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So I got broadband installed, new wireless router- all's great. Attatched my laptop to the router via ethernet and used the Internet fine for a week, though it never seemed keen on finding the internet unless it started up with the ethernet cable in.

However, I've just sorted out setting up the wireless network for my mum, and while THAT is working fine as can be, my laptop connection via ethernet cable has failed completely. I can't even access the router from it, although the light showing my LAN connection is lit on the router.

Checking my Network connections shows me having a LAN connection too.

In addition, I tried changing the ethernet cable, and got the same results.

So, any advice please?

Hi Hunter,

Can i ask you - have you set the IP address to the router manually, or did you let the router do it?

I let the router do it.

It has accessed from that laptop before, and can still be accessed by the laptop working wirelessly now.

Well to be honest, wireless won't stop the ethernet ports working...so not sure.

When the cable is plugged in, try an ipconfig and see if it's getting the right address or not, if it's 169.whatever, it's most likely a problem with the drivers on the laptop, the network card in the laptop, or the port on the router.

if it gets a correct ip address, then it's something else.

How do I ipconfig?

Open a command prompt window.

On Win98-XP
Start -> Run type cmd in the run box and press enter.

On Vista
Start - > Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

In the resulting black box, type "ipconfig /all" and press enter.

Yeah, it's 169.yaddayadda

I just don't know why it would stop working so suddenly