Hello,

I have been trying to add a 2nd wireless connection to my home network that currently hosts one wireless and one ethernet connection. The computer is a Compaq Presario R3000 that has been successfully networked at our former home for about two years. However; that was with a different router. I am using the built in wireless capability on the Compaq and the OS is XP Pro. The router is connected to a Comcast Cable Modem.

The Compaq appears to be connected to the network and shows a connection speed of 18 MBPS. However, I am unable to see printers, other computers on the network or the internet. I tried the "repair this connection" and the system indicates it cannot renew the IP address. Running ipconfig through the CMD window results in:

Connection specific DNS Suffix -
Autoconfiguration IP Address : 169.254.242.136
Subnet Mask : 25.255.0.0
Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

On the computer which works properly, also a laptop running XP

Connection specific DNS Suffix : hsd1.va.comcast.net
IP Address : 192.168.0.100
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Does the difference in connection specific DNS suffix explain my problem? If so, then how do you change that information?

Regards,

LeeHam

The 169.254 is because it can't find a DHCP server.

The subnet mask is wrong. It should be 255.255.255.0

Paste the results of ipconfig /all

Thanks.

Ipconfig/all yields

Primary DNS ____
Node Type - Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled - No
WINS Proxy Enabled - No
Connection Specific DNS Suffix _______
Description - Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
Dhcp Enabled - Yes
Autconfigruation Enabled - Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address - 169.254.242.136
Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway - 192.168.0.1

I believe you should bridge rather than route the connections. See Configuring Windows XP as a Network Bridge

For details.

Thanks for the advice. I tried that, but still cannot connect to the internet or see other computers/printers on my network.

Regards,

LeeH

As long as its getting that 169 address its not going to work. Have you tried wiring it in to see if there is a problem with the wireles card?

Yes, I did. It connects to the internet and other network computers over Ethernet using the same cable modem and wireless router in my home. (Direct wire from the wireless router to the laptop.) It also works fine at another location where there is a private wireless network and at Starbucks.

It is only through wireless on my home network that it does not function correctly.

Thanks for the quick reply!

LeeH

That indicates something is wrong with the wireless adapter that it won't get an IP from your DHCP server. Do you have any security on the wireless router?

Only WEP, so no, not really ;)

LeeH

Are you sure the laptop has the right key? You might try disabling WEP to see if it gets an IP.