Internet connection via network no longer working

[FourWheelDrift]

OK this is the set up I have here.

Desktop PC and laptop networked by Ethernet cable, a simple CAT5 connection. Desktop is connected to the outside world by a Broadband modem. Both PC's running XP.

Now until yesterday both PC's could happily talk to one another (file sharing) and the laptop could connect to the internet through the desktop. But now it can't connect to the internet but they can still see each other on the network. I do run Zone Alarm Pro but have not changed settings on that both are on a trusted network, both PC's have the others IP address as a trusted source and I have even turned Zone Alarm off on both to get it working but it doesn't.

Both PC IP details and DNS details are the same, they've not been changed or deleted (and are correct), they can still see each other on the network, ICS hasn't been turned off (all the right options ticked as they were before). In effect no changes I can see have been made (and I haven't made any)

Does anyone know what's up??????

Puzzled of Milton Keynes.

[pdV6]

First thing to try is to power-cycle the modem.

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said: First thing to try is to power-cycle the modem.

The desktop still accesses the Internet, it's how I'm able to post this.

[pdV6]

forgot the PH-Cross-Code "read before you post"

On the laptop's ZoneAlarm, are you trusting the internal IP address of the desktop, or its external IP address?

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said: forgot the PH-Cross-Code "read before you post"

On the laptop's ZoneAlarm, are you trusting the internal IP address of the desktop, or its external IP address?

I am trusting the IP address of the Desktop on the Laptop (the 192.168.0.1 IP address)

but what is the External address (the network itself is trusted too but that came up automatically on Zone Alarm)????

thanks so far

[pdV6]

There'll be 2 network cards in your desktop, one which is connected to your laptop (the 'internal' card) and one which is connected to your BB modem (the 'external' card). The IP address of the external card will be set by your ISP and may change from time to time (and when you power-cycle the modem).

Perhaps you have an old external IP address trusted in ZA?

[tuffer]

From the laptop try and run ipconfig and check all your settings are as they should be (what you expect them to be). Then start pinging, laptop address, desktop address, default gateway address, somebody on the Internet.
XP does some weird things with home networking and I have found that settings have changed of their own accord before, hence trusty old W2K pro 4 me.
If you need any more help drop me a line.

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said: There'll be 2 network cards in your desktop, one which is connected to your laptop (the 'internal' card) and one which is connected to your BB modem (the 'external' card). The IP address of the external card will be set by your ISP and may change from time to time (and when you power-cycle the modem).

Perhaps you have an old external IP address trusted in ZA?

The modem is an external modem connected to the desktop via USB.
I have it's IP address (217.X.X.X) in as a trusted IP address on the laptop I checked I had the right address when I did a IPCONFIG /all on the desktop.

This is a setup that I have had working for months and has only yesterday decided to fall over.

[pdV6]

FourWheelDrift said:The modem is an external modem connected to the desktop via USB.
I have it's IP address (217.X.X.X) in as a trusted IP address on the laptop I checked I had the right address when I did a IPCONFIG /all on the desktop.

This is a setup that I have had working for months and has only yesterday decided to fall over.

What happens if you ping 217.X.X.X from (a) the desktop and (b) the laptop?

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said:

What happens if you ping 217.X.X.X from (a) the desktop and (b) the laptop?

On both computers they both complete (they don't time out).

[pdV6]

OK so far. How about some internet address from each machine?

e.g. ping pistonheads.co.uk

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said: OK so far. How about some internet address from each machine?

e.g. ping pistonheads.co.uk

worked on desktop (hello I'm here already )

but timed out on the laptop. message said "ping command could not find host. Please check the name and try again"

[pdV6]

Odd. You already mentioned that the DNS was set up the same on both machines, so try pinging PH by IP to rule out DNS problems.

e.g. ping 213.52.163.118

[FourWheelDrift]

pdV6 said: Odd. You already mentioned that the DNS was set up the same on both machines, so try pinging PH by IP to rule out DNS problems.

e.g. ping 213.52.163.118

Request timed out

[pdV6]

FourWheelDrift said:

pdV6 said:ping 213.52.163.118

Request timed out

Presumably just on the laptop?
At least its consistent and we've ruled out DNS as the cause.
Not having used ICS on XP, I'm a bit stuck now. Anyone else got any ideas?

You could always try uninstalling and reinstalling ICS (if that's even possible)

[FourWheelDrift]

Chap who helped me get it working in the first place (which wasn't difficult) is at Le Mans hence my

I will try the only other solution I can think of, shut both down and hope it sorts itself out.
:bloodymicrosoft:

[tuffer]

So did that work?

[FourWheelDrift]

tuffer said: So did that work?

Can't do it yet as my PC has 2.5 hrs to go converting a MPEG.

I'll let you know, if I don't you'll know I've gone mad and attacked my PC's with a large hammer

[tuffer]

FourWheelDrift said:

tuffer said: So did that work?

Can't do it yet as my PC has 2.5 hrs to go converting a MPEG.

#


What are you running a 486!!! That must be some MPEG!

[FourWheelDrift]

tuffer said:

FourWheelDrift said:

tuffer said: So did that work?

Can't do it yet as my PC has 2.5 hrs to go converting a MPEG.

#

What are you running a 486!!! That must be some MPEG!

It's a movie being converted to MPEG-2 it will be 4Gb in size when finished, It's running on a 2Ghz PC too......
I know!