, it must be a four pin not a 2 pin. Many of the newer cords only have the center two connections.

[smax013]

layitlo said:

5. I didn't plug in another pc by using the ethernet card but I did do it by way of the usb cable. I didn't have an extra network cable with me at the time. I was able to surf the net with the other pc.

Have you tried connecting to the DSL modem with a different computer using the ethernet port on the DSL modem (i.e. bypass the existing computer, whether new or old ethernet card/port)? If not, then I would suggest that.



My gut reaction from what has been described is that it might be the modem...more specifically the ethernet port of the modem. That is the "simplier" explanation than a problem with both the integrated ethernet port and a new ethernet card (odds of both the integrated ethernet AND a new card being bad are very slim...for both to not work, it would most likely be an OS and/or driver issue).



The corollary test would be to hook the computer up to a known working Internet connection using an ethernet port, but that might be more work that using a second computer with this Internet connection.

[alchav21]

Sorry Rgreen, I am retired from PacBell and very involved with the Provisioning of DSL. The reason for the filters is to filter out the Data Noise from the Voice Telephones, that's why you don't filter the Line to the Modem. As for the 4 pin or 2 pin it has nothing to do with the Signal, you should use the shielded Telephone Line given in the DSL Package. DSL signal or Dial Tone comes in on One Pair or 2 pins, 4 pins are for two Telephone Lines. So a 2 pin Telephone Line will work, but it won't be shielded and depending on the length it might not work properly.

[layitlo]

Well I guess I forgot to say that it's not dsl thru the phone line. It's dsl thru the cable with charter. So it doesn't taker a filter. Since this is the 1st time my parents have had the net I didn't get to put any spyware or anything else on it yet. I did turn off the firewall to see if that was the problem but it still didn't work. I had taken out the card and had the onboard working but it still didn't work. I did disable the onboard when I tried the card but got the same results. I've gone thru them more then once and even called the tech support for the charter dsl.

[layitlo]

I'm gonna try to get back by there and try another cable. I know it's not a os error or driver error. I've used the dell disk on several dells and even reformated the dell to be sure that wasn't the problem. I didn't think about the chance the modem could be the problem since it was a new one and only been on for two weeks or so.

[smax013]

layitlo said:

Well I guess I forgot to say that it's not dsl thru the phone line. It's dsl thru the cable with charter.

Not that it matters, but there is no such thing to my knowledge as "DSL thru the cable". If you get broadband through a cable company, then it would be referred to as cable modem service. There are significant technical differences between DSL and cable modem service...but none of those difference should be relevent to the issues that you are having.

[smax013]

layitlo said:

I'm gonna try to get back by there and try another cable. I know it's not a os error or driver error. I've used the dell disk on several dells and even reformated the dell to be sure that wasn't the problem. I didn't think about the chance the modem could be the problem since it was a new one and only been on for two weeks or so.

Modems go bad all the time. It is possible that somehow the process of juggling the modem around when moving the computer to the new desk that it got screwed up. Granted, it seems unlikely, but it is still possible. The combination of both ethernet options on the computer not working but the USB connection from the modem working makes the modem the simpliest answer...just need to test the theory.

[layitlo]

Oh Ok I didn't know. I know it was broadband but I didn't know it was called dsl. I know they have charter cable and the internet thru it. I kinda wish I had it cause it's faster then my dsl and would save me money. But thank you for pointing it out. I really didn't know. I use dsl at home and work with wireless networks at both and this is just something I haven't encountered yet. Oh and thanks everyone for trying to help.

[layitlo]

Yeah the theory makes sense. It's to bad I don't live closer to my parents home.

[smax013]

layitlo said:

Oh Ok I didn't know. I know it was broadband but I didn't know it was called dsl. I know they have charter cable and the internet thru it. I kinda wish I had it cause it's faster then my dsl and would save me money. But thank you for pointing it out. I really didn't know. I use dsl at home and work with wireless networks at both and this is just something I haven't encountered yet. Oh and thanks everyone for trying to help.

The technical differences that I mentioned between DSL and cable modem service are what cause cable modem service to be faster...most of the time. I will note, however, that also due to those difference, it is possible at times for cable modem service to be REALLY, REALLY slow (i.e. slower than dial-up). I won't spend anymore time "going off topic" on those differences unless you want me to.

[layitlo]

That's cool. I'm gonna look more into cause if I move again I'm hoping to get that for my net. The speed they have is 5meg and my dsl is only 1.5 so there's is faster. And since my home only has one phone jack in it I have to stay with a wireless network at home. I'm gonna try out the theory in a day or two. They live in ga and I live in alabama. So I have to wait till I can get over there again.

[smax013]

layitlo said:

That's cool. I'm gonna look more into cause if I move again I'm hoping to get that for my net. The speed they have is 5meg and my dsl is only 1.5 so there's is faster. And since my home only has one phone jack in it I have to stay with a wireless network at home. I'm gonna try out the theory in a day or two. They live in ga and I live in alabama. So I have to wait till I can get over there again.

If you want to learn about the difference, then this site seems to have some decent explantions:



compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/dslcablecompare.htm



This is the page on speed in particular:



[http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/speedcompare.htm]

[layitlo]

Ok thanks, looks like it will help.

[rgreen4]

You may want to contact your phone company if you have had your service for a while. Many have upgraded their service, but you have to ask for the upgrade. In some cases, it doesn't cost anything.

Windstream recently put in DSL out where I live and 1.5Gb/s is $29.99 a month with no prmotional discount, 3.0Gb/s is $34.99 a month after a 1 year promotional of $29.99 a month. It was a no brainer as I was able to disconnect from my satellite which was $59.99 a month.

Cable is not an option here as it does not exist. (I am in a rural area).

[layitlo]

Yeah I know what you mean. I had the same deal till I moved. I wanted to thank you guys for helping me out. I went today and swapped out the ethernet cable and it started to work after I reset the modem. I just didn't know that would be it since everything was all new and only used like 5 or 6 weeks old. so it didn't make sense at first. but it's all fixed and running now thanks.

[alchav21]

Yes, please don't call it DSL over Cable, DSL is Digital Subscriber Line, and High Speed Cable is just that, Broadband over Cable. The same holds true here too, the Modem seems to be working because you had it hook up with USB, but the connections have changed. So turn everything off the computer and Modem. Then check the Modem for proper connections the Coax comes from the Wall to the Modem, and from the Data Port on the Modem connect Cat5 to the Ethernet Port in the computer. Now power up the Modem first and here again all the lights will flash the Power light will go solid green and the Internet light will start to flash, when this light goes solid green you have an IP Address and Internet. Now turn on the computer and you should be able to go on the Internet. Launch IE7 and you should be surfing. Let us know what happens, but that is all you need to do. Tell us what Anti-Virus you have and if you just have Windows Firewall it should be no problem, but it you have something like Zone Alarm un-install it.