So, this place is supposed to be full of IT boffins

EKE_38BPM

I've got a problem with a wireless router I want to use as an access point.

Many moons ago I cascaded it behind a VOIP modem and to do that I changed the default IP address of the router and made a note of the new IP address.
Now when I try to access the setup page using the new IP address, computer says no.
When I try to access the setup page using the default IP address, computer says no.
I can't ping it because I don't know what address to ping.

I did the support chat thing with Linksys (the manufacturer of the router) and after going around in circles they were able to tell me that the router isn't dead, but couldn't actually tell me what the new IP address is.

When I use ipconfig in command prompt, I get this:
Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection*11:
Media State:.................................................:Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix...............:

Wireless LAN adapter Wifi:
Media State:.................................................:Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix...............:home

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection*3:
Media State:.................................................:Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix...............:
So, IT bods, err I mean boffins, can you help me get into the access page?

leeefm

I'm just clutching at straws a little here, but you can get windows to draw out a network map if you're using windows 7. Go to control panel -> Network and sharing center and then click on "See full map". Assuming the router is connected between your PC and the internet, it should appear in the map. Right click on the icon for it, and select "View device webpage".

dougalls

There will almost certainly be a hardware reset button on the router, normally needs to be pushed with a paperclip or similar. Since you set it up previously you presumably know how to do it again so could just reset and then use the default access IP.

EKE_38BPM

leeefm wrote:

I'm just clutching at straws a little here, but you can get windows to draw out a network map if you're using windows 7.

I'm using Windows 8.

dougalls wrote:

There will almost certainly be a hardware reset button on the router, normally needs to be pushed with a paperclip or similar. Since you set it up previously you presumably know how to do it again so could just reset and then use the default access IP.

I've tried resetting it many, many times. Its supposed to be 5 seconds to reset and 30 seconds to reset to factory settings. Neither works.

dhope

What model router is it? A linksys what?

dougalls

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious but was the router powered up when you reset? Might also be worth giving it a good minute to see if it resets.

Also, if it is a wireless access point and you have reset it, have you tried to access it with an ethernet cable plugged in to avoid any issues with wireless set up?

pblakeney

AFAIK I.T. advice is limited to "Have you tried switching it off and on again?"

sketchley

Media disconnected means just that. Try a different cable?

seajays

What model router is it?

Daz555

Switch it on. Harware reset (give it a 30 second press at least). Connect via an ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports.

As long as your computer is set to acquire address via DHCP it should then pick up what ever IP range the router defaults to. If it is not dishing out an IP address to the first computer to connect via ethernet after a hardware reset then something else is wrong with it.

Pufftmw

arp -a

Pufftmw

Run that from a command prompt and it will list all the mac addresses of all the connected devices on the network & list their IP

davis

Daz555 wrote:

Switch it on. Harware reset (give it a 30 second press at least). Connect via an ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports.

As long as your computer is set to acquire address via DHCP it should then pick up what ever IP range the router defaults to. If it is not dishing out an IP address to the first computer to connect via ethernet after a hardware reset then something else is wrong with it.

This. Just do this. (You might have to google the router's model number to get the exact hardware reset operation).

bompington

Pufftmw wrote:

Run that from a command prompt and it will list all the mac addresses of all the connected devices on the network & list their IP

if ipconfig is reporting "media disconnected" then there are no connected devices.


As above, if proper hardware reset + ethernet connection doesn't work, you have a busted router.

leeefm

EKE_38BPM wrote:

I'm using Windows 8.

Take a look here, it describes similar functionality available in windows 8. If everything is connected properly it should give you the network topology. From there you can get IPs.

seajays

It may not be giving out DHCP by default - in order to get to the web interface you may have to connect directly to it with an ethernet cable from your PC and then manually alter your windows TCP/IP settings to give your PC an IP address that will work on the router's default subnet, which should allow you to connect to the web configuration interface.

That's why knowing the model of the router would be useful to be able to give more specific instructions…

veronese68

Thankfully, whilst there may be many people that know about IT, there is only one ITBoffin.

rjsterry

Veronese68 wrote:

Thankfully, whilst there may be many people that know about IT, there is only one ITBoffin.

And mercifully, he only has two legs.

sketchley

AS it say no media connected a few basic things to check before you get technical.

Sorry if these are obvious but need to know who far you have got

1. Are there lights on the router? If not switch it on please!
2. Is the cable between the router and the PC plugged in? If not plug it in. If yes is it plugged in correctly, does it click when plugged in?
3. Are there lights on the port where the cable from the router plugs into the PC or on the router to show which port you are plugged into. If no try another a cable, if yes then does it go out if you unplug it and come back on when you plug it back?

If all this checks out ok then check device manager to see if the driver is correctly installed for the network adapter.

itboffin

Ha ha fail my advise to you is don't listen to anything G66 has to say, full stop

Oh and you need a new bike

greg66_tri_v2.0

I thought this was an English language board.

This thread needs subtitles.

itboffin

Is that the best you've got?

Old man

EKE_38BPM

It is a Linksys WRT54GL router.
I have done the reset procedure many, many times.
I've tried different ethernet cables and in different ports.
I'll have a look at Leeefm's TechRepublic link when I finish typing this.
I don't think the router is busted as when I do ipconfig/all, the router is listed, but the IP is " : : ". Its like the IP address is blank.

Seajays wrote:

It may not be giving out DHCP by default - in order to get to the web interface you may have to connect directly to it with an ethernet cable from your PC and then manually alter your windows TCP/IP settings to give your PC an IP address that will work on the router's default subnet, which should allow you to connect to the web configuration interface.

It would be really cool to know if that was written in English. Individually, the words sort of make sense, but all together, I'm baffled!

Sketchley wrote:

AS it say no media connected a few basic things to check before you get technical.

Sorry if these are obvious but need to know who far you have got

1. Are there lights on the router? If not switch it on please!

The router is on. The power light is steady (not flashing). The ethernet port light is illuminated for the respective port where the ethernet cable is plugged in. The WLAN light is on.

Sketchley wrote:

2. Is the cable between the router and the PC plugged in? If not plug it in. If yes is it plugged in correctly, does it click when plugged in?

It is plugged in and the PC ethernet port lights up white.

Sketchley wrote:

3. Are there lights on the port where the cable from the router plugs into the PC or on the router to show which port you are plugged into. If no try another a cable, if yes then does it go out if you unplug it and come back on when you plug it back?

Both the router port and the PC port light up when connected.

Sketchley wrote:

If all this checks out ok then check device manager to see if the driver is correctly installed for the network adapter.

I'll have a look at that.

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

I thought this was an English language board.

This thread needs subtitles.

And thats the truth, Ruth!

Ouija

Seajays wrote:

It may not be giving out DHCP by default - in order to get to the web interface you may have to connect directly to it with an ethernet cable from your PC and then manually alter your windows TCP/IP settings to give your PC an IP address that will work on the router's default subnet, which should allow you to connect to the web configuration interface.

EKE_38BPM wrote:

It would be really cool to know if that was written in English. Individually, the words sort of make sense, but all together, I'm baffled!

He means your computer is creating IP addresses for itself randomly via DHCP every time it boots. After resetting your router it may be using a fixed IP address which isn't on the same network as your computers. For instance.....

Lets say your computer gives itself the IP address (via DHCP) of 192.168.0.1 but your router has now given itself the fixed IP address of 192.168.1.1 (since you've reset it and it's gone back to the default setting of having WIFI and DHCP switched off).

These two devices are now on completely different networks and you'd need to switch the routers IP address to be in the same address range as the computers. IE 192.168.0.? (where the "?" is another number other than "1", as this is the address used by the computer). So the first three digits are the same for both devices with only the last one being different.

However. Since you can't get into the router to do this you have to do it the other way round and switch the computers to the same network address as the routers (except for the last digit, obviously). So, if the routers default address after being reset is 192.168.1.1 you'd have to switch off DHCP on the computer and give it a fixed address of 192.168.1.2, which puts it on the same network as the router (the router being the 1st device on that networks and the computer being the 2nd device on the same network.

At the moment there is a good chance that the second to last digit in their respective IP addresses are different (because the routers is now fixed and wont change and because the computer is picking IP addresses at random via DHCP). Since you can't access the router to put it on the same network as the computers you need to alter the computers to put it on the same network as the router (alter the first three numbers to match the routers and give it a different last digit).

Any clearer?

After doing that it's usually a good idea to have DHCP switched 'on' on both devices so they can mutually agree on a random IP address that's on the same network or have it switched off on both devices and force them both to comply to the same network (first three digits the same, with only the last different). Having it 'on' on one and 'off' on the other can cause problems.

EKE_38BPM

Ouija wrote:

Any clearer?

The waters are very slightly less muddy.
When I did whatever I did to the router many years ago, I had the sense (or so I thought) to write the new IP address on some masking tape and stick it to the underside of the router along with the new username, password, SSID and WPA.
I know what the router's IP address should be (or what I think it is) but when I use that to access the setup page, computer says no.
Are you saying I need to change the DHCP on the PC? How? Is this a job for gaffa tape or WD40?

Wheelspinner

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Ouija wrote:

Any clearer?

Are you saying I need to change the DHCP on the PC? How? Is this a job for gaffa tape or WD40?

More like a job for one of these I'd say. (Instructions included, just in case....)

Ouija

Last time i checked the default password for Linksys WRT54GL is "admin" and the default IP address is 192.168.1.1.

So. Switch off DHCP on your computer and set it to a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.2 to put it on the same network as the router.

Don't know how you do it in Windows 8, but on Windows 7 it's a case of going into control panel, selecting "network and sharing center", clicking on the 'local area connection' for your homegroup computer and look at the information in the details tab first. This will tell you your current IP address (IPv4) and address of the current Gateway and DHCP server (which should be the same as the routers if it's the router your using for internet connection and issuing DHCP IP addresses).

If it isn't, then close the details window and click on the properties button for the 'Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' menu item. You'll probably have it set to "Obtain an IP address automatically". Needless to say, you'll need to switch this to the routers base address (192.168.1.), choosing a different last digit (both devices can't have identical address, so if the routers last number is "1" set your computers to "2" etc).

The subnet mask is something like 255.255.255.0 (or something like that, though you computer may automatically add this).

And lastly, set the "Default Gateway" to the routers (192.168.1.1) and reboot and see what happens.

It's worth mentioning that if this works you may find any other network devices you have in the house may disappear (as they'll still be on the old network and not the "192.168.1.?" network). If this is the case, make note of what the first three digits of the old network was before changing anything and once you get in the router change it to that older network (so it's first three digits are the same) and then set the computer back to the old settings and reboot everything..

Once you've done that you'll find that your computer can talk to all network devices in the house as they are all sharing the first three digit addresses (with, hopefully, every device having a unique last digit).

EKE_38BPM

Ouija wrote:

Last time i checked the default password for Linksys WRT54GL is "admin" and the default IP address is 192.168.1.1.

So. Switch off DHCP on your computer and set it to a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.2 to put it on the same network as the router.

Don't know how you do it in Windows 8, but on Windows 7 it's a case of going into control panel, selecting "network and sharing center", clicking on the 'local area connection' for your homegroup computer and look at the information in the details tab first. This will tell you your current IP address (IPv4) and address of the current Gateway and DHCP server (which should be the same as the routers if it's the router your using for internet connection and issuing DHCP IP addresses).

If it isn't, then close the details window and click on the properties button for the 'Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' menu item. You'll probably have it set to "Obtain an IP address automatically". Needless to say, you'll need to switch this to the routers base address (192.168.1.), choosing a different last digit (both devices can't have identical address, so if the routers last number is "1" set your computers to "2" etc).

The subnet mask is something like 255.255.255.0 (or something like that, though you computer may automatically add this).

And lastly, set the "Default Gateway" to the routers (192.168.1.1) and reboot and see what happens.

It's worth mentioning that if this works you may find any other network devices you have in the house may disappear (as they'll still be on the old network and not the "192.168.1.?" network). If this is the case, make note of what the first three digits of the old network was before changing anything and once you get in the router change it to that older network (so it's first three digits are the same) and then set the computer back to the old settings and reboot everything..

Once you've done that you'll find that your computer can talk to all network devices in the house as they are all sharing the first three digit addresses (with, hopefully, every device having a unique last digit).

This all looks very good. I need to find out how to change the DHCP on the PC (I'll look for a screwdriver in a minute), do a bit of jiggery-pokery and Robert's my father's brother, right.

Just so you know, the bit of masking tape on the underside of the router tells me that I changed the IP address to 192.168.1.2
Does that information change any of the instructions above?

veronese68

Why am I reading this thread after going to the pub? None of it makes sense except for the instructions on where to hold a chainsaw.

Ouija

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Ouija wrote:

Last time i checked the default password for Linksys WRT54GL is "admin" and the default IP address is 192.168.1.1.

So. Switch off DHCP on your computer and set it to a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.2 to put it on the same network as the router.

Don't know how you do it in Windows 8, but on Windows 7 it's a case of going into control panel, selecting "network and sharing center", clicking on the 'local area connection' for your homegroup computer and look at the information in the details tab first. This will tell you your current IP address (IPv4) and address of the current Gateway and DHCP server (which should be the same as the routers if it's the router your using for internet connection and issuing DHCP IP addresses).

If it isn't, then close the details window and click on the properties button for the 'Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)' menu item. You'll probably have it set to "Obtain an IP address automatically". Needless to say, you'll need to switch this to the routers base address (192.168.1.), choosing a different last digit (both devices can't have identical address, so if the routers last number is "1" set your computers to "2" etc).

The subnet mask is something like 255.255.255.0 (or something like that, though you computer may automatically add this).

And lastly, set the "Default Gateway" to the routers (192.168.1.1) and reboot and see what happens.

It's worth mentioning that if this works you may find any other network devices you have in the house may disappear (as they'll still be on the old network and not the "192.168.1.?" network). If this is the case, make note of what the first three digits of the old network was before changing anything and once you get in the router change it to that older network (so it's first three digits are the same) and then set the computer back to the old settings and reboot everything..

Once you've done that you'll find that your computer can talk to all network devices in the house as they are all sharing the first three digit addresses (with, hopefully, every device having a unique last digit).

This all looks very good. I need to find out how to change the DHCP on the PC (I'll look for a screwdriver in a minute), do a bit of jiggery-pokery and Robert's my father's brother, right.

Just so you know, the bit of masking tape on the underside of the router tells me that I changed the IP address to 192.168.1.2
Does that information change any of the instructions above?

Depends. After resetting the router you've set it's IP address back to 192.168.1.1. It may be that your computer IS already on the '192.168.1' network but is conflicting with the router because both want to have the same last digit. This may of been why you changed the last digit from "1" to "2" on the router in the first place all those years ago.

Again, go to the network and sharing center on windows and click on 'properties' for your network and then on the 'Details' button and take a look at the current IP address the computer is using. If it says 192.168.1.1 too then there's your problem. You need to alter the computers IP address to something like '192.168.1.2' or '192.168.1.3' (any ip address with the same three starting numbers as the router but with a different last number).

The method of changing the IP address of the computer is no different than i outlined above weather you are just wanting to change the last digit of the number or the whole number.

Either way, once your in the router you can set it's IP address to whatever you want and then change the computers back to whatever you wanted, though it really makes no difference if the computers is now 192.168.1.2 and the routers 168.192.1.1 or the other way round as long as the first three digits are the same and the last digit is different.

seajays

This has instructions with pictures for setting a fixed IP address in windows 8 (start from "Step 5", and select the ethernet card that the router is connected to in step 8 ):

http://portforward.com/networking/stati ... dows-8.htm

As Oija said, set your windows 8 PC to have the following settings (maybe do ...1.10, instead of ...1.2 just to be sure it doesn't conflict!):

IP Address: 192.168.1.10
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Apply and save those settings, then try to connect via your web browser to http://192.168.1.1/

If you do get back in and are able to configure the router properly, don't forget afterwards to go back into your network settings in windows 8 and put the TCP/IP settings back to "Obtain an IP Address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically")