Problem With Connection - Advise Is Needed

[webfact]

A friend of mine has a problem in his apartment building.

Internet is provided by the condo owner to each unit in the building. (HUB)

Connection to computer visa wall outlet LAN cable to computer

My friend tested with 2 computers (XP) and on both he get the message

"limited connectivity". He can not connect.

His notebook has the same TCP/IP settings and he can connect to the Internet.

What can cause this issue? I tried to help him but I run out off ideas

Thx

[elcent]

this could be many things. first and foremost, did you check the internet settings on the comps. Is wireless switched on/off etc.? What about firewall settings? Try to make the same settings as it is in the notebook, not just TCP/IP. Sometime it happens that the ISP provider has messed up too and you're only with limited connection left.

It seems as if his notebook runs on wireless. Do the PCs have wireless? if not, get one wireless router to connect by cable to the comps.

Very hard to say what it could be, since there are so many things to think off.

[Supernova]

My friend tested with 2 computers (XP) and on both he get the message

"limited connectivity". He can not connect.

His notebook has the same TCP/IP settings and he can connect to the Internet.

Windows XP -- what service pack?

There's a bug in SP2 which causes this behavior. Click to read more.

Also check the "Link Speed/Duplex Mode" settings for the network adapter in the Device Manager. Make sure it's set to Auto.

[welo]

In addition to above posts if proposed solutions don't work out:

If the cable quality is bad or the distance to the switch too long network adapters might have troubles getting a stable connection. Maybe the laptop uses more power on the ethernet port than your other computers.

I am just speculating here, don't have real world experience to back this up.

You could force the ethernet card into 10MBit mode which I think might be more tolerant to long cables. This should be adjustable in the properties of the ethernet adaper in Device Manager.

This is where you can also check the Duplex mode like supernova suggested.

When you are connected check the connection properties (right click the symbol in the systray).

What is speed and duplex mode?

welo

[webfact]

My friend tested with 2 computers (XP) and on both he get the message

"limited connectivity". He can not connect.

His notebook has the same TCP/IP settings and he can connect to the Internet.

Windows XP -- what service pack?

There's a bug in SP2 which causes this behavior. Click to read more.

Also check the "Link Speed/Duplex Mode" settings for the network adapter in the Device Manager. Make sure it's set to Auto.

I called him - we are talking about LAN not WiFi

XP SP2

Vista (no service pack)

Notebook (XP SP2)

One of his neighbors tested with a brand new notebook (W7 ultimate) as well. "Limited connection"

(the neighbor can connect in his own apartment)

The landlord tested different ports to no avail.

Strange?

[Totster]

IS there an option to repair the connection ? If so, try it.. if any part of the repair fails it will tell you why. I have had this problem before and it has always been due to assignment of IP problems.

totster

[welo]

Well, I recommend (again) to try forcing the ethernet adapter to 'downgrade' the speed to 10MBit which might get you a stable connection where 100MBits are not possible due to a bad cable.

i use cable internet through LAN. a couple of days back i changed my wire. from that day my network has been showing limited connectivity although it works fine on my LAPTOP and connects at 100mbps.i changed my adapter setting from 100mbps to 10mbps (full duplex). it works fine now.

Want to connect my computer at 100mbps..

any solutions?

source: http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-x...ity/179813.html

Possible reasons for 'limited connectivity'

• Windows XP SP2 installation (ruled out since Vista and Win7 computers have issues, too)
  
• switch or router going bad
  
• damaged CAT5 cable
  
• NIC improperly configured (e.g. duplex)
  
• incorrect IP address assignments (check with static IP)
  
• corrupt Winsock stack (fix)
  

source: personal experience and http://www.computing.net/answers/networkin...nect/25356.html

Most of them seem rather unlikely since you

1. checked with several computers and several OSes
   
2. all computers run fine on the neighbours cable/socket
   

To me a bad cable/connection/socket in your friend's apartment seems likely, maybe the laptop's ethernet adapter just uses more power to send the signal or whatever...

welo

[siamect]

Hi

Cables can be either crossed or straight.

From hub to computer it should be straight.

Hub to hub or computer to computer it should be crossed.

Some hubs can negotiate this so it works even if it is wrong and some (but not all) computers can do the same.

Maybe the cable is wrong (crossed) and the computer that works can negotiate this. Then you will have full speed and absolutely o problems with some computers and really no way of getting any packets anywhere with other computers.

Buy a crossed cable and test...

Martin