I've been having a major issue with my PC's Ethernet connection. No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to work. I've restarted my router and used a different Ethernet cable that I know works, but I'm still stuck. My PC shows that it can't configure an IP address and only gives me a 169.x.x.x IP, indicating that it's not connecting to the router correctly. When I attempt to release the IP via ipconfig, I get an error message, and restarting the DHCP client isn't working either. This is seriously messing up my work, so I'm ready to try anything. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
If all else fails, you might want to try using a wireless USB dongle to connect via Wi-Fi. It's not a permanent solution, but it could help you get back online for now while you figure out the Ethernet issue.
It sounds like your PC is stuck in APIPA mode, which means it can't find a DHCP server to get a proper IP address. Check if your network settings are on automatic configuration. If you have access to another computer, consider booting it up with a Linux live USB, like Ubuntu. If you can connect to the internet using that, then the issue is likely with your Windows setup. If not, you might need to troubleshoot your hardware or router connection more thoroughly. Does your PC connect directly to the router, or does it go through another device?
I actually have a laptop with Linux Mint that can connect just fine to the router. My PC connects through a modem into a wall socket, and then there's another cable coming out of that modem to the router. It's set to automatic for both IPv4 and IPv6.