Trying to hook laptop and desktop to same modem

Hi

I think I have a few problems....

1. Laptop used to work fine via ethernet connection to regular cable modem
on it's own and we got another desktop and on it's own would also work fine
via ethernet to internet. Then tried connecting the laptop via usb to modem
while desktop connected to the modem (Motorola Surfboard SB5105 provided by
optus) and that wouldn't work even though the user guide for the modem said
it would....

2. So then we tried using the Motorola SBG900 which is a wireless router
modem
gateway and couldn't get any internet connection with either computer
individually and finally found out that it's not optus compatible but in the
process had mucked around a fair bit with the gateway/laptop settings and now
the laptop has no ip address.

3. So now the laptop wont talk to the SB5105 modem either and cannot find
an ip address via doing the lan connection repair, by reinstalling the
ethernet connection for the modem or by doing ipconfig/renew at the cmd
prompt.

4. I have also tried to network both computers and both have the same
workgroup name. The sb5105 is supposed to be able to provide internet
connection for both computers at the same time if one is connected via usb
and the other by ethernet but we cant make this work or the laptop work on
it's own again with just the ethernet.

Any ideas???

Use the original cable modem you have. Instead of plugging a computer into
it, get a router (SMC, LinkSys, dLink, Belkin, etc) and plug that into the
cable modem instead of a computer. Make sure the jack on the router says
WAN. Then plug your computers into the LAN ports on the router. Power on the
cable modem and let it stabilize. Then power on the router, then the PCs.

From each PC, you might need to bring up a DOS window and enter "ipconfig
/release" and then "ipconfig /renew" to get new IP addresses. Each PC should
be able to see the internet and each other.

For the way cable modems are normally configured, you won't need to tweak
any of the router settings. However, you do need to go into the routers
configuration page and change the default password, so you might as well
take a look at the options. If it has wireless and you currently don't use
wireless, you can turn that part off. There may be a setting that tells the
router how often to ask the cable modem for an IP address...that may need to
change.

If you've managed to reconfigure the cable modem itself, then you'll
probably need help from the cable company.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"sally" <sally@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:870FFA1C-C854-4822-AFFE-6FEA44E65DB2@microsoft.com...
> Hi
>
> I think I have a few problems....
>
> 1. Laptop used to work fine via ethernet connection to regular cable
> modem
> on it's own and we got another desktop and on it's own would also work
> fine
> via ethernet to internet. Then tried connecting the laptop via usb to
> modem
> while desktop connected to the modem (Motorola Surfboard SB5105 provided
> by
> optus) and that wouldn't work even though the user guide for the modem
> said
> it would....
>
> 2. So then we tried using the Motorola SBG900 which is a wireless router
> modem
> gateway and couldn't get any internet connection with either computer
> individually and finally found out that it's not optus compatible but in
> the
> process had mucked around a fair bit with the gateway/laptop settings and
> now
> the laptop has no ip address.
>
> 3. So now the laptop wont talk to the SB5105 modem either and cannot find
> an ip address via doing the lan connection repair, by reinstalling the
> ethernet connection for the modem or by doing ipconfig/renew at the cmd
> prompt.
>
> 4. I have also tried to network both computers and both have the same
> workgroup name. The sb5105 is supposed to be able to provide internet
> connection for both computers at the same time if one is connected via usb
> and the other by ethernet but we cant make this work or the laptop work on
> it's own again with just the ethernet.
>
> Any ideas???
>
>

Hi sally,

It sounds like you may be able to use a router, or is your device a combined
modem/router?

Personally, I use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), and I think that with
just two computers you could use it too; especially if you have just a modem
and no router. Only one of your computers connects directly to the internet,
but the other can share that connection at the same time.

Set up one computer (the desktop?) to connect to the internet. You might
need to contact your ISP for specialised configurations. When that is up and
running, connect the other computer (the laptop?) to the first computer. On
the first computer run the Network Setup Wizard. There aren't too many steps
or tricky questions.

Of course, there are a lot of gaps in these instructions, but there is
plenty of info in "Help and Support". The wizard is brilliant, and should fix
up any mistakes you have, as it configures eveything for you. But I think it
is mainly for ICS, which may not be appropriate for you.


"sally" wrote:

> Hi
>
> I think I have a few problems....
>
> 1. Laptop used to work fine via ethernet connection to regular cable modem
> on it's own and we got another desktop and on it's own would also work fine
> via ethernet to internet. Then tried connecting the laptop via usb to modem
> while desktop connected to the modem (Motorola Surfboard SB5105 provided by
> optus) and that wouldn't work even though the user guide for the modem said
> it would....
>
> 2. So then we tried using the Motorola SBG900 which is a wireless router
> modem
> gateway and couldn't get any internet connection with either computer
> individually and finally found out that it's not optus compatible but in the
> process had mucked around a fair bit with the gateway/laptop settings and now
> the laptop has no ip address.
>
> 3. So now the laptop wont talk to the SB5105 modem either and cannot find
> an ip address via doing the lan connection repair, by reinstalling the
> ethernet connection for the modem or by doing ipconfig/renew at the cmd
> prompt.
>
> 4. I have also tried to network both computers and both have the same
> workgroup name. The sb5105 is supposed to be able to provide internet
> connection for both computers at the same time if one is connected via usb
> and the other by ethernet but we cant make this work or the laptop work on
> it's own again with just the ethernet.
>
> Any ideas???
>
>

Hi sally,

I was interested in the possibility of connecting one computer by ethernet
and another by USB to a broadband modem, so I looked up the Motorola Aus
wbsite and found on
http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?...ctId=990-9103:

"Q: Motorola’s Cable Modem Products have a USB and Ethernet connection.
Can I use both of these ports to support two PCs at the same time?

A: Australian Cable Internet Service providers do not support this mode of
operation. To have more than two PC’s connected at the one time; you will
need to install a router behind your Cable Modem."

So you can forget what the user manual says.


"sally" wrote:

> Hi
>
> I think I have a few problems....
>
> 1. Laptop used to work fine via ethernet connection to regular cable modem
> on it's own and we got another desktop and on it's own would also work fine
> via ethernet to internet. Then tried connecting the laptop via usb to modem
> while desktop connected to the modem (Motorola Surfboard SB5105 provided by
> optus) and that wouldn't work even though the user guide for the modem said
> it would....
>
> 2. So then we tried using the Motorola SBG900 which is a wireless router
> modem
> gateway and couldn't get any internet connection with either computer
> individually and finally found out that it's not optus compatible but in the
> process had mucked around a fair bit with the gateway/laptop settings and now
> the laptop has no ip address.
>
> 3. So now the laptop wont talk to the SB5105 modem either and cannot find
> an ip address via doing the lan connection repair, by reinstalling the
> ethernet connection for the modem or by doing ipconfig/renew at the cmd
> prompt.
>
> 4. I have also tried to network both computers and both have the same
> workgroup name. The sb5105 is supposed to be able to provide internet
> connection for both computers at the same time if one is connected via usb
> and the other by ethernet but we cant make this work or the laptop work on
> it's own again with just the ethernet.
>
> Any ideas???
>
>

Hi sally I have a simular problem but my little light that are so supposed to
blink don't could this be a software problem or do I need my computer repaired
Syd
"AllanF" wrote:

> Hi sally,
>
> It sounds like you may be able to use a router, or is your device a combined
> modem/router?
>
> Personally, I use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), and I think that with
> just two computers you could use it too; especially if you have just a modem
> and no router. Only one of your computers connects directly to the internet,
> but the other can share that connection at the same time.
>
> Set up one computer (the desktop?) to connect to the internet. You might
> need to contact your ISP for specialised configurations. When that is up and
> running, connect the other computer (the laptop?) to the first computer. On
> the first computer run the Network Setup Wizard. There aren't too many steps
> or tricky questions.
>
> Of course, there are a lot of gaps in these instructions, but there is
> plenty of info in "Help and Support". The wizard is brilliant, and should fix
> up any mistakes you have, as it configures eveything for you. But I think it
> is mainly for ICS, which may not be appropriate for you.
>
>
> "sally" wrote:
>
> > Hi
> >
> > I think I have a few problems....
> >
> > 1. Laptop used to work fine via ethernet connection to regular cable modem
> > on it's own and we got another desktop and on it's own would also work fine
> > via ethernet to internet. Then tried connecting the laptop via usb to modem
> > while desktop connected to the modem (Motorola Surfboard SB5105 provided by
> > optus) and that wouldn't work even though the user guide for the modem said
> > it would....
> >
> > 2. So then we tried using the Motorola SBG900 which is a wireless router
> > modem
> > gateway and couldn't get any internet connection with either computer
> > individually and finally found out that it's not optus compatible but in the
> > process had mucked around a fair bit with the gateway/laptop settings and now
> > the laptop has no ip address.
> >
> > 3. So now the laptop wont talk to the SB5105 modem either and cannot find
> > an ip address via doing the lan connection repair, by reinstalling the
> > ethernet connection for the modem or by doing ipconfig/renew at the cmd
> > prompt.
> >
> > 4. I have also tried to network both computers and both have the same
> > workgroup name. The sb5105 is supposed to be able to provide internet
> > connection for both computers at the same time if one is connected via usb
> > and the other by ethernet but we cant make this work or the laptop work on
> > it's own again with just the ethernet.
> >
> > Any ideas???
> >
> >