Help with my network

[groovyjon]

We have a broadband router with various PCs linked into it. We recently wanted to add another PC and printer so we bought a "5 port 10/100M switch" and a "20M CAT5e RJ45 Ethernet Network cable".

We've plugged the printer into the switch and it is visible on the network and works fine, but we just cannot get the PC (running windows 7) on the network - it just keeps saying "unidentified network".

I've taken the PC home and plugged it into my home network and it instantly connects to internet, so I'm puzzled what the problem is. Any ideas?

 

[shugied]

I'd check the network settings on the PC to see if it is set to obtain an IP address automatically in IPV4 network settings from control panel -> network and sharing centre.

If the printer works, it suggest DHCP is running on the router, but the PC can't "see" this.

Although if you've got a new switch and cable, checking something else known to be working on the same cable first is never a bad idea.

 

[groovyjon]

I thought you'd hit the nail on the head there as the router is set up NOT to be DHCP but the PC was expecting to be assigned an IP. I changed the settings to specify a unique IP etc but it still doesn't work.

In the network and sharing centre it shows this computer on the left with a line connecting to a public bench icon in the centre and then a line with a cross through it connecting to a greyed out icon for internet.

Below that is a bigger icon showing the public bench with "unidentified network" beside it. And then to the right of that it says "Access type: No internet access" and then "Connection: Local Area Network".

It appears to be on the internal network, it can see other PC's and the network printer.

Is it something to do with it being a "public network"?

 

[shugied]

Check the default gateway setting in IP address properties matches the IP address of the router if you can see other machines on the network but not get onto the internet.

Can you ping the router IP address?

 

[RemoteTechs]

If you can see other machines on the network but cannot browse the internet then it will not be DHCP it will be your DNS settings.

It will likely be pointing to the router 192.168...... or set to assigned automtically, change it to the open DNS server for a test: 208.67.222.222 preferred and 208.67.220.220 second box.

If that doesn't work set it back to Auto open the command prompt and type: ipconfig /flushdns

Best to disable the network adapter and enable it again afterwards.

 

[groovyjon]

Right, I've tried all your suggestions but still no joy.

To summarise...
- It is not set to obtain IP/DNS automatically
- IP address set to 192.168.1.5 (unique on the network)
- Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
- Default gateway = 192.168.1.1
- Preferred DNS server = 192.168.1.1
- Alternate DNS server is blank
- All above settings are identical to the other PCs on the network (except the IP address)
- If I browse to 192.168.1.1 it times out instead of seeing router admin page (other PCs see it OK)
- Network in Explorer shows the network printer, and the other PCs on the network, and I am able to view files on the other networked PCs

My hunch is that it is something to do with it showing "public network" with a bench icons. Other windows 7 pc's (on an entirely different network) show "work network" with a cube icon. The other pc's on the network that's causing the trouble are running XP so can't compare with those.

 

[shugied]

What happens if you go to a DOS prompt and type "ping 192.168.1.1"?

What happens if you do the same, but with the IP address of another PC?

 

[groovyjon]

Oh forgot to mention that. Pinging IP 192.168.1.1 times out every time. I didn't try pinging another PC so I'll give that a go.

 

[groovyjon]

Pinged another PC on the network:

Packets: Sent=4, received=4, lost=0 (0% loss)

Does that help?

 

[shugied]

It means that there is some reason the Windows 7 machine can't see the router on 192.168.1.1 but can see the other PC on the same network (presuming the other PC is 192.168.1.X).

If you go to network and sharing center, can you click on public network in order to change it - it should be in blue for this to happen - or is it black?

Can you type ipconfig /all into a DOS box and post the section under Ethernet adaptor <your network name>?

 

[groovyjon]

Finally solved it. Turns out the router was to only allow certain MAC addresses on the lan. I added the MAC of the new PC and it instantly connected to the internet!

 

[shugied]

I was wondering about that I was driving along this morning, it could have been a firewall in the router.

Good security they have at your place, I like that.