Connecting Modem to PC

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  1. Posts : 708
    Windows 7 Pro
       #1

    Connecting Modem to PC


    At present, I have the following setup:

    Connecting Modem to PC-router1.jpg

    Cable comes into the modem and goes to the router. The router then feeds my Vonage phone system and all my computers. The only computer that connects wireless is my wife's laptop, everything else is hard wired.

    99% of the time this setup works flawlessly, but there are times I want to hook my main pc directly to the modem (for troubleshooting). It will not connect to internet that way. I suspect the reason is that when I installed Win 7 Pro I told it that it would connect to my local network.

    There has to a way to connect that one pc directly to the modem. This where I need the help.

    Thanks for any help.
      My Computer


  2. ski
    Posts : 111
    windows 7
       #2

    Every time you attempt to connect to the Internet, your ISP checks the MAC address of the 1st component that's connected to the modem, which normally is your router.
    However, if you did not clone the MAC address of your main PC's network card to the router when you set up the router, then your ISP will be seeing your network card's MAC address when you connect the modem directly to your main PC. And since your ISP does not recognize the network card's MAC address, it will not allow you to access the Internet.
    If that's the case, then just clone the MAC address of your network card to the router at the router's online administrative site.
    You can find your network card's MAC address by doing this:
    Click Start, type system information in the Search box, click on System Information, click the + next to Components and then Network, and scroll down to MAC Address.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #3

    Another possibility would be to power off the modem and PC. Disconnect the router and connect the PC to the modem then turn on the modem. Wait for it to settle down then power up the PC. That often resolves this type of problem, at least for me.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 708
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ztruker thanks for the reply I have tried that on numerous occassions and it did not resolve itself.

    Click Start, type system information in the Search box, click on System Information, click the + next to Components and then Network, and scroll down to MAC Address
    Connecting Modem to PC-router2.jpg

    Under "Network" there is NO MAC Address shown. If I select "Adapter" then it shows the "MAC Address" as not availiable.

    I am still working on finding a way to get the pc to connect using just the modem.
      My Computer


  5. ski
    Posts : 111
    windows 7
       #5

    Oops, sorry. I should have said Components/Network/Adapter.

    There should be one adapter in the list that has an MAC address.
    It's name will be the same as the name of the network adapter in Control Panel/Device Manager. (Ex: Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 708
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks ski I found the MAC address (Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller) now how do I use it to get the pc to connect to internet just using the modem?
      My Computer


  7. ski
    Posts : 111
    windows 7
       #7

    If you have the instructions for the router, they will tell you how to access the router's setup site on the Internet where you will be able to clone the network card's MAC address to the router.
    If you do not have the instructions, then what make is your router?
    Also, did your ISP provide the router?

    And FYI, the MAC address for your router is a series of 2 digit numbers.
    For example => 03:E4:98:4F:29:05
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 708
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I know how to access the router setup. What I am still confused about is why I have to put the MAC address in the router setup so that I can remove the router from my system to be able to connect just using the modem.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #9

    If you set the router to use the same mac address as your PC the cable modem won't know the difference. I can see why you're confused though. Normally you would do that before you ever connected the router for the first time. Then you could switch back to the PC if need be. Doing it now though will result in neither being able to connect. You could do it any way and then call your ISP and have them update the MAC address they have stored for your connection. If they ask, just tell them you had to replace your router. Then either one should work.
    Just out of curiosity why do you need the direct connection?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #10

    Trying to solve why he can't connect his main pc directly to the modem when troubleshooting network problems, at least that's what the first post said.

    Try it again but do the power off stuff I mentioned before, then this:

    Click on Start then Run and paste the following into the Run box, exactly as shown, including double quotes:

    cmd /c "ipconfig /all > postme.txt & notepad postme.txt & del postme.txt"

    and press ENTER.

    A file will open in Notepad. Please copy and paste the contents here. Close the Notepad window and the file will be deleted and the Command Prompt window will also close.
      My Computer


 
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