Windows Guru Help Required

[Mr Speirs]

Spent a while googling but due to the mountains of threads with the same search words I haven't got anywhere close to finding a solution.

Here's the scenario:

At work I have a macbook running both os x and bootcamp (Windows Vista).

99% of the time I run on OS X but there are some programmes I need to use which only run on windows.

The problem is when I switch over to windows it causes the internet in the building to die. I.e. the router disappears from everyone's available networks and the internet ceases to work.
If I switch back to OS X the router becomes available and internet works again.

This in my opinion can only be a software issue as the hardware works fine on OS X.

So what inside windows can cause a router to disappear? and what can I change inside windows to stop it happening?
Is there a way to permanently disable wifi in windows but keep the ethernet connections as I don't need the internet on windows.

Ta

[flymo]

Do you have an internet sharing feature enabled on one of the client OSs?

[Mr Speirs]

Qua?

There isn't any shared features as my windows cant run side by side of os x. Its essentially its own computer. Boots up from its own partition and takes control of the hardware itself.

The only reason I'd even mention OS X is takes the hardware out of the equation as I know that works. I'm certain it's a windows software issue but I have no idea when it comes to windows.

[pookie]

disable wifi adapter by disabling in control panel device manager newtork adapter.

Have you had a look at parallels desktop for running windows in mac osx? In co herence mode it works seemlessly and you get to use both osx and windows on one desktop.

Dont know about the windows router problem

[Mr Speirs]

Originally Posted by pookie

disable wifi adapter by disabling in control panel device manager newtork adapter.

Have you had a look at parallels desktop for running windows in mac osx? In co herence mode it works seemlessly and you get to use both osx and windows on one desktop.

Dont know about the windows router problem

My new laptop is working on parallels however my old work one has been running in bootcamp since 2007 and as I use it rarely doesn't warrant the fee for parallels.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

Qua?

There isn't any shared features as my windows cant run side by side of os x. Its essentially its own computer. Boots up from its own partition and takes control of the hardware itself.

The only reason I'd even mention OS X is takes the hardware out of the equation as I know that works. I'm certain it's a windows software issue but I have no idea when it comes to windows.

I was talking about the Windows 'Internet Sharing' feature. It may be advertising itself on your network when active.

Do you know anything about how your Windows client networking is configured? It may be set-up with a static IP address that could be already used on your network.

Are you able to reach the internet from your Windows OS? If so happy to take a quick look at the config if you wish.

First thing I'd look at would be whether you have an IP address clash.

Ideally the Windows machine should be getting an IP address automatically (DHCP). Identify the IP address of the router/gateway (ipconfig will show you that, or ifconfig on non-Windows) and ensure that the Windows machine isn't using that address as it's IP address (changing to automatic may not help if the DHCP scope has been badly defined).
You've not said much about your router either. If you're in a small environment it may be more of a home router with different features to a business-class router.

I would suspect at some point internet connection sharing has been enabled in your windows instance.
As this tends to use the ip address 192.168.0.1 this would be my first suspicion.
As most routers also use that....You can imagine what happens when this address is duplicated on the network.
In Windows, from a command prompt do ipconfig/all.
See if this address exists. If it does, there is your problem.
Failing that come back to me and there are other things i can talk you through to resolve.

[flymo]

my thoughts exactly.

[timwilky]

I would also look at the mac address. some routers have the clone mac feature, so possible your internet router has a copy.