Broadband Tech Question

[Mossback]

I thought someone would know whats up here.

I'm running a standard low to medium bandwidth DSL modem connected to a recent vintage Linksys router. I am running 2 wireless connected 32 bit PC's with no bandwidth issues. My computer (also 32 bit) is using a hardwire connection. (all are runing well updated Windows XP or Vista)

My son, who is visiting for 3 or 4 days from College has a more recent vintage Viao running 64 bit Windows 7. Everytime he connects wirelessly to the network here, everything but his computer loses their internet connection. Since I use mine for work, he goes off line right away and I have to re-boot everything to get back online.

(His traditional wireless connection is a much fatter Comcast pipe)

is this something anyone else has encountered, or will I need to go on a debugging journey. (or make him pay for the Comcast upgrade, lol)

[Fudge_Brownie]

I don't even have a clue on this one but it sure is funny

The only thing I can come up with, and I'm sure this is so unlikely I probably shouldn't even mention it, but it almost sounds like he's running a DHCP server on his laptop.

Here's an idea: Get in to your router's administration page and familiarize yourself with the status of the various computers connected to it via wifi and wired. Then have him connect, and see if it dumps all your computers but his own. When this happens, try to issue an ipconfig /renew from the command prompt of a computer that has now been dropped and see what it says.

[Matty Moo]

Same thing happens at our house any time somebody fires up our Asus netbook, which runs linux. I've never figured it out.

[wilson301]

Well i have never come across such problem,so have no idea about it.I would suggest you to consult the network which you are using.may be they'll be able to tell you.

[Mesoam]

sure does...

I don't even have a clue on this one but it sure is funny

The only thing I can come up with, and I'm sure this is so unlikely I probably shouldn't even mention it, but it almost sounds like he's running a DHCP server on his laptop.

[Fudge_Brownie]

Now the probability of Matt's linux laptop running a DHCP server increases 20x over the vista one Matt, not sure what distro you have on it but get in there and remove the DHCP server, or stop the dhcp service. Again, depends on the distro but try 'sudo service dhcpd stop'. If that does the trick, you'll need to disable that from starting up every time someone reboots the laptop (or remove the dhcp server package)

[Mossback]

Now the probability of Matt's linux laptop running a DHCP server increases 20x over the vista one Matt, not sure what distro you have on it but get in there and remove the DHCP server, or stop the dhcp service. Again, depends on the distro but try 'sudo service dhcpd stop'. If that does the trick, you'll need to disable that from starting up every time someone reboots the laptop (or remove the dhcp server package)

Thanks FB, , after my post, I spent some time on his laptop and it did ask to be connected (hardwired) to the wireless router as part of the wireless setup. He had not done that , but had simply put in the SSID and WEP key. This is unique to Win 7, I've never seen this request on any of the other devices I have attached to a wireless network.

Its very interesting and is sounding more and more like the default config on his laptop is DHCP. I will post the results after I go through the drill.

[Che'_Moderator]

Thanks FB, , after my post, I spent some time on his laptop and it did ask to be connected (hardwired) to the wireless router as part of the wireless setup. He had not done that , but had simply put in the SSID and WEP key. This is unique to Win 7, I've never seen this request on any of the other devices I have attached to a wireless network.

Its very interesting and is sounding more and more like the default config on his laptop is DHCP. I will post the results after I go through the drill.

His laptop can be aquire its settings via DHCP it just cannot be acting as the WAP/DHCP/PDC server. I dont think this is the issue though. If your computer already has a lease nothing his does should effect it right away. If anything I would say his computer is set to a static IP. Maybe the same as the router? Even an Ad-Hoc/proxy set up should not cause what you are talking about.

[Matty Moo]

Now the probability of Matt's linux laptop running a DHCP server increases 20x over the vista one Matt, not sure what distro you have on it but get in there and remove the DHCP server, or stop the dhcp service. Again, depends on the distro but try 'sudo service dhcpd stop'. If that does the trick, you'll need to disable that from starting up every time someone reboots the laptop (or remove the dhcp server package)

I'm not even going to mess with it. It's one of the very first ASUS 701 eee's that came out and came basically set up for children and senior citizens. Coolest little thing when I bought it, now it's just an outdated paperweight. Anymore, we only use it when we travel.