Windows 98 Internet Connection Problem

Hey,

I recently fixed our old HP Pavilion Windows 98 computr that was sitting in our garage after we bought a new computer. It was working pefectly fine after I did a System and Application Recovery. I connected a Cat5 Cable from our NetGear Router to the HP computer. It worked for about 6 or 7 days. So basically a week or so.

I found some programs on the computer I didn't want ( AIM,MSN Messenger, Stopzilla ) so instead of deleting them, I just did another System Recovery.
NOW I have no internet connection at all. I tried going into Windows Update to update Internet Explorer to see if that was the problem, but I need a connection to the internet to enter that. When ever I try entering into the internet, the page says - Page Cannot Be Displayed.

As well as maybe the website is having difficulties... Which it isn't. Maybe browser settings? Help would be appreciated.

Brandon

 

Start with the basics.......... bring up a command Prompt and type IPCONF. I believe thats what it is in 98. In fact I beleive 98 has an ipconfig utility. Anyway, do you have an IP from your Router? If not WHY? bad cable, do you have a link light? Also try to ping your loop back IP 127.0.0.1 that will let you know if your network card is working. Can you ping your router? If so do other computers have internet connectivity? If your router has a Web interface see if it gave your computer an IP through DHCP. If all that is good then go back to your computer. I cannot leave out the option of a virus or some trojan or nasty spyware, Please ensure your system is clean before you go crazy thinking your Browser is not configured properly. OK, next.... look at your Browser settings and make sure you dont have some type of Proxy set up and your set up for directly connected to the internet. Still dont have internet. Go back to your command prompt and type "ping yahoo.com" or ping hotmail.com or any other major web site you frequent. Did you get a responce? If so, you are connected to the internet and its probably a browser problem. At that point I would download Mozilla Firefox on your other computer and intall it on the 98 machine and try that. If you did not get a responce and you did get one from your router then for some reason your router is not passing your traffic. All this is, is general trouble shooting and require next to no network experience. Try and isolate the the problem and w/b with more details.

 

I'll go try now. I'm not so good with computers, so what does " ping your loop back " mean? Yes, the other computers have internet activity ( sisters lap top hooked up with a PC Card ) Yes, on the router there is a light showing it's giving internet. But when the computer is turned off, it doesn't light on.

The cable works perfect. Works with my PS2 as well.

 

the loopback is an internal Ip address that every NIC card has. Its IP is 127.0.0.1 By typing ping 127.0.0.1 will let you know if your computer still recongnizes your NIC and it is working.

 

Everything you reccomended to me didn't work. It would say " unrecognized or unkown command " and " file not found ".... Nothing seems to work. I think we'll just throw out that old computer.... But if someone thinks it's worth keeping and making it work again... HELP ME OUT!

Thanks for trying

 

OK, I havent been on 98 in a while but I did a little research and found out the command for 98 is * winipcfg * that will tell you your current IP address. if it starts with a 169.254.xxx.xxx then you are not connected to your router. If it starts with a 192.168.xxx.xxx then chances are your talking to your router. What else specifically does not work? If the computer worked last week and you have a notion to learn a little then I definately recommend keeping it.

good luck

 

Thanks. When I enter that, my IP Address says this - 0.0.0.0

 

OK then, thats why your not on the internet. You need to figure why your router is not giving your NIC an IP. As stated before, check your physical connections. do you have a link light on your NIC? Did you swap cables? Does your 98 still recogize your NIC card in Device manager? I think you can type
* winipcfg /renew * that will force windows to try and get a valid IP from your router. If it still does not then look into your router settings and make sure that your not filtered or blocked for some reason. OH, and try to ping you loopback again. * ping 127.0.0.1 * that will tell you if your NIC operational.

good luck and let us know

ds

ps, one other thought.... after restoring your OS it could be possible that you lost the driver for the NIC card. Even though 98 is supposed to recognize new hardware it is not 100%

 

Thanks a lot...
But that didn't work either. Yes, the router shows it's giving internet. And on the back of the computer ( HP, the one I fixed ) have a green light come on as I connect the Cat5 Cable in....

But ya, it's for sure the IP Address.

Off The Topic -
After I sell one of my R/C Trucks ( http://www.rc-bay.com/cgi-bin/auction.pl?item=41109655164 ) I'm probably going to buy a Palmone Zire 72. What do you think of this palm pilot/pda/handheld?

 

At this point my best guess is that the restore did away with your NIC driver. About the Pilot, Im sorry I can't help you out there. I am by no means an expert on those. I did look at it on line and it does look like a beauty, One thing you need to away of is that IR port. Hackers have done a wonderfull job at exploiting that port and are able to access anything you have on your Pilot. Just be warry of where you go with it. I am in the IT field (sort of) in the Military and have had demos at how easy it is for hackers to get in them.

Good luck with that other computer

ds

 

geeze, i forget 98 to, but i do know it that is your # 1 pc your default ip should be 192.168.0.1, #2 192.168.0.2, so on and so on. if it is set to automatically find ip, try manually doing it, mac address should come automatically after reboot

 

hey-- I found two great places that can help you get your PDA connected to the Internet. If you want to do it manually it might take some time. If you are up for it Geekzone has a good tutorial that helps you configure and share the internet by using your Bluetooth enabled desktop or notebook with internet access as an internet gateway for your iPAQ Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=1421

Otherwise you can get software that does it for you. This is what I have found to be the easiest way:

http://www.bvrp.com/link_GPRS_Manager.htm