Cannot acquire IP address

07/26/2007 02:27 AM
I have a Linksys WAG54GS as Gateway for a small wireless network
with a Dell Dimension 3.0 running XP with SP2. Also on the network are a
wireless-enabled Brother MFC printer and a second Dell Dimension located
some 30 feet from the access point; the first computer is very close.

The setup worked satisfactorily for some time but crashed some
weeks ago when I was trying to add another laptop. I reran the Setup from
the CD for the WAG54GS and it seemed to complete satisfactorily. However
when I try to connect I always get the problem "Cannot acquire an IP
address".

The access point(modem) functions satisfactorily with an
Ethernet cable connection so I think it is programmed satisfactorily with
the ISP. When I view Network Connections I see both the Ethernet Network
(MSHOME) and the Wireless Network (WIHOME) showing "Connected" and indeed
get a message saying "Connected to WIHOME _ Signal Strength Excellent". But
if I disconnect the cable and try to use the wireless link it goes on
endlessly trying to acquire an IP address. It worked very satisfactorily
before with no cable, simply the wireless network. Both Networks are set
with property "Acquire IP Address automatically".

Can anyone tell me how to fix it ? I have not tried to connect
the printer or the second computer until I get the first computer working
satisfactorily.

I sent a query to Linksys Support but it is hopeless. Ignores
you query . Suggests canned solutions to problems I do not have !

Stuart Grant

Hi
1. Check manually the Router DHCP table and make sure that it has enough
range giving IPs.
2. Start with Wireless security Off and adjust it only after very thing
works.
3. Give the Printer a static IP that is outside the DHCP range.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> 07/26/2007 02:27 AM
> I have a Linksys WAG54GS as Gateway for a small wireless
> network with a Dell Dimension 3.0 running XP with SP2. Also on the network
> are a wireless-enabled Brother MFC printer and a second Dell Dimension
> located some 30 feet from the access point; the first computer is very
> close.
>
> The setup worked satisfactorily for some time but crashed some
> weeks ago when I was trying to add another laptop. I reran the Setup from
> the CD for the WAG54GS and it seemed to complete satisfactorily. However
> when I try to connect I always get the problem "Cannot acquire an IP
> address".
>
> The access point(modem) functions satisfactorily with an
> Ethernet cable connection so I think it is programmed satisfactorily with
> the ISP. When I view Network Connections I see both the Ethernet Network
> (MSHOME) and the Wireless Network (WIHOME) showing "Connected" and indeed
> get a message saying "Connected to WIHOME _ Signal Strength Excellent".
> But if I disconnect the cable and try to use the wireless link it goes on
> endlessly trying to acquire an IP address. It worked very satisfactorily
> before with no cable, simply the wireless network. Both Networks are set
> with property "Acquire IP Address automatically".
>
> Can anyone tell me how to fix it ? I have not tried to connect
> the printer or the second computer until I get the first computer working
> satisfactorily.
>
> I sent a query to Linksys Support but it is hopeless. Ignores
> you query . Suggests canned solutions to problems I do not have !
>
> Stuart Grant
>
>
>
>
>
>

Appreciate your help BUT

"reset the router first"
I'm afraid I don't know how to do that. There is no Reset button on the
router. I have switched on and off a few times but that does not help -
also rebooted the computer.

"firmware"
I have the CD which came with the router. I have been back to the web-site
but do not see any update to the firmware on the disc, which did work fine
until I got into trouble

I followed the link you posted but it did not help although it seems other
people have similar problems.

I'll try running the setup program on the CD again.

Thanks anyway

Stuart
"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Try to reset the router first. If that doesn't work, check if there is
firmware for the router? or this post may help,

network adapter won't "acquire a ... The ipconfig command receives 0.0.0.0
IP address. ... I have a dlink wireless network, with my desktop Dell
connected to the ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...6592f989163987


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...

Thanks for your help BUT

"Check manually the DHCP table"
I'm afraid I do not know how to do that but I am sure there are enough IPs.
This is a very small network

"Start with Wireless Security off"
Again I don't think I know how to do this without running the setup program
again. Will do this.

I'm not bothered about the printer at this stage. I can always connect it
with a long USB cable. I just want to get the computer on to the internet
on the Wireless network at this stage.

Thanks again.

Stuart

"Jack (MVP-Networking)." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
> 1. Check manually the Router DHCP table and make sure that it has enough
> range giving IPs.
> 2. Start with Wireless security Off and adjust it only after very thing
> works.
> 3. Give the Printer a static IP that is outside the DHCP range.
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>

Unplug it from the electricity,...wait a few seconds,...plug it back in.


--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

"Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Appreciate your help BUT
>
> "reset the router first"
> I'm afraid I don't know how to do that. There is no Reset button on the
> router. I have switched on and off a few times but that does not help -
> also rebooted the computer.
>
> "firmware"
> I have the CD which came with the router. I have been back to the
> web-site but do not see any update to the firmware on the disc, which did
> work fine until I got into trouble
>
> I followed the link you posted but it did not help although it seems other
> people have similar problems.
>
> I'll try running the setup program on the CD again.
>
> Thanks anyway
>
> Stuart
> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Try to reset the router first. If that doesn't work, check if there is
> firmware for the router? or this post may help,
>
> network adapter won't "acquire a ... The ipconfig command receives 0.0.0.0
> IP address. ... I have a dlink wireless network, with my desktop Dell
> connected to the ...
> http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...6592f989163987
>
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
>
>
>

"Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...

> "Check manually the DHCP table"
> I'm afraid I do not know how to do that but I am sure there are enough
> IPs. This is a very small network

Many of these box have a 50 machine limit on the number of addresses they
give out. It may be adjustable, it may not be. That is only a limit on the
number of DHCP Clients,...not the number of machine on the LAN.

If you have less than 50 machines it is a moot point anyway.

> "Start with Wireless Security off"
> Again I don't think I know how to do this without running the setup
> program again. Will do this.

It means don't use WEP, WPA, WPA2 or whatever else the box offers.
Security is probably off by default. If you didn't set it up yourself on
purpose, then it is probably already off. When you sit at a Client machine
and view the Available Wireless Networks List,..it will show your wireless
network as being "Secured" or "Unsecured",...that is one way to know if it
is on or not.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

Now it he was refering to reseting to factory defaults, then see the
device's documentation. With some you hold down a small reset button with a
paperclip or inkpen while you power cycle the device. With others you hold
down the same reset button for a number of second with the device already
running. Other brands may be different yet.

"Phillip Windell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Unplug it from the electricity,...wait a few seconds,...plug it back in.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Windell
> www.wandtv.com
>
> The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or
> Microsoft, or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> "Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Appreciate your help BUT
>>
>> "reset the router first"
>> I'm afraid I don't know how to do that. There is no Reset button on the
>> router. I have switched on and off a few times but that does not help -
>> also rebooted the computer.
>>
>> "firmware"
>> I have the CD which came with the router. I have been back to the
>> web-site but do not see any update to the firmware on the disc, which did
>> work fine until I got into trouble
>>
>> I followed the link you posted but it did not help although it seems
>> other people have similar problems.
>>
>> I'll try running the setup program on the CD again.
>>
>> Thanks anyway
>>
>> Stuart
>> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Try to reset the router first. If that doesn't work, check if there is
>> firmware for the router? or this post may help,
>>
>> network adapter won't "acquire a ... The ipconfig command receives
>> 0.0.0.0 IP address. ... I have a dlink wireless network, with my desktop
>> Dell connected to the ...
>> http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...6592f989163987
>>
>>
>> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
>> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
>> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
>> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>> "Stuart Grant" <sagranatbluewin.ch> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Stuart Grant wrote:
> Thanks for your help BUT
>
> "Check manually the DHCP table"
> I'm afraid I do not know how to do that but I am sure there are enough IPs.
> This is a very small network
>
> "Start with Wireless Security off"
> Again I don't think I know how to do this without running the setup program
> again. Will do this.
>
> I'm not bothered about the printer at this stage. I can always connect it
> with a long USB cable. I just want to get the computer on to the internet
> on the Wireless network at this stage.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Stuart
>
> "Jack (MVP-Networking)." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi
>> 1. Check manually the Router DHCP table and make sure that it has enough
>> range giving IPs.
>> 2. Start with Wireless security Off and adjust it only after very thing
>> works.
>> 3. Give the Printer a static IP that is outside the DHCP range.
>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>
>
>

Most Linksys devices have a small button, usually on the back near where
the power cord connects, that is used to reset the device. Typically,
you press and hold the button for 10-20 seconds. This should be
explained in the manual. On the other hand, resetting will likely also
reset your ISP-specific information, so if you don't know how to set up
that part of the modem/router, I would suggest not resetting.

What "crashed" when you tried to add your new laptop, and what did you
do to recover from the crash? It sounds to me as if your WAG54GS is
setup with some wireless security (encryption) and that by running the
"setup" CD, you've erased the password from your computer. If you don't
know what that password is (did someone else setup your network for
you), you'll have to reset/change the password on the router. If you
don't know how to do that, you'll have to read the router's manual.

I was quite surprised to find that Linksys does not have a manual for
the WAG54GS available for download. I would at least expect there to be
a manual on the CD that came with it. Most of the info you're looking
for should be there.

Rather than e-mail Linksys support, try their on-line chat support
service, if it's still available. I've had good experience with that in
the past (you can tell that the canned solution isn't applicable).

If you can't get anywhere with Linksys, go to
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php
This is an on-line community of Linksys users, many of whom are quite
knowledgeable. You should be able to get some help there.

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

Tried that. No change. Still hangs "Acquiring IP Address" Thanks anyway.
Stuart


"Phillip Windell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Unplug it from the electricity,...wait a few seconds,...plug it back in.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Windell
> www.wandtv.com
>
> The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or
> Microsoft, or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
> -----------------------------------------------------
>

I said before that the router had no reset button but examining the back
once more I found a red rimmed hole with reset round it in tiny type. Poked
in there with a bent paper click and it seemed to reboot but ended up once
more with "acquiring IP address" and finally said it could not do so and
advised me to contact whoever manages the network - ME !
Stuart

"Phillip Windell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:en8y$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Now it he was refering to reseting to factory defaults, then see the
> device's documentation. With some you hold down a small reset button with
> a paperclip or inkpen while you power cycle the device. With others you
> hold down the same reset button for a number of second with the device
> already running. Other brands may be different yet.
>
> "Phillip Windell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Unplug it from the electricity,...wait a few seconds,...plug it back in.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Phillip Windell
>> www.wandtv.com
>>
>> The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or
>> Microsoft, or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>>