First of all sorry for starting a new thread, I thought this way my issue could be answered specifically instead of getting lost and confused in already existing posts and replies... Hey Guys, I am glad that some of you are helping so much on this issue. Here is my problem (expecting to resolve it with your help, plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) I bought a brand new Dell Studio laptop that has Vista Home Premium pre-installed. No internet straight away, same 'Unidentified network and local access' error. Some forums suggested that this might be due to thrid party softwares and firewalls and stuff like that, I removed everything. I also followed the DHCP Broadcast Toggele Flag related solution provided on Microsoft KB, no luck. In the end I deletedthe entire partition, re-installed Vista and still am stuck with same problem. Sorry that at this moment I cannot give my Router information, don't know which one it is. But my network adapter is the one provided by Dell, its Broadcom. And I am using a Hub/Swicth between my Router and my Laptop, just to let you know. Please try and help me out, I have almost tried everything :-( Even the Dell online support guys can't help me... Thanks in Advance, Kalpesh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just to add some info, my setup is such that my house has a Motorola modem that gets internet through cable internet, after that modemis a switch/hub using which we share our intenet connection. I have a desktop having Vista Ultimate and my house mate has a laptop with Windows XP, both these machines do not have any connection problem at all... Its only my new Dell Studio having Broadcom Netlink Giagabit Ethernet controller that is having internet connectivity problem. It gets local network,I can ping my other computers. I've also tried providing static IP and DNS servers, but nothing is solving this problem. As I mentioned earlier as well,I've installed a fresh vista installation,no antivirus, no firewalls!!! Pleasehelp me...

Hi, No reply yet :-( There is an update. I somehow managed to get the network status as 'local and internet', also the system tray icon shows the blue circle indicating that i have internet connectivity. But when I try to open any website, its a failure. What I did to get to this point is that I used the 'Alternate configuration' tab under IPv4 properties and specified IP and DNS settings there. I got this IP and DNS settings from the other desktop that I have running vista untimate without any internet problems. Please guys, help me from this point??? I could not find my Broadcom Netlink Gigabit network adapter on Vista compatibilty list, I could only see Broadcom Netxtreme network adapters, is that an issue? Please help...

Hi Kalpesh, Because this computer is from Dell with Windows Vista pre-installed, it must be tested by Dell. The devices should be compatible with Windows Vista. Since you have reinstalled the system but the issue persists, we may confirm that the root cause is not in Windows Vista, but related to the router. It may be not compatible with Windows Vista or some settings block the Windows Vista computer. I noticed that you have followed the suggestion in KB928233 but the issue persists. I suggest that you try to upgrade the router firmware. Then test if the issue persists. If it reoccurs, I suggest that you directly connect the computer to the router. If it does not help, please try to boot in the router from the Windows Vista computer. If we can, check whether there is any incorrect router settings that block this computer or only allow the other computers to access network. You may also contact the router manufacture to confirm that if the router is compatible and how to check related router settings. If the above suggestions do not resolve the issue, please back the setting to automatically obtain IP address, then ping the local computers, the router, and some websites again. Please let me know the result. Also please post the ipconfig information in your post. 1. Run cmd. 2. Enter: ipconfig /all > %userprofile%\desktop\ipconfig.txt 3. Open ipconfig.txt on Desktop and paste the contents in your post.

Thanks for your reply Arthur, I will follow the steps suggested by you and paste the contents here. I can do that after reaching home. Meanwhile let me update you, I brought the laptop to my office today and straight away got connected to inertnet, no problems at all. Its only my home network that is causing problem. U mentioned resetting router and router firmware, I do not have a router at home. I have a motorola cable modem and then a sitecom switch (to share the network), i have switched them OFF and ON to try whether it resolves anything... Now from office I have downloaded and installedall the vista updates, today I'll go home and check how it behaves at homeand definitely let u knopw abt the results. So now its confirmed that there is nothing wrong with my laptop, or settings or vista. But there is some problem which does not allow me to get connectedfrom home :-( I hope you have better insight about my problem now.

Hey Arthur, First of all I feel so glad that my laptop is connected now, its not intermittent as well, its proper connected. Now the sad part, I feel really really ashamed after knowing the reason of my problem. Before that I would like to take back my complaining that it was vista problem... No it was not at all a vista problem, sorry Vista... I mentioned the connection setup of my house, there is a cable modem and there is switch (make - Sitecom). My switch has a possibility of connecting 4 computers. But for some reason (stupid swicth), it can only successfully give IP settings to just 2 machines at a time. If there are already 2 machines successfully connected then a3rd or 4th machine can never get the IP settings... There is nothing wrong with the LAN slots of the switch, they allare fine, its just that due to some strange reason it does not work with more than 2... :-( Alsoto get the new machine connected, one of the previous machines has to be disconnected and theswitch had to be restarted... Somy laptop is working fine now... This is a very interesting case studyfor other users to refer. Also I would be glad if you or anyone could explain me this strange behaviour anssuggest any way too fix it (I know that is out of scope of this forum, just metioned) Thanks & Regards, A VERY HAPPY ME :-) P.S. Thanks, you guys are doing excellent job in helping out so many troubled users...

Hi, This is little strange. Switch devices are only network data switchers. May be the DHCP on your router has restricted the number of the workstation? I am glad to hear that the root cause has been found. This post will be a good reference for us and customers who encounter similar issues. Thanks

Hi Arthur, Yes, I agree with you because the switch is just a device to split connections, it does not affect anything. Can you please guide me how can I check the restrcition on number of workstations? and how can I increase it. Is it something we can do or it has to be done by teh internet service provider? I just have a motorola cable modem and router at my home! Will wait for your help. Thanks...

Not sure if this will help or not but it did for me. Make sure that the DHCP media sense key does not exist. HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DisableDHCPMediaSense Hope this helps because I know how frustrating this problem is. Good Luck!

Hi KH, If there is restriction on the number of workstations, it must be realized via the limitation of the assigned IP addresses from DHCP. Only the router can have this function. I suggest that you contact the support of the router and confirm if we could do something to resolve this issue. Also, you may check the instruction of the router and try to find some clues.

I'm having the same problem, if you find a way to get more then 2 connected at the same time plz post how you did it.