Hi guys,

Sure someone out there can help me:)

I currently run a desktop PC via a wired LAN to a router (modem which is also wireless). The desktop PC runs internet explorer fine when no other PC's are connected to the router, however if any other wireless PC connects the desktop cant connect Internet explorer to the internet even tho it says its connected to the router,and I can connect to the router menu. When the other PC's disconnect the desktop PC is fine again. Have also tried running it wirelessly but get same problem. Dont think its a router issue as I can run 2 wireless laptops at the same time with no problems, they run Vista & Linux. Tried playing with Internet explorer and firwall settings but cant seem to fix the problem, very annoying when surfing and the kids turn on their PC as I am then left in limbo:confused:All microsoft updates are downloaded automatically and I run AGV anti virus.

I've never come across this problem before, but a number of seemingly technical problems have been solved by the following. Shut all computers down and turn them off at the mains - this applies to the router too. Wait for about 5 mins and then turn them all back on again.

This seems to clear all electronic clutter from the systems and enables them to have a fresh start

I seem to recall ages ago that an office set up wouldn't work if the main "sender" computer wasn't switched off last and switched on first next day. As another said, meaning at the socket, so not just left on hibernate. That was a while back though.

Incidentally, confidence in IE these days (virus/trojan attack wise) isn't at the top, with many preferring Mozilla Firefox. Have you tried that? (Free to download.) Might not solve the problem but could be worth considering if you should perhaps be using that as your browser anyway? (Can use either / or once downloaded, so it doesn't replace IE.) Me not know - just "the word on the street" so to speak.

Mo

I've seen similar problems where the DHCP server in the router allocates the same IP address to two different computers stopping one from working until the other logs off again. Using Firefox would show the same problem in this case as the IP is done in the operating system not the browser.

This can sometimes (router dependant) be fixed by the unpluging all the computers and the router for 2/3 mins and restarting them with the router first then each PC as mentioned above, some require you to reboot the router via it's interface.

On my system I have manually allocated my main PC (hard wired) with an IP number at the top of range the router allocates as it auto allocates numbers from the bottom because of a similar problem when I had a seperate access point.

Edited 17 April, 200917 yr by Daddyfix
wrong TLA

You might find that setting the effected PC a fixed IP address within the router. If its an IP conflict error then that may help.

Hibernate causes allsorts of problems, and some routers just dont play nice in that situation. One I know for a fact to misbehave is LinkSys, in particular if the lease expires at the router end before booting up the machine that had that IP before.

Sounds like an IP address conflict.

Is DHCP enabled on the router and all PC's?

Dont think problem is caused by hibernation as the system is switched off when not in use, I have checked the IP address's and it appears to be allocating them correctly, ie all 3 machines have different but consequtive nos. Seems (I think but Im no IT expert!) to be an internet explorer sharing issue, have found settings for this in Vista and Linux but cant find it in XP, that is the 'share internet connection' tick box. Thanks for the suggestions so far guys, please keep them coming

The router functions totally independantly of the internet connection sharing option in windows. You should not need to alter any of these settings.

The problem does seem to be an IP/Routing/NAT problem. If you can get into the router config setup and make sure its configured to run as a router, and also that NAT is enabled everything should just work. For example my linksys router has the option on the setup, advanced routing tab.

Without routing/nat the last device to connect will be the one that works, until it gets shutdown.

ICS sets up 192.168.1.x as the range. I would set the router to use a different range if possible, say 192.168.2.x, if it supports it (a lot of routers do not).

ICS is inflexible, and IMHO unless you're going to use it, turn it off as it does not do anything useful in that situation.

If you are using a separate router you should not have ICS enabled as this is only used when the connection for other PC's is through your PC via modem. This may be the issue as it would mean your PC is trying to allocate IP numbers to the other PC's that have had them allocated via the router.

To reset this you could try to go through "My Network Places" from the main menu and there should be an option to "Set up a home or small office network". If you work through the wizard there should be an option "This computer connects to the internet via a residential gateway or other computer etc." selecting this option should disable ICS.

Edited 17 April, 200917 yr by Daddyfix
naff spelling

Thanks for the suggestions guys, however nothing fixed the problem. In desperation I returned to Google and followed a trail which lead me to the answer which was updated router software, all now works fine after spending many hours trying to resolve this issue. The manufacturers website didnt help much either!