Windows 7 computer connects fine to LAN, XP machines don't!

gwenzors · 12 Nov 2010

Hi everyone,

I've just built a new system and I'm having some issues related to it. I made a few posts in other boards as well, so please don't think I'm just trying to increase my post count :)

I created a network on my Windows 7 computer because it wasn't connecting to the network I already had set up. Right now I don't have anything fancy, it's just an old Linksys hub connected to my Motorola cable modem. Setting up the network on my Windows 7 computer fixed the problems I was having with connecting, but now the two other machines on the network--an HP PC and an Acer netbook, both running Windows XP Home x32 SP3--get the message "limited to no connectivity" and can't connect to the internet. The netbook had been working just fine until I restarted it, and now it shares the same problem. I haven't been able to find much by way of making the Windows 7 network compatible with older versions of Windows, except for file sharing purposes and I'm really not interested in that.

Anybody know what could be causing it? I appreciate your help in advance!

zigzag3143 · 13 Nov 2010

gwenzors said:

Hi everyone,

I've just built a new system and I'm having some issues related to it. I made a few posts in other boards as well, so please don't think I'm just trying to increase my post count :)

I created a network on my Windows 7 computer because it wasn't connecting to the network I already had set up. Right now I don't have anything fancy, it's just an old Linksys hub connected to my Motorola cable modem. Setting up the network on my Windows 7 computer fixed the problems I was having with connecting, but now the two other machines on the network--an HP PC and an Acer netbook, both running Windows XP Home x32 SP3--get the message "limited to no connectivity" and can't connect to the internet. The netbook had been working just fine until I restarted it, and now it shares the same problem. I haven't been able to find much by way of making the Windows 7 network compatible with older versions of Windows, except for file sharing purposes and I'm really not interested in that.

Anybody know what could be causing it? I appreciate your help in advance!

You probably are running "himegroup" and that uses IPv6. It is intended for win 7 networks only. Since you have other OS'es you should be using "workgroup". It is fairly easy to set up.

Make a new network connection using workgroup and see if it cures the problems.

Ken J

patwhatsthat · 13 Nov 2010

With only the motorola device provided by your ISP and a simple network hub, there is nothing present on your network to provide more than one viable IP address (just the motorola). This leaves any additional network devices without a proper IP addressing scheme and they will typically resort to APIPA addresses, hence the limited or no connectivity message that you are seeing. To get everything functioning properly you will probably need to acquire a router, plug the motorola into the wan port of the router and the other three machines into the switch ports on the router. If you are using PPPoE, from say ATT, you will need to configure the WAN side of the router with your username and password information. Otherwise you shouldn't have any problem integrating a router into the network.
You can confirm this by opening a command prompt on each computer and typing
ipconfig /all
examine and compare the IP addressing information of each computer.

chev65 · 13 Nov 2010

gwenzors said:

Hi everyone,

I've just built a new system and I'm having some issues related to it. I made a few posts in other boards as well, so please don't think I'm just trying to increase my post count :)

I created a network on my Windows 7 computer because it wasn't connecting to the network I already had set up. Right now I don't have anything fancy, it's just an old Linksys hub connected to my Motorola cable modem. Setting up the network on my Windows 7 computer fixed the problems I was having with connecting, but now the two other machines on the network--an HP PC and an Acer netbook, both running Windows XP Home x32 SP3--get the message "limited to no connectivity" and can't connect to the internet. The netbook had been working just fine until I restarted it, and now it shares the same problem. I haven't been able to find much by way of making the Windows 7 network compatible with older versions of Windows, except for file sharing purposes and I'm really not interested in that.

Anybody know what could be causing it? I appreciate your help in advance!

Hello Gwenzors, please download and run the batch file in the link below on both of the XP machines then reboot both machines.

This batch file will reset winsock, reset the TCP/IP stack and release renew your IP.

Download Renew IP + Reset Winsock Batch File

If that doesn't get them online can you please post a screen shot of the ipconfig /all posted here from all three machines. :)

bassfisher6522 · 13 Nov 2010

Some times when changes are made to a network the router must be reset/reboot. To do this unplug router from AC outlet for one full minute, then plug it back in at the same time reboot PC.

http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Linksys-Router