cant connect to inernet using new laptop

[toffeeboy]

hi ,ive just bought a new laptop but it wont connect to internet ,i already have a connection via my pc ,so i simply unplugged the eternet cable out of pc and connected to laptop but nothing. i have disconnected the firewall and av software and ive reinstalled the network canections in device manager the modem is not showing any pc activety when connected to my laptop. anyone got any ideas , thanx
ps its vista on the laptop and xp on pc
my isp is virgin and have a sb 5100 motorola modem

[inspectercoley]

if its normally connected directly to the pc then you may need to clone the mac address from your pc onto your laptop

http://www.nthelp.com/NT6/change_mac_w2k.htm

Probably quite similar to how you do it in vista.

If you don't want to do this you may have to run the network setup disk / registration thing that comes with the internet to set up the connection for the laptop instead of the pc.

Alternatively every time you change connection just turn off the router or cable box change the cables and then turn it on again.
This often works but is a bit of a pain.

Best thing to do if you want to use both is to have a router and connect both devices to that which then connects to the isp box.
Then when you run the registration disk it will register the routers ip and mac as the main one and then the router can decide what to do with ur other connections from there.

My mate doesn't have his setup properly, hes on virgin and everytime he uses xbox he has to unplug pc from the net. turn off the cable modem and then plug in the xbox and then turn on the cable modem again. What a tool.

[liveseytowers]

Check your internet options on your PC and the new laptop to make sure that they are the same. Your laptop will probably be set to auto detect settings but your PC might have DNS etc and IP address entered manually? I'd guess that they are different anyway.

Also do an ipconfig /all on your Laptop and see what IP address you are getting.

Or possibly try what he said ^^^^^^^

[Welsh Pete]

You`ll need to reboot bothe the modem and laptop. The reason for this is you need to force the modem to recognise the new hardware of your PC...the MAC address. Be sure to fully boot the modem first and then the laptop second. By the way, dont forget to set all you laptop settings to DHCP.

A router wil avoid the need for all this.

[toffeeboy]

ok i dont have a router ive simply bought a laptop to replace my pc ,i do get the nfeeling the problem is alot more simpler than what your sayin (MACS ) AND ALL THAT
to my second reply im not getting any ip address because its not recognising anything when i plug it in ie no windows connecton /disconecction notice no activety light lighting up on my modem etc , it must be either a vista problem or a network problem on the lappy musnt it ??

[inspectercoley]

Ok just do the turn the cable modem off and on again thing, then should automatically find new ip address for lappy.

If that doesn't work then rerun the install cd you got with the connection.

Also make sure the cable says its connected. (ie there is not the 2 computers in the taskbar with the red cross)

[ant3b]

it is the mac address needs to be cloned.. usually a company only allows one mac address on a connection.. so you can either clone it.. or wait till the lease expires then use it.. cloning is the best way..

[Welsh Pete]

Again, REBOOT MODEM...wait until rebooted. REBOOT PC...done.


edit: N T L used to allow 3 macs per custome...I worked there, I know. However, things do change!

[inspectercoley]

Im not sure if it does need cloning. Virgin normally assigns a mac address to the cable modem that cannot be changed but for individual connection from the modem you can have different ones but the thing need to be reset to do this.

It it very easy to set up the clone tho if turning it off and on again doesn't work.
It sounds a lot more technical than it really is...

[ant3b]

sorry im getting confused... clone the mac address of the cable modem.. who is your provider? for internet

[toffeeboy]

ok the rebooting of modem then lappy didnt work and of course its got the 2 computer red cross thing because it simply not connecting ,ok so ill haVE A GO AT CLONING BUT FIRST ill try the DHCP, how do i do this??
and can some1tell me this , if it is the mac setting ( which im totally new to soz) why didnt i have this prob when i bought my pc as it wasnt the same pc i had when i had the internet put in 18 months ago

[inspectercoley]

is there more than 1 ethernet port on the lappy? even if its not working if its plugged in it should still not show the red cross, or when you first plug it in it should say acquiring ip address and then fail if it can't.

Is there a green light on both connection points (ie the laptop one and the modem one).

Check in your network connections and then try repairing the connection from there...

[Welsh Pete]

You are using a patch cable and not a crossover cable arent you?

As said, the red cross will indicate no cable whereas the yellow warning sign indicates bad IP. Presuming the cable works fine for the desktop I`d be iffy about your NIC in the laptop.

Go through device manager and make sure its working fine first and then, if possible, try a USB NIC, or another laptop.

[toffeeboy]

cable is fine as i use it in pc no green light like it has in when connected to pc ,nothing
are yous saying though that when i sign a 12 month contract with virgin im not signing it to the property but to the comkputer and therefore cant change my pc untill as you put it the lease is up , thats ridiculous surely
how do i clone my mac
boy i did not expect to use that phrase an hour a go haha

[inspectercoley]

You can phone their technical support and they can register a new one, or just go through the setup stage on the cd again and you should be able to register a new one with that...

[toffeeboy]

s o i just ask to register a new m.a.c.or mac ?
thanxs everyone