help!

I had to format my hard drive and reinstall windows xp. I only had a sp1 cd, I am currently trying to get sp2 to install.

I have reinstalled the drivers for my acer travelmate 2420

my wireless network adapter is atheros ar5005g wireless network adapter

I also have a realtek rtl8139/810x family ethernet fast ethernet nic

my router is wep enabled netgear dg8349

I cannot ping my router or perform ipconfig /renew (nothing happens the curser in command prompt just sits on the next line and I cannot type further) but /release does work

in repairing network connection it says cannot renew the ip address

I am currently reading the wireless connection as connected, very good-on support tab it says

automatic private address
ip ad - 169.254.21.137
subnet mask - 255.255.0.0
default gateway -

here is my ipconfig /all

host name... che-500
primary dns suffix...
node type... unknown
ip routing enabled... no
wins proxy enabled... no

ethernet adapter local area connection :

media state... media disconnected
description... realtek rtl8139/810x family ethernet fast ethernet nic

physical address... 00-0a-e4-f6-fc-fa

ethernet adapter wireless network connection :

connection-specific dns suffix...
description... atheros ar5005g wireless network adapter


physical address... 00-16-CE-17-D2-05
Dhcp enabled... yes
autoconfiguration enabled... yes
autoconfiguration ip address... 169.254.21.137
subnet mask... 255.255.0.0
default gateway...



I have managed to access all this info from troubleshooting and searching Google but I have little idea what it all means. I am a fast learner and can follow instructions... can anybody help me get my laptop back online?

Quick thought... can you borrow another wireless enabled machine to check and see if will see the router?

Also if you plug a LAN cable into the machine and connect it that way does it work?

Follow up thought... your computer is seeing the LAN only, of course. Are you sure that your internet connection is working? Stranger things have happened. Pardon me if I am misunderstanding but you do not say anywhere if you are able to get out on the Internet with another machine on this network. Are you on DSL, cable or what? I would really try and get another computer to see if the WAN is functioning... ya never know. Also try a physical cable connection. Good luck.

Your laptop is obviously not getting an IP from the router so I doubt you are indeed connected to your internal network (which would be an 192.168.0.xx number). Make sure the laptop does not have a static IP set. Make sure your wireless adapter is turned on and seeking wireless connections - does it announce that networks are in the vicinity (like this (https://it.samf.aau.dk/uploads/RTEmagicC_f1c5a5b546.jpg.jpg))?

Your problem is you are NOT picking up a useable IP address.
The 169.254 addy is non-routable and as such unusable.

Check the DHCP settings on your router to ensure they are enabled correctly.

You should be getting a 192.168.x.x address.

Thanks for the replies-

I have just installed sp2

I now get info limited or no connectivity cannot renew ip

I am online now with my iPod touch which works fine as does my housemates laptop

The person who managed the Internet has recently moved and I am having trouble accessing the router- I am awaiting the log in details.

Further to that

I have no idea how to check static ip or dns

My wireless dtects networks and when I chose ours netgear 101 I enter the wep key but cannot connect


How do I get a usable ip?

(when I said dns a few messages ago I meant dhcp!) thanks for your help!!


OK I can now access the router - what do I need to do to get this sorted?

First check and see if you have a static ip.

http://www.qwest.com/internethelp/opsystems/pdf/15671_WinXP_Network_AddRemStatIPinTCPIP.pdf

Instead of the local area connection make sure that you check the wireless connection.