[xolotl]

Quickly losing what was left of my mind here, please help. I'm trying to avoid resetting the router. (Can't remember all the settings.)

Am no longer able to load Linksys web-based admin utility in any browser. I have internet access to several Roku devices and another computer networked wirelessly. I can ping the router using 192.168.1.1
I'm using the primary desktop computer which is wired to the Linksys WRT54G router and cable modem.

"Unable to connect Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at 192.168.1.1."
All appropriate lights on modem and router are present. Both items seem to be working as expected.


I've been Googling and experimenting for days, and still can't get in.

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : chaos
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.co.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.co.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-11-8A-F4-FA
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, August 09, 2013 3:28:25 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, August 10, 2013 3:28:25 AM


What I've tried:
-Bought new ethernet cables.
-Tried all possible combinations of power cycling, unplugging+replugging, shutting down and reconnecting all devices in various steps.
-Tried to upgrade router firmware, but obviously can't get to admin pages and alternate method didn't work.
-Tried four browsers to log in, making sure to clear cache each time.
-Double checked which cable goes where, tried different ports on router, etc.
-Updated my network adapter.
-Went through system logs and can't find any obvious errors or problems with PC.
-Have read and tried just about every post/article I found pertaining my problem.

Someone hacked into my router a few months ago, and I increased security; might this be related? (Probably not, thought I'd ask.)

Would greatly appreciate help with this. thanks

Edited by xolotl, 09 August 2013 - 04:22 AM.

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Hello
This may sound simple but have you tried resetting the router to default?
The best security would be a good long and strong passphrase, enable mac address filtering to allow only your devices and disable remote logon and update the firmware, there are other things you can do but that's a good start.
Try a passphrase like but don't use this one Z2!mH;@[*6rvF5J/.qF60-^

[Niyol]

Hello
This may sound simple but have you tried resetting the router to default?
The best security would be a good long and strong passphrase, enable mac address filtering to allow only your devices and disable remote logon and update the firmware, there are other things you can do but that's a good start.
Try a passphrase like but don't use this one Z2!mH;@[*6rvF5J/.qF60-^

[xolotl]

Hi Niyol, thanks for responding.

As a matter of fact, I had MAC filtering enabled but a weak router password when the hack occurred. I promptly switched the router password and wireless passphrase to evil strings very much like the one you suggested. (Forgot to mention that, and you make excellent points.)

I have not tried resetting the router to default, as I'm trying to exhaust all possibilities before I bite that bullet. (don't have all the backup info on settings, and I found it difficult to get it all right in previous times) Sigh.

thanks, though

[Niyol]

Hiya
If it's been hacked then I would 100% reset it and start again setting it up.
If you ever get hacked on a router or PC then resetting the router and reinstalling the OS is the only way to 99% make sure that nothing is left behind by hacker/s. If you have file and printer sharing on and they where in your network, check they didn't take anything from shared files too, I always turn this off.
This time if you do restore your router to default make a check list as you go along that way next time if there is one (I hope not) you'll be able to reset it in a flash and not forget any set up options.

Your router supports dd-wrt I use this on my router maybe something you might be interested in I won't go on about it I will give you the link you can take a look http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index
I would only do this if your 100% confident with it and understand what your doing.
I found it has better security options than my default router firm ware.

Hope that was sorta helpful

Edited by Niyol, 12 August 2013 - 04:19 PM.

[xolotl]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I appreciate that you take time to help in forums. (Where people like me are usually milling around, looking stupid.) You get karma points.

I reset the router and set it all up again, and I'm back in business. I wonder if someone was using one of the tunneling options, about which I knew nothing until now. Disabled everything, just in case. I'm not using it, so I can't imagine it matters.

This time if you do restore your router to default make a check list as you go along that way next time if there is one (I hope not) you'll be able to reset it in a flash and not forget any set up options.

I had a hard copy, but .. well, the mice ate it? Excellent point to anyone else who's reading this for assistance. It's the little things that bite you in the posterior.

Thanks for mentioning the DD-WRT! I managed to upgrade the router firmware, finally, but love the option of using something else. I used a Linux app before when my whole system went wonky, so I'm happy to try this alternate firmware. Will be doing that soon. Cool.

All very helpful, thank you. Wish I could send your avatar some toilet paper as thanks. lol

[Niyol]

Haha
Thanks for your kind reply glad I could help