Loss of Wifi

organic_wanabe

I wonder if anyone is able to give me an early Christmas present?

A week or so ago our wifi router (Linksys) inexplicably stopped working. It had worked happily for a number of years, connected to the main Dell computer, and we were able to use a laptop and notebook anywhere in the house. When everything went pear-shaped, I assumed, since we had not installed any new software, that I simply needed to buy a new router. However, this would not work either.

When my son tried to fix it, unsuccessfuly, a message appeared on screen saying 'IP address confict'. Also, when the modem is plugged into the computer it works but if we then unplug it and plug it into the laptop or notebook it doesn't. To confuse matters further, one of the Linksys lights which indicates the router is attached does not light up when in our Dell but does when attached to the laptop. Surely it should be the other way around?

Is anyone able to throw any light on this problem and help restore family harmony, as we are all fighting over getting a turn on the one computer which works. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

John_Gray

It sounds like you have (or someone has) set up one of your laptops or PCs to use a fixed IP address which by chance matches a dynamic IP address which is being 'given out' by your router under DHCP to a different laptop/PC. Hence the IP Address Mismatch. (Simple, isn't it!)

This is a fairly techie/messy area, but for a start it would be useful to know which operating systems your various devices use, because instructions for sorting it out will vary.

A further thought: is it always the same device which comes up with the IP Mismatch message?

JasX

Ok, model number would confirm but you have one of 2 devices

Either you have a ROUTER, this will sit happily in the corner connected to the phone line and happily broadcase internet around the house without the need to be connected to any computers for it to work. Has NO software needed for it to work (although the ISP may suply some 'setup' software the only purpose of which is really to smatter you with adverts on your PC) -can also connect a pc to the internet with an ethernet/network cable.

Or you have a MODEM, only connects to the internet when connected to a running PC and you need some mildly complicated routing to distribute the internet from it. Needs software/drivers etc. (typically USB these days)

Can't be sure without a model number but i suspect you have the former. In which case best bet will be to give it a good old hard reset and set it up again -you'l NEED your account / password info from your ISP to put in again and to setup the security on your wireless again but provided you pick a different network name should have no issues setting up new connections to it from scratch.