I need home (computer) networking help, please

[Catalytic]

We are finally in our new home, and I'm having some issues  :cursing:   (I apologize for the length, trying to give all the info that may be pertinent because I'm out of my depth here)

 

We had Internet installed Friday (Time Warner), and the house came "wired" with jacks in most rooms for ethernet.  (Probably using the wrong terms, most rooms have wall jacks meant for ethernet cables to plug into)

 

The modem is in the laundry room, on a tiny shelf way up by the ceiling.  A cord from it (spot 1) is plugged into a jack on the wall, and a cord from phone A is plugged into the wall.  The TWC tech told me I could just plug in around the house.  I specifically asked if I could just plug my Brother laser printer in to a jack for it to work and he said yes.  We hand-carried our HTPC so we would have a computer available when the Internet was installed, our other computers were in our truck of household goods.

 

So...

 

(All computers are running Windows 7)

 

I set up the HTPC in the computer room before the tech arrived, and set up our smart TV in the family room.  I couldn't find our phone to plug it in.  Tech did the install, cable works fine.  HTPC in computer room works fine.  TV, laptop, and phones/tablets connected to WiFi fine.  Tech tells me what to do if the phone doesn't work when I find it, and leaves.  Teens connect PS4s to Internet outlets in their rooms, both work fine.  Phone is located and works fine.

 

We unloaded some of our truck later that night, got to my computer tower and the boys' tower.  I had my son disconnect the HTPC tower (JUST the tower) and put my computer tower in the computer room.  NOTHING changed but the tower (all cords and peripherals stayed put).  My tower could connect to the network but *not* the Internet (yellow ! on the Network symbol).  I did ipconfig/release, ipconfig/flushdns, ipconfig/renew (think I'm typing /renew wrong now, can't remember what it was), and also tried netsh winsock reset.  Tried unplugging the modem for 5 minutes.  Tried different cables.  

 

Got tired of trying to find solutions on my phone, so I hooked up the HTPC to the TV in the living room.  It wouldn't connect to anything, it would act like it was looking, but ultimately my network symbol would have a red X on it.  Hardwired the laptop to the same outlet, using the same cord...Internet worked fine.  Connect cord back to HTPC, red X again.  

 

Kid brings down 50' Cat-5 cable, we run directly from jack 3 on the modem to the HTPC, Internet works.  One kid takes the 50' to my computer in the computer room, other kid connects HTPC to its cord again, unplugs it from the wall, replugs, and now HTPC has Internet.  MY computer has Internet with the 50' connected directly to the modem.  We try plugging and unplugging from the wall jack on it, still get the yellow !

 

Laptop gets Internet from every jack in the house.  WiFi seems to work fine.  I plug printer into outlet in master bedroom.  Laptop will not print on WiFi.  My computer, plugged directly into the modem, will not print.  The HTPC prints fine.

 

I think I have two issues:

 

1.  I need to make my computer work from the outlet in the computer room.  I need to get rid of this cord draped halfway around my downstairs.

 

2.  I need to be able to print from all computers, so even if I staple the darn 50' cable up and keep my computer wired directly to the modem, the printer isn't getting messages from my computer, or from devices connected to WiFi.  Why not?  (My printer is not wireless, it has to be plugged into the network.)

 

Tech told me they are responsible for the modem, and my property manager is responsible for the outlets, but best I can tell, all the outlets work. (From testing with PS4s and the laptop)  I'm not sure who to call/hire to troubleshoot at this point, and hours of searching the Internet has not yielded a solution.

 

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.  I have not yet set up the boys' computer, so I don't know yet what it will do, ugh.  Also, tech said I could just plug our personal router in to an outlet to increase WiFi range, but at this point I'm scared to throw any more variables in this mess.

 

Modem:  http://www.technicolor.com/en/solutions-services/connected-home/broadband-devices/cable-modems-gateways/tc8717

 

How we previously hard-wired everything:  https://smile.amazon.com/ZyXEL-Powerline-Wall-Plug-Adapter-PLA4215KIT/dp/B006L6X7PM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468811065&sr=8-1&keywords=ZyXEL+PLA4215+500Mbps+Powerline+Pass-Thru+Gigabit+Ethernet+Adapter

 

Our router (not currently connected):  https://smile.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-AC1900-Gigabit-Router/dp/B00F0DD0I6/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1468811196&sr=1-1&keywords=netgear+ac1900

 

Printer (plugged into wall):  https://smile.amazon.com/Brother-DCP-8080dn-Digital-Printing-Networking/dp/B0026JL9RG/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1468811375&sr=1-3&keywords=8080dn

 

HTPC (plugged into wall) is an MSI Gaming Z170A M3 mobo with i5-6500 cpu

 

My computer (plugged into modem) is an MSI Gaming Z170A M5 mobo with i5-6600k cpu

 

(Including computer info just in case that has something to do with the issues)

[Mergath]

So basically, as far as you know the modem is working and the jacks are working, but you have some devices that won't connect to the internet and some that will? And the thing that borked it was switching around two of the computers? 

[Lanny]

OP I read your post but I haven't had any Colombian Coffee yet...  There may be an issue, if your computer is set to use the DNS servers of your old ISP or has their network name. We never use the DNS servers of our ISP. We use the Free OpenDNS service. Their DNS Server IP addresses are at the bottom of their home page: https://www.opendns.com/    Printing to your Printer(s) is a matter of Windows File Sharing and if all of the boxes are Windows 7, that makes it easier.     I would DELETE in System Properties, the Networking for the Ethernet Adapter in your computer, and then Restart Windows and Reinstall the Network Drivers and check in IPV4 (I doubt you are on IPV6 and probably your Hardware is not IPV6 capable), Properties and if it is set to use DNS Automatically, If so, change that, so it uses the OpenDNS DNS service and put their IP addresses into the properties for IPV4. Apply and Then, restart Windows.  Red X as I recall in Device Manager is worse than a Yellow exclamation, but I'm not sure what the difference is as I write this. This is probably a simple issue of one or more things in the Network settings is set incorrectly for your new ISP and  home network.  Also, in the Modem/Router settings, be sure that there is a sufficient range of Dynamic IP addresses that can be given out. From what I read, you should have a range of at least 20 IP addresses available, as devices connect to your Home LAN.   There may be a difference, in the way your Computer is set up, in the Network Configuration. 

You have multiple Windows 7 boxes.  Have your computer and another one (that connects OK) side by side and compare EVERY network setting for Ethernet. Your problem seems to be when you are connected via Ethernet cable, so look at the settings for the Ethernet Adapter, and leave the ones for Wifi alone if that box has a Wifi card too.     I will try to read the first post again, later, and possibly can be more helpful...  Enjoy your new home!   

[Lanny]

The last part of what I wrote earlier is the most helpful.  Have your computer and a computer that connects OK, side by side. Compare every network setting, especially the Properties for IPV4.  If there are any differences, change the settings in your computer, to match the settings in the computer that works OK.  Because you have multiple computers, it makes it easier for you to troubleshoot this issue. Find what is different. Make the settings in your computer match those in a computer that connects OK from that location.  Not everything is changeable, each device has a unique "MAC" address that is specific to the hardware in that device, so that must not change, but things like DNS, Network name, etc., can be changed. If you make a change, click on "Apply" and then save and then Restart Windows.

 

Do not work on more than one issue at a time!   Get your computer online and then work on the File Sharing for the Printer(s) so all the devices that you want to be able to Print can print to those printers.  

[Catalytic]

So basically, as far as you know the modem is working and the jacks are working, but you have some devices that won't connect to the internet and some that will? And the thing that borked it was switching around two of the computers? 

 

Yes to the former, not sure about the latter  :blush:

 

Lanny, I will check the things you mentioned tonight or tomorrow morning, thank you for the suggestions!  (And yes, one thing at a time, I'll use a memory stick to xfer things to the HTPC to print in the meantime.)

Edited July 18, 2016 by Catalytic

[Lanny]

Yes to the former, not sure about the latter  :blush:

 

Lanny, I will check the things you mentioned tonight or tomorrow morning, thank you for the suggestions!  (And yes, one thing at a time, I'll use a memory stick to xfer things to the HTPC to print in the meantime.)

 

Good.  I told my wife about your frustration with this issue and HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS, when one has more than one computer, because you can put one that is OK next to the one that has the issue, and compare every setting, in each box, until you find the problem in the one that isn't online. Then, you can change the setting.

 

IMO it is highly unlikely this is a Hardware issue. The Ethernet Chip is probably integrated on the Motherboard of your computer, which seems to be working fine, otherwise.  I think it is a Networking setting in your computer. There are lots of them, but I would start with the DNS Settings and where you get an IP address, in the IPV4 "Properties"   and I would be sure that the Router/Modem has a range of approximately 20 IP addresses, so it can assign a Dynamic IP address to each device that connects to your home LAN.  

 

If you only had one computer, this would be a huge issue, but you have others, and that makes it an issue to solve, rather than a huge problem so that one can get back onto the Internet.          

[Catalytic]

Good.  I told my wife about your frustration with this issue and HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS, when one has more than one computer, because you can put one that is OK next to the one that has the issue, and compare every setting, in each box, until you find the problem in the one that isn't online. Then, you can change the setting.

 

IMO it is highly unlikely this is a Hardware issue. The Ethernet Chip is probably integrated on the Motherboard of your computer, which seems to be working fine, otherwise.  I think it is a Networking setting in your computer. There are lots of them, but I would start with the DNS Settings and where you get an IP address, in the IPV4 "Properties"   and I would be sure that the Router/Modem has a range of approximately 20 IP addresses, so it can assign a Dynamic IP address to each device that connects to your home LAN.  

 

If you only had one computer, this would be a huge issue, but you have others, and that makes it an issue to solve, rather than a huge problem so that one can get back onto the Internet.          

 

Well, just to be funny, now the HTPC isn't connecting to the Internet either.  This morning when I booted it up, it had a red X again, unplugging it from the ethernet jack and plugging it back in restored the Internet.  A few hours later, I'm back to a red X on it, and unplugging multiple times hasn't restored it.  Ugh.