HELPLINE After modem change, check network connections

By JAY LEE

Q: I have a network routed through a Linksys router with Comcast as the Internet provider. It worked fine, but I recently had to replace my modem, and now I can't connect to the Internet. So I need to know how to get the network up and running.

A: I have discovered that just about any Internet provider can be finicky about changing equipment, especially routers and modems. But it's also quite possible something simply came unplugged when you swapped out the modem.

As a rule of thumb, when I see connectivity issues with cable Internet, the first thing to do is power everything off: the modem, the router and any computers connecting, whether wireless or wired

Once everything is shut off, quickly verify the connections. That is, make sure the modem is connected properly to the cable and to the router and disconnect all computers except one. This will help simplify the trouble-shooting process.

Then, in this exact order, turn on the modem, then the router and then one computer. Now verify that the computer can access the Internet. If it can, then you can reconnect any other computers and turn them on.

If it cannot, then something is wrong with the modem or the router.

To determine this, turn everything off again and connect the cable modem directly to the Ethernet cable of one of your computers. Turn on the modem and then the computer and see if you can get to the Internet.

If you can, then the problem is with the router or the connection to the router. Consider resetting the router as per instructions on your user manual or trying different cables.

As you can see, network trouble-shooting can be rather involved.

Q: I purchased a new HP desktop computer with Vista 64 bit software, and to my great surprise I learned that HP does not have and does not plan to provide a Vista 64 bit driver for my HP Laserjet5p. Never mind the fact that I paid about $900 for my printer and it never occurred to me that HP would not support its own products. Is there any way I can find a solution?

A: To be completely fair, the printer is 15 years old. To expect HP to support this dated technology is not altogether reasonable. In the world of technology, time indeed does march on.

That said, if the printer works and can be made to interface with a system running 64-bit Vista, it's a huge win.

Something not every computer user may be aware of is that some of these high-end laser printers, even though quite old, are sort of the gold standard of printing hardware, and Windows provides the drivers for them as part of the operating system.

In fact, the HP Laserjet 5P is probably one of the most popular laser printers ever made, and support for that printer has been built into Windows since Windows 98.

If you use the Add a Printer wizard in the control panel, you can select HP as the manufacturer and pull up the Laserjet 5P from the model list and just add it.

You may need to have the Vista install CD ready or point to the i386 directory to pull the files when prompted, but it is one of the printers that Windows supports natively.

Write Jay Lee at helpline@chron.com. You can view more questions and answers at the Help Line Blog at blogs.chron.com/helpline. Lee co-hosts the radio show Technology Bytes from 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays on KPFT 90.1 FM. The program is also available on the Internet at www.geekradio.com. Lee cannot personally answer all reader questions.

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