Cannot connect to Internet

I have a desktop PC and a laptop. The laptop connects to the internet via a LinkSys router. The PC is directly connected to my cable modem. Last night, the PC worked fine getting on the internet. I shut it down, and this morning I turned on the laptop, and it wouldn't connect. I tried the PC, and it won't connect. All lights on the router and on the cable modem box are lit up as usual. I tried ipconfig on the PC, and there is no default gateway listed. I tried ipconfig/renew and it took forever and finally said it could not find a dhcp server. What can I do to fix this and get back online?

 

Always the first thing to do is power cycle the equipment. Preferably in order.

Shut down the PC and unplug the power from your router and cable modem.

Wait 10 seconds, plug power into cable modem. Wait till it is done its cycle. plug in the router. Wait till it is done and turn on computers.

 

I'm confused. Are you saying that your desktop is connected to the internet connection, but the router is not?

Just going based off of what you said, I'd suggest you need the router connected to the cable modem, and have the desktop and laptop connect to the router.

 

Everything is plugged into everything it is supposed to be. All lights on the router and on the cable modem are lit and indicating that I am online, but neither computer will connect.

ipconfig/renew says 'cannot connect to dhcp server.'

 

Problem fixed. Had to unplug everything, let everything power back up, then reconfigure the router so the laptop would recognize it. Everything working normally again.