I have Comcast Internet service and just bought a Motorola SB5120 modem
and connected my Compaq EVO laptop to the internet with no problems.
However, I was trying to connect my Dell Windows 2000 PC as well but
cannot get a connection. However, ipconfig returns 0.0.0.0 for both
the Autoconfiguration IP Address and Subnet Mask and

ipconfig /release
Windows 2000 IP Configuration
All adapters bound to DHCP do not have DHCP addresses. The addresses
were automatically configured and can not be released.

ipconfig / renew
Windows 2000 IP Configuration
The following error occurred when renewing adapter Local Area
Connection: DHCP Server unreachable.

I had to install Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (which is set to obtain IP
address and DNS server automatically) and NetBEUI protocol.

Has anyone seen this same problem or have any ideas on how to fix it?

On 27 May 2006 06:39:58 -0700, btkwheeler@gmail.com wrote:
anytime you change the device connected to the cable modem, power off
the cable modem for 1 minute by your watch, power up cable modem, then
the computer.

btkwheeler@gmail.com wrote:
disconnecting the Compaq and then plugging in the Dell?
Jim

Thanks for the advice. I was just disconnecting the ethernet cable
from my laptop and connecting it to the Dell. I tried powering off the
cable modem for 1 min, connected the ethernet cable to the Dell,
powering up the cable modem and then the computer, but still the same
problem persists.

I do have a router (which works with my laptop) but I thought I better
not complicate things and right now I'm just connecting from my cable
modem's ethernet port directly to the Compaq or Dell ethernet port.

Since it appears that you are using Google to post to Usenet, you
realy need to take time to read

http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/

Do read the links at the bottom the the above webpage.

I suggest checking if your ISP has a Usenet News server. If so,
you need to use it with a usenet complient reader instead of using
google to post usenet questions.

----------- standard New to Linux included text follows -------------

Other people's Free advice:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
http://livinginternet.com/u/ua.htm <--- Advanced Usenet Usage
http://tgos.org/newbie/rules.html <--- Good Usenet etiquette

and do bookmark this very large, Frequently Asked Questions (faq) search engine
http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search
key words(s) in the first box
*linux* in Newsgroup box. You need to use the two
asterisks around linux, pick English

----------- end of New to Linux included text ------------------------

On 27 May 2006 11:30:05 -0700, btkwheeler@gmail.com wrote:
I would suggest that any time you move an ethernet cable like that, you
power reset the device which was connected to a computer.

Hmm, the rounter would/should have made it simpler.
If you can hook laptop back to modem and it works, click up a Command
Prompt and do an ipconfig release or ipconfig /release
I forget which.

Power off everything hook up router and computers to router, then
powerup cable modem, wait for modem sync, powerup router, then each
computer should be able to chat through the router to the internet.

This assumes you have set each computer to chat with the router
correctly to get an address or you hardcode ip values depending on
your setup.

Easy example:
You set the router to use dhcp to get a lease via the modem on the
internet/WAN side (68.54.220.x) .

You set the router to hand out LAN (local net) ip address via dhcp.
Each computer is configured to obtain a dhcp lease from the router
(192.168.x.x).

Now as each computer comes up, it should get some 192.168.x.x ip
address from the router.

You may have to force the Ethernet card to 100Mbps, if it is a gig-e
card. I haven't seen this problem with a SB5100, but I guess it could
happen. For some reason Dells sometimes won't realize they are on a
100Mbps connection with some cablemodems (I see it more often with
Scientific Atlanta and Terryon modems).

On 27 May 2006 11:30:05 -0700, btkwheeler@gmail.com wrote: