Reformat gone bad - please help

So I understand this....

Are you pulling the ethernet out of the Win8 box and pluggin it into the Win7 box?

The network icon changes from computer to wireless(bars) on the Win8 machine - do I understadn it correctly?
That would indicate a ethernet card and wireless adapter - not uncommon.

but it can help having a working connection on another machine.

edit: and when you plug the ethernet into the Win7 box, you do NOT connect?

I'm not overridding Greg's suggestions, I'm offering my own technical opinions.

Hold off on power cycling for now. The Win8 box seems fine with the Wireless Cable modem/router.

I probably wouldn't bother calling the provider, everything else but your box seems to be working fine.

arayfo1 said:

I'm not sure if I confused you, but my modem has a built-in router. I can try powering down both pc's and modem/router and then plugging in directly after turning everything back on to see if I get a connection, but I'm not sure there's a way for me to distinguish if the built-in router is defective. The modem obviously works though because the win8 machine is still connected.

Yes, router is provided by ISP. Okay, I'll try and give them a call then.

Change adapter settings: I only have two - wireless network and local area network.

No, all I have plugged into the pc are my mouse and keyboard.

Okay. Thanks a lot, Greg. I appreciate all your help. I'll try and call my ISP in the meantime.

gregrocker said:

Did you plug wire directly into modem? Try that now after power cycling the modem.

This will narrow it to router or modem so you know who to call.

If it connects from modem then the problem is your router. Is your router provided by your ISP? They have tech support on weekends normally.

Also look at Network and SHaring>Change Adpater Settings. How many adapters are listed there. Do you have anything else plugged into the PC. I get "Unidentified network" when I plug a crossover cable between PC's to transfer data.

I am getting ready to take my dog to the beach but will text my friend and fellow MVP Rayda to look in as she is one of the best in the world at networking and resolves these for me regularly.

Seems like a good time to take a break. It sounds as though Rayda will make short remedy when schdule permits.

I'll check back this evening.

A thought!

If needed, you can do screenshots and use a thumb drive to move them to the Win8 machine to post.
It 's a bit of fuss on your side, nut having that will make it eaiser on this side.

Please see https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html for the preferred method of posting files and images on Sevenforums

gregrocker said:

If Device Manager tells you a driver is the latest then you are online!

It had to connect to Window Updates to tell you that!

Open Internet Explorer to check the web.

I don't mean this rude in any way, but where do you get that idea? Disconnect from the internet and run a driver update check, it will tell you that you have the latest even if you don't. This alone does not mean they are online.

I'd like you to reboot your machine and then I'lll ask about your wireless configuration

It sounds as though you're runnning up again Automatic private IP address isues.

There's an easy workaround - hard code an ip address, gateway, and DNS servers. Let me gather some pictures to post.

You boot your machine.