Comments | neonchameleon: Neonchameleon's adventures with ADSL or "The problem with foolproof devices"

neonchameleon

Neonchameleon's adventures with ADSL or "The problem with foolproof devices"

Dec 03, 2005 21:49

To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer.
Paul Ehrlich

So. I ordered broadband and bought an ADSL modem and tried to set it up. Shouldn't be too hard, so I thought. I read the manual while bringing the thing home - it looked small and simple. I should have realised that this was a bad sign.

( Comedy of errors beneath )

Comments 8

timeplease December 3 2005, 23:54:21 UTC

Um. I don't want to sound as if I'm telling you off, but you appear to have made several fundamental mistakes... troubleshooting the original Windows installation and ethernet card ought to have got everything working for you. Deciding to blow away your operating system and install something new is a recipe for disaster!

neonchameleon December 4 2005, 09:42:33 UTC

The reinstall of linux was something that was always planned to happen - it was done onto the old ubuntu partition (the previous OS there being a copy of RedHat that kernel paniced in bootup). I did however want network support for it first this time...

ext_2940 December 4 2005, 02:05:43 UTC

Perhaps the router was fine and the computer wasn't using the router for DNS or the router's DNS server hadn't been enabled. If you try the Black Cat DNS servers manually set on your computer that might have worked/pointed to where the problem was.

If you didn't actually mkswap on the MP3/book collection that should be fine if you change partition types back again.

Though as the previous comment says, reformatting/reinstalling to try to fix a DNS problem does seem a bit drastic. Bit late to say that now of course :(

tcpip December 4 2005, 09:31:24 UTC

Three very quick questions..

What version of Windows?

What model/make of router?

Who's your ISP?

neonchameleon December 4 2005, 09:47:04 UTC

Win98 SE

Belkin 54g wireless adsl modem and router. here I think.

Blackcatnetworks.

tcpip December 5 2005, 01:28:42 UTC

Did the Belkin come with drivers? I'm not the wiser after visiting their site.

neonchameleon December 5 2005, 08:45:24 UTC

No - it runs itself, configured through an ethernet connection. (Yes, I know this makes the reinstall look extremely silly).

(Not quite true - I assume that the wireless PCMIA card they threw in on special offer came with drivers...)

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