[bamakodaker]

WIN98
Compaq Presario 5150 desktop
ISP BellSouth DSL lite
Linksys Router

The connection route was - phone plug by phone line to modem. From modem by ethernet to router. From router by ethernet to ethernet connection in PC.

BellSouth spent over 1 1/2 hours trying things - we have replaced the modem and can access the internet by laptop. BellSouth says ethernet card is bad. They think internet protocol may be messed up in the desktop.

Linksys spent hour trying things and says the router is dead.

Just general playing around on computer I can find nothing else wrong. Now I'm not real computer savvy so please understand MY definition of general playing around! grin

BellSouth said I may need to reinstall OS. This is a refurb puter. I don't remember what Compaq called the CD with the OS (it's not a plain WIN98 CD) but I believe I do have it.

Could someone tell me if there are other things I should check to find any other damages? My wallet would prefer to keep what I have rather than get new PC. So the modem and router are no charge. I just want to check things before I start spending money on a dead horse!!

Much THANKS!!

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I have had quite a bit of dealing with lightning surges here in florida. If the surge came in thru the phone line it could have taken out everything. I have had a surge burn a modem, router and network cards in 2 computers all at the same time. I have even had a surge burn a motherboard and power supply when the surge came in thru the electric power. Another time a surge burnt the modem in the computer and affected the onboard sound system to where i had only 1/3 the volume of normal. I now run my cable internet thru a surge protector i put between the modem and my router. My cable internet provider replaces the modem for free if it gets damaged.

If you have replaced the modem the next thing is to hook a computer directly to the modem and see if you get a connection. If you don't get one then you will need to replace the network card. If the network card is built into the motherboard you will have to disable the onboard network and go buy a linksys, or other network card to install in your computer. Most network cards have a green light that flashes when the modem is talking to your computer so you will see that it is happening.

If you are ABLE to get on the net by direct connecting the computer to the modem, you will probably need to replace the router. Did you run the laptop thru the router to connect to the internet? Do you have more than one computer hooked to your router? Check them all if you do.

Wiring is usually not harmed by surges although i have had lightning strike so close that a surge protector was melted and made the room smell of burned plastic. The protector did its job and the computer was not harmed.

I get so many power surges here that i have finally put all of my computers, my TV's, refrigerator, and freezer on UPS's. They are not so much for the big surges but during storms i get lots of very short power outages that can damage everything. With the UPS's i no longer have to worry about that.

SRX660

[SRX660]

I have had quite a bit of dealing with lightning surges here in florida. If the surge came in thru the phone line it could have taken out everything. I have had a surge burn a modem, router and network cards in 2 computers all at the same time. I have even had a surge burn a motherboard and power supply when the surge came in thru the electric power. Another time a surge burnt the modem in the computer and affected the onboard sound system to where i had only 1/3 the volume of normal. I now run my cable internet thru a surge protector i put between the modem and my router. My cable internet provider replaces the modem for free if it gets damaged.

If you have replaced the modem the next thing is to hook a computer directly to the modem and see if you get a connection. If you don't get one then you will need to replace the network card. If the network card is built into the motherboard you will have to disable the onboard network and go buy a linksys, or other network card to install in your computer. Most network cards have a green light that flashes when the modem is talking to your computer so you will see that it is happening.

If you are ABLE to get on the net by direct connecting the computer to the modem, you will probably need to replace the router. Did you run the laptop thru the router to connect to the internet? Do you have more than one computer hooked to your router? Check them all if you do.

Wiring is usually not harmed by surges although i have had lightning strike so close that a surge protector was melted and made the room smell of burned plastic. The protector did its job and the computer was not harmed.

I get so many power surges here that i have finally put all of my computers, my TV's, refrigerator, and freezer on UPS's. They are not so much for the big surges but during storms i get lots of very short power outages that can damage everything. With the UPS's i no longer have to worry about that.

SRX660

[Retired Tech]

If the PC tower has an off switch, switch it off for a minute, if it does not, switch it off at the mains

If you have the network card software, uninstall it

This will rebuild the registry and also replace missing or corrupt system files

Boot the PC and keep tapping F8 right after the beep until you get options, select command prompt only, give it a minute to arrive at the prompt with a flashing cursor then type scanreg.exe /fix then press enter, it will run through a few screens then say registry repaired. Press enter then press ctrl + alt + delete keys together to reboot.

When Windows has loaded, click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools, system information, tools then run system file checker and replace any files it asks for from the 98SE CD then reboot.

When it has loaded to the desktop, click start, programmes accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then run disc defragmenter from system tools

This part is optional

Download, install and run Tune Up 2006 Trial

Run Tune Up disc clean up

Run Tune Up registry clean up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, the screen will lose colour during the process which can take a few minutes and then needs a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot.

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor

Re-install the network card software

[bamakodaker]

SRX660

Ihad a surge protector (SP) - now that I've had this damage I rechecked and discovered the SP has a problem in the phone line connections - it keeps the line open ALL the time. Maybe that is from an earlier surge! I now seem to remember that I direct wired the phone lines - thinking I'd get another surger protector . . . later! Oops! Really time to get new one now!!

With great BellSouth help we discovered the ethernet card is bad. Remember this is an old Compaq 5150. If the ethernet card blinks I won't see it. Card is inside and connection is at back of computer.

Now you got me - network card built into Motherboard??? How do I check that??

The Linksys routher will be replaced free - that is IF my son finds the receipt! He bought it so he could use his laptop that he bought. Seems I may have hogged the home PC!

We are able to connect through new modem. The desktop PC was the only wire connected puter.

[bamakodaker]

Keith,

First please note OLD Compaq 5150 with WIN98 plain ol' WIN98.

Sadly I'm not very computer savvy so - how will I know about the network card software? Might it be on Compaq disk that supposedly has "everything you'll need"? So, if I don't FOR SURE know if I have network card software - what should I do?

This being a Compaq I'm a little nervous about doing things on it. I've learned Compaq does things a little different. F8 will get me to Startup Menu and I can select Command prompt only - but should I as questioned above?

Thanks for the input,
Lloyd

[Retired Tech]

It's a pre-compiled response, the system file check will work with 98

If you type anything at a command prompt, it will either play, or say wotdat?

[bamakodaker]

OOPS!

Did I forget to say when BellSouth said ethernet card was bad that we tried USB connection. It would not work and that was when BS tech said internet protocol must be messed up.

Does that make any difference? Now that I'm in the middle of going through Microsoft Registry Checker???

[SRX660]

If you have a network connection(RJ-45, looks like a oversize phone connection)That is usually placed in the panel where you connect the monitor, mouse, keyboard, usb, etc the computer has onboard( built in) network. From what you say your computer has a network card in it.

SRX660

[Retired Tech]

The registry check will replace missing bits, it won't affect the network card

[bamakodaker]

Ohhh I just LOVE computer problems! OK - I'm looking for the CD that might have what I need. I've the Selective QuickRestore, Performance Upgrade, Software Support, Software Enhancement - then there are the AVG, Compaq Diagnostics, boot and startup disks. Which is needed and does the puter specifically ask for it?

[bamakodaker]

<<run system file checker>>
Where do I find this? I'm not seeing it in Compaq supplied diagnostics under System Tools. Would this be something through AVG or somewhere else on puter?

[Retired Tech]

Click start, programmes, accessories, system tools, system information, tools, system file checker

[bamakodaker]

Ahhh, much thanks! Got me where I needed to go!
Checking files . . .
It finished - didn't ask for anything, didn't show anything.
I selected Settings then View Log - I don't really know what I'm looking for but I did not notice anything stating Missing? Where was I supposed to see info about what was missing after that scan?

[Retired Tech]

Details, which would have shown you what was updated

[bamakodaker]

Sorry - where do I find those Details? I thought you said it would ask for info from OS disk? I'm sure that is MISSING info - does that mean it shows nothing missing?
If that's the case - how do I connect with USB from modem to PC? Aren't there some settings to change?
I'm still wanting to find out if surge messed software up.