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    can't connect broadband on new laptop

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by jmchestnut, Jan 27, 2008.

  1. jmchestnut

    jmchestnut Newbie

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    I have a new Dell Vostro 1400 (with Vista). Wireless works great. But, at home, I only have cable internet, and I can't get establish a connection. The internet works on my desktop, but not on the laptop. I need help!

    I tried a factory image system restore to no avail. When I go to Device Manager, and click on the Broadcom Netlink Fast Ethernet driver, the "device status" indicates that it is working properly.

    Any ideas what I should do? Should I update or reinstall the driver?
     
  2. Rene S - Zepto

    Rene S - Zepto Company Representative

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    What brand router/modem is there on the wired connection?
     
  3. jmchestnut

    jmchestnut Newbie

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    Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem: SB5101
     
  4. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Can it connect by wired? if not check you FW settings.

    Also try cloning the mac address of the desktop wired into the router.
     
  5. jmchestnut

    jmchestnut Newbie

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    Sorry...I'm not too tech savvy. How do check the FW settings or clone the mac address?
     
  6. Rene S - Zepto

    Rene S - Zepto Company Representative

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    I was just asking as I have heard people having problems with Belkin, Netgear, Linksys, ZyXEL and HP ProCurve with the Broadcom Netlink Gigabit chips in our machines. Most of the time they will not even detect a network cable being attached.
     
  7. jmchestnut

    jmchestnut Newbie

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    Sorry....thanks for everyone's input. I feel dumb, but all I had to do was turn the power off the modem and reboot the computer so that the modem could reset to my laptop, or whatever it needs to do. Broadband works perfectly. I love my new Vostro!
     
  8. teragen

    teragen Newbie

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    You don't have to reboot the computer actually. Just unplug the power cable from the back of the cable modem, plug in the ethernet cable on the laptop, then plug the power cable back into the modem. I do it all the time switching between desktop and laptop, until I get a router.
     
  9. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    lol, happens all the time...

    annie