Networking & wireless forum: Laptop can't connect to cable modem with ethernet cable

a wireless router for the first time, it's best to hardwire a PC or laptop to the router via ethernet cable. You can more easily get into the routers setup program and make the proper settings. Once those settings are made, the wireless adapter can be used to connect.

The physical layout of your network should be>>>

cable modem(using ethernet cable) to routers WAN port, PCs network port (using ethernet cable) to routers LAN port.

1) will enter the routers setup program using the web based utility, usually 192.168.1.1 in your browsers address bar.
2) Cable connections mostly use DHCP(obtain IP automatically), DSL will use PPPoE with a user name and password provided by the ISP.
3) Check Device Manager for any disabled networking devices.
4) Look at the lights on the router for proof of connection to the PC

If none of this happens, you likely have hardware issues that need to be addressed.

success. Although using both USB and ethernet connections will probably end up causing problems later.

I might try disconnecting the USB cable after shutting everything down. By that I mean modem, router and PCs. Try just the ethernet alone and see what you get when you start back up.

Good Luck.

In my place, when you change a device that connected to a cable modem, you have to wait for the 'lease time' to expired.

You can not just disconnect and connect different device, and hoping it get a new IP instantly.

That is one reason why we connect the cable modem to the router.

All capital letters is considered shouting and makes posts very hard to read.

Bob