Vista Business cable connectivity problem

Hello all,

I'm new here so if I'm in the wrong place, please advise me. TIA

I was very recently given a Lenovo X61 Thinkpad/Tablet, model 7764-CTO, purchased in 08, by a family member. It's running Vista Business which I'm not familiar with. I have been going nuts trying to get this thing to connect to the internet via my external cable modem. Have been through Charter Cable techs as well as Lenovo techs with no results. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. (G)

Best,

Wayne64

 

Wayne I too run Vista Business, this article is a good guide to setup a wireless network
How to setup a wireless connection | Windows Vista, XP and Windows 7 Tutorials

BTW are you running a 'clean install ' of windows Vista?

 

Thanks for the reply but I don't have a router. I really don't wish to go to the expense of setting one up. Are you saying that the X61 cannot connect via a cable modem? I assumed that all laptops/thinkpads could.

Wayno64

 

Oh, My Brother ran a full factory restore using the Thinkvantage button before he sent it to me. He had it set up in his home using a wireless connection. He hadn't used it in a year or so before he sent it.

Wayne

 

No I am not saying that, IF you look at the widows network icon in systray does the network you are trying to connect to show up as available?

 

No, when I try to connect it says "Connecting..." and below that it says "Unknown Network", and then it simply fails to connect and I get the failure to connect screen. The linklight at the cable connection to the pc continues to blink during the process.

Wayne

 

Check the Network Adaptor settings, if its Ethernet connection you're using make sure it hasn't got someone else's Static IP addresses on the Ethernet port by mistake. Type in "Network and Sharing Center" in the Search Bar then click on the link on the left where it says "Manage network connections".

You should get a list of Network Adaptors, right-click on the Ethernet adaptor and choose Properties. Look at Internet Protocol V4 and ensure its all set to something like "Obtain IP Address Automatically" as well for the DNS and enable.

If it's still not working you may want to check how the notebook is connecting to the modem router. With the cable in, go to Command Prompt (or type in "cmd") and then type in "ipconfig" and check the ip address and default gateway. Below is my example (I use wireless on mine but should be the same for ethernet)...



Go back to Network Adaptors and open the Properties box again to change the IP settings. This time choose Static IP address, for the 1st line follow the line of your IPv4 address, so for me its 192.168.0.xxx. Yours could be slightly different but where X is type in say number "77" instead to make it easier. Copy exactly for both subnet mask and default gateway in the Properties box and confirm and see if it connects to the modem router. I did this to a HP that had weird connectivity issues that worked when I set to Static IP.

Otherwise you may need to check the settings on the modem to make sure it isn't blocking your X61 for some reason.

 

Thanks for trying to get me sorted out. (G) I'm thinking I have another problem as well and have decided to bite the bullet and get a wireless router before I continue.

When windows finishes loading I'm getting a message that says "Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) status: Disabled" I have gone into the bios and enabled it and am still getting the message. I'm thinking I'll wait until the router gets here and do a full restore, if the system will allow another, and see if that eliminates the issue. Then take ir from there.

Thanks again,

Wayne

 

Wayne if you post the model of the cable modem you have it may help narrow down the issue. I have DSL so am not real familiar, but I was given a modem/wireless router combo when I called verizon and hinted that I was about to switch ISP's