Router hell.
 

Hi guys,

I'm having problems connecting to routers. I can't connect either wirelessly or hard wired. If I wire direct to the modem, everything is fine, but nothing through routers. I've tried two routers and I have the same problem. I've reset the damned things half a dozen times but nothing. I can't even connect to the routers to get at the settings. Any ideas? Like I say, everything is fine when I connect direct to the modem. I've also noticed that my laptop seems to freeze when I try to click on the network icon.
Running Win7 64 bit.

Re: Router hell.
 

Is the wireless enabled on the routers?

Mine wasn't.

Re: Router hell.
 

Yes. But would this also affect hard wired?

Re: Router hell.
 

are you using 1 system to connect to the routers or have you tried other systems?

Re: Router hell.
 

My mobile and my PS3 both connected without any problem. I've just had a notification from Windows telling me to turn my firewall on (didn't realise it was OFF). When I clicked on firewall, my system crashed. Twice. Then I rebooted and now everything has connected straight away. What the hell is going on? I did a complete reformat at the weekend hoping to resolve this frustrating issue but it has continued.

Re: Router hell.
 

misconfiguration, virus

Re: Router hell.
 

Sounds like spyware to me... theres some very sophisticated malware out there right now. Some looks like legit windows messages when in fact they aren't. I would suggest a complete re-install of windows to make sure its completely clean.

Its definitely not an issue with the routers! Especially if other devices are OK

Re: Router hell.
 

I did a full, clean re-install at the weekend but the problem remains the same. Oh well, never mind. Thanks for the efforts guys x

Re: Router hell.
 

Are you running a security suite that also contains a firewall? Running that and the windows firewall together can give connection issues.

If you try a wired connection to the router what shows as the result of 'ipconfig /all'

Re: Router hell.
 

OP Previously stated that wired networking didn't work either.

Re: Router hell.
 

Yeah, I saw that. The ipconfig can still give a clue. Either a fallback IP or no network card found can assist with faultfinding.

Re: Router hell.
 

All I've got is the free Avast antivitus.

Re: Router hell.
 

Try this as I had a similar problem.
Unplug all the cables between the router, Modem and PC/Laptop.
Reset the router to default. There should be a small hole somewhere which you can push a pin into to reset the router, see the router manual.

Router should reboot. Leave router on. Boot you PC/Laptop and open a command prompt (dos window) Type ipconfig /release and press enter. This will release the IP address assigned by the cable modem.
Close the command prompt and shut down the PC/Laptop

Next plug the PC/Laptop into one of the routers LAN ports (NOT the WAN port)
Switch the PC/Laptop on.
Wait a couple of minutes and open the IP address for the router in a web browser. The router IP should be in the manual (typical IP address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1) This should give you the router configuration pages.
Find an option that says 'Clone MAC address' or 'Copy PC MAC address' or 'Use PC MAC address'. Clone the PC MAC address. Make sure the MAC address shown changes. Save changes and log out of the router and switch it off.

Disconnect the PC/Laptop from the router. Switch off the modem, plug the router into the modem using the routers WAN port. Switch the modem on and then the router. Wait a couple of minutes and connect you PC/Laptop to the router via one of the LAN ports.
This might work as the modem could be rejecting your routers MAC address. When you have cloned the PC/Laptop address onto the router the modem thinks the router is the PC/Laptop not a new device.
On some routers I have installed I have only had to shut down the modem for 5 minutes, boot it up again, plug in the router and it will accept it ok.
Sorry if I seem to be telling you the obvious but I have no idea how much you know so have to assume you are a novice. No disrespect to you.