Router problems

[SnoringFrog]

Ok, so last night we had a storm and the internet went out. It's happened before; we normally just wait a while then reset the modem and the router and everything goes back to normal, but that hasn't worked this time.

I found out that if I bypass the router and just plug the modem into the computer it works fine, but as soon as I switch back to include the router in the loop, I lose internet again. I've tried switching without turning either off; turning one or both of them off (in both orders); and turning off the modem, the router, and the computer and restarting everything in various orders but nothing has worked. Once, when I plugged everything in the way it was originally, the icon in my system tray got as far as "acquiring network..." something (forgot the last word, I'll try to go repeat that and get that full phrase after I post this), but that's as far as it got before it stopped.

Does anyone know anything I should try that I might be missing or should check that would cause this problem?

My router is a Linksys wrt54g, and I'm using WinXP.

[Kaligraphic]

It sounds like you're using wireless, and either failing to correctly associate with the network, or failing to acquire an IP address from the router.

I'd suggest you note your settings and just do a complete reset of the router (the reset button is usually on the back) and set it up again. If you haven't changed from the stock firmware, that should be pretty fast and easy.

[Whitefang]

I highly suspect that your router is, sadly, broken. I am also assuming that you are mainly using wireless.

If you have the capability, try to plug your computer via ethernet cable into your router. Try every port. If you get a connection, your wireless is probably broken. If you get no connection, your router is completely broken. It looks like you'll have to get a new router either way.

[SnoringFrog]

As far as our computer goes, we don't use the wireless. It's always been plugged into the router. When I get to where I can access the router options again (I had it, then switched cords around and lost it, and I don't remember what I did to get it in the first place lol), I'm going to reset to defaults and give it another go. If that fails, then I guess I'm going to have to get another router...bleh.

[Whitefang]

Type into a web browser 192.168.1.1 and hit enter. This will probably take you to the router's setup pages.

If it asks for a password and you've never set it up, the user name is probably admin and the password is probably admin.

In this panel, I would try to reset the DHCP address/protocol (Most likely a button labeled DHCP Renew). Make sure that the router thinks it's connected to the internet.

[SnoringFrog]

Yes, that normally does, but when I started rearranging cords I ended up never being able to get them back the right way so that it would let me access that. I think it has to do with forgetting to reset the modem when I moved the cords around.

We have another router now that our neighbor just gave us, but when my dad tried setting it up it kept failing. Something with the IP address, I'm not sure because I wasn't in here and haven't taken the time to try setting it up myself yet. I'll probably do that tomorrow evening.