Random Computer/Internet Question

[unico_love]

Whenever my friend visits from college, he can't get his computer to hook up to my internet. I know the cord works, and all my computers will hook up just fine. His (laptop) computer, however, will not, even though he can use the wireless connection at home and the ethernet cord connection at school. I have the cord connection. Nothing is wrong with the cord. Enabling/disabling the wireless switch does not seem to change anything as far as his ability to connect to my internet. The computer recognizes the connection but won't connect. I have Comcast "high speed" internet but I have no idea whether it's cable or dsl (I might be able to find out soon, but the person who handles our computers has an away message up at the moment). Does anyone have any idea what could be the problem and how such a computer might be able to connect to the internet? I am looking for as many possibilities as possible, though the boy who handles this stuff for us could eventually come out if everything fails. (Also, the computer is not here at my house with me right now; this is for future reference because it's always a problem).

Comments

[alliterati.livejournal.com]

Which OS?

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

Windows. I am *horrible* with figuring out computer stuff, just so you know.

[nerdinium.livejournal.com]

Sometimes cable modems only want to see one "mac" address on a modem. It is kind of involved to change it, but changing the mac address on the laptop to match the one on your main computer could fix it. That's what I had to do to get my laptop working on my mom's cable modem. You could also try enabling "internet sharing" on your main computer, but you would need some kind of hub. This is going to sound like gobbledygook, but maybe your friend would know how to try those things.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

I will at least bring this up with the boy who handles our computers when I get a chance to talk with him again. Thank you!

[pianodwarf.livejournal.com]

You can also try just powering off the cable modem, connecting the one computer to the other, and powering the modem back up after a minute or two... it's an annoying workaround, but it does work. Nerdinium is right about the MAC address thing. I used to have Comcast, and their modem did the same thing. It's a pain in the neck.

If you're going to be sharing your Internet connection on a regular basis, you should probably get a router to get around the problem.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

We might actually have a router... I know we used to. If I have a router could someone who knows about computers put it up and solve this problem just through that?

[pianodwarf.livejournal.com]

Yes, putting in a router will take care of this problem... a router allows more than one person at a time to use your internet connection without your having to deal with this nonsense. A basic router, the kind typically used for the home, are pretty inexpensive and not usually difficult to set up.

OTOH, if, as you say, it's fairly rare for you to need to allow more than one person to connect at a time, you could also just do the thing where you change from one computer to the other one and cycle the cable modem... that's annoying, but it works fine, and it will save you the expense and possible hassle of buying and installing a piece of equipment you'll have little need for. Up to you, obviously.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

To cycle the cable modem, something on the other (not mine) computer would need to be changed to accept the connection, though, right?

[pianodwarf.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry... being in IT has its "jargon hazards". To cycle the modem means to turn it off, wait about sixty seconds, then turn it back on, that's all. :-)

The other computer may need its settings changed or not, depending on what its current settings are.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

Okay, I *think* I see what you mean. Thank you for explaining.:-) I tend to be terrible with computers, so I'm trying to get as much feedback as possible.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this makes a difference on the issue, but I rarely "need" to use the internet, so if only one person at a time could use it that would still be find. I just need his computer to somehow connect.