To sum up:
Each of your computers is able to automatically obtain DHCP network
configuration settings when it is the only PC connected directly to
your DSL/cable modem, but those same PCs are unable to obtain DHCP
settings when connected to your router. That leads me to believe that
your router is either misconfigured or broken. I'm guessing it's
misconfigured, but that's just a guess.
1. If you have a spare router you could use it as a DHCP server in
place of the (possibly broken) DHCP server in your current router.
2. If you're satisfied that your current router is broken, you could
replace it with a new router, or with a spare router if you have one.
3. You could simply forget about DHCP and assign all of the network
settings yourself. (This is a no cost solution, but it's also a
solution that is likely to have you back here asking further
questions, so it's up to you.)
4. Other options?
it was a good guess about the router, but it was both, router & modem.
I kinda figured the router had gone bad since I was unable to pull up
its config page. so I got a new netgear router wndr 3700 this time
around instead of dlink. Best Buy apparently stopped carrying then.
after I plugged in the router, what it told me was rather interesting.
it was detecting static address instead of dynamic address from the
modem and could not proceed further with the initial setup.
I did notice that the modem vpc was set to bridge enabled. (finally was
able to pull up the modems config page just by adding its address to the
gateway)
I also noticed that it was missing dhcp data portion and the vpc entry
had only 2 choices, none and bridge enable. no entry for ppp and
authenication data.
I was also wrong about the log in to the modem, it wasn't vpn as I
thought it was, windows PPPoe software login.
so, I made another call to the ISP asked about the modem. they insist
they had no problems connecting to the modem from their end and the
modem was correctly configured. I'm thinking the part of the modem went
bad or was misconfigured. however, tech wasn't admitting misconfiguring
the modem.
they sent me a new modem. Unfortanetly, my mother happened by and was
listing to the conversation that was on speaker phone and spoke up "send
the modem" before I could say word about it. Ugh. It prolly would have
been cheaper to get one at best buy.
the modem they sent is netopia 2441.
