[RESOLVED] Open DNS, but LAN gone

[jdc2000]

Cards:

Linksys:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124120
$28

Rosewill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166004
$9 + shipping

[foxy]

Thanks, jdc. FREE shipping! I've heard good things about Rosewill hardware.

What's your avatar?

[jdc2000]

Congratulations, you are the first one here who has asked what the avatar is.

Avatar info

[foxy]

I asked Shinma too. Yours is too small, doesn't really look like the original. I think this is at a better angle. If you can't crop and resize, I can.

http://sfstory.free.fr/images/Affich..._WhiteStar.jpg

i asked Shinma too. Do I get a prize?

[jdc2000]

The full size image from which I made the avatar looks a lot better. The best one is here though. However, it wouldn't make a very good avatar. Your image would need to be centered and cropped, and the resolution isn't quite as good as the one I used, plus it is moving away and isn't firing its secondary weapons.

[foxy]

I always thought it was a wet leaf fluttering down from a tree in the rain.

Made this one for you, an improvement. Enjoy:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5...lonrevised.jpg

I cropped and sharpened it, and I think within the 65 x 65 limit, it looks more like a spaceship.Your choice.

[foxy]

Continue this at the Lounge.

[jdc2000]

Thanks. I may keep your revised avatar for use on a different forum. I think I'll leave the one here as is however. When I created it originally, I actually wanted it to be somewhat difficult for the average person to recognize to see if anyone ever figured out what it was (or asked).

[foxy]

See me at the Lounge.

[foxy]

One final word about networking problems. That's the Achilles Heel of my comp knowledge. But I've also been the victim of an instructor (they're all volunteers who are in the IT business, not teachers) at my PC Users' Group who muddies everything he teaches. For 13 years!

Is there software that can do all the tests, or ask me to do the tests in order, and then say "Defective NIC." or "'Defective router"? Not those exact words, but pointing out where the problem is. But not something for IT people. I downloaded one a few months ago and it was Chinese to me.

Or is there a flowchart for this on the web? I know resources on wired networking are getting scarcer.

[jdc2000]

Network card testers are very expensive compared to a spare network card, and so are not really worthwhile. Simple ethernet cable testers are not too expensive - I have one that I use when I make up cables or wire buildings. They only test continuity though. The testers that actually send and receive data are very expensive.

The best two articles on troubleshooting that I found with a quick search are below.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...ction-problems

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325487

Many problems can be traced to incorrectly wired or faulty cables and connectors. An article on how to wire them is below, and is worthwhile reading.

http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html

[foxy]

Thanks. I give the first one a C, because it has too many things like "make sure your comp is plugged in," the 2nd gets a B; some of the language is too technical. I would still be here asking for translations into layman's English.

Oops, first one is for Vista.

I've been looking also, but none are definitive. But when wired networking was popular, I didn't have any network at all.

[jdc2000]

Wired networking is still popular, it just doesn't get loads of buzz these days.

[foxy]

I ordered the Rosewill. Tough financial situation right now.

[foxy]

Installed new Rosewill tonight. A working network is a beautiful thing.

Wire networking isn't big in my area, which is mostly far more well-to-do than I am. Most families have at least 2 desktops, 1 or 2 laptops, maybe 3 if one of the kids has one. In homes of that size, 3 floors, 3 or 4 bedrooms, basement playroom, one or more home offices, wired becomes impractical. Too bad, I used to make some money running the wires.

But my 2 comps are 10 ' apart. KISS.