Comcast and Leopard

[ksmith]

Has anyone out there configured a Mac w/ Leopard to work with Comcast hi-speed internet? My iMac, which I configured when it was running Tiger, is working just fine even though I upgraded to Leopard. I used the instruction page on the Comcast site, and was online in less than a minute.

My new MacBook screenshots don't look like that. Even when I enter the router and other values manually, I can't connect. I'm sure there is a simple solution, but I'm not sure what it is. If I can solve it, it may also take care of inability to set up my wireless connection.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Stupid question -- do you have wireless turned on for the MacBook?

(Then there's the immortal advice to reboot the machine...)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Stupid question -- do you have wireless turned on for the MacBook?

Not stupid--it was on, and I turned it off. Didn't help.

(Then there's the immortal advice to reboot the machine...)

Actually, when I go online with the work laptop, which is a Dell, I have to connect the cable before I boot up, or it won't detect the online connection. However, I just rebooted the MacBook, and it didn't help. I get the message that the Ethernet has a self-assigned IP and may not be able to connect.

If worse came to worse, I suppose I could install Tiger, set up the internet connection, then upgrade to Leopard.

[(Anonymous)]

Have you tried calling Comcast? I use a small ISP that has wonderful customer service. Usually they can help pinpoint the problem.

I haven't mastered "Network Connections" on Leopard. Just Sunday I argued with it and lost a dozen times in a row. I did finally get what I wanted. But I tried so many things I don't remember what worked.

Step 1: Using the "Network Connections" windows from the "System Preferences" utility, check and make sure all the settings are the same between your iMac and your MacBook.

If they're not, make them the same. (I'm not sure how you have your modem and wireless connected in your house. It's possible that you'll need to give each computer a different IP address or never have both on the network at the same time.)

If they're the same, your router could be programmed to only talk to a few MAC addresses. If so, you need to program your MacBook's MAC address into your router. (We do this as a security feature.)

Google your question. There will be answers.

Good luck!
Adrianne

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Part of the issue could be that I don't have a router--I don't think. I was under the impression that the Airport Extreme station could function as a router, but this is apparently not the case. In which case, it's just one more thing I need to buy and set up, and I just don't have the energy right now. I know that I can get online with the iMac, though not wirelessly. I know that I can likely go online wirelessly with the MacBook when I travel--I can't, however, use it at home, on the living room couch, when I should be writing. This isn't altogether bad.

I am thinking, though, of installing Tiger on the MacBook, getting hardwired internet up and running, then installing Leopard. Something about Leopard and Comcast just isn't meshing.

[(Anonymous)]

Just a couple of notes —

(1) The Airport Extreme is, in fact, a router. It has the traditional Apple approach to documentation, though: Your System Had Better Be Set Up Exactly Like Ours or You're Not Supported.

(2) Since you have a very specific issue, I recommend using the forum-based Practically Networked at http://forums.practicallynetworked.com to get assistance, rather than struggle with an ISP that doesn't know your equipment. I've found them quite helpful in the past in getting Mac owners set up on networks, particularly in mixed environments (and, since Comcast's servers run a Windows OS — which I learned helping out someone else in the Chicago area recently — you're in a mixed environment...). This also has the bonus of giving you something in writing that you can save for later reference.

(3) If that's not going to work for you, though — you've got to speak a little geek to really feel comfortable with directions you get from an online forum — do go ahead and install Tiger on the MacBook. When you reinstall Leopard, make sure that you update XWindows at the same time.

— CEP

comcast problems too

[(Anonymous)]

Ever since I installed leopard on my imac, my laptops can't get online through the wireless. i get the same message about the self assigned ip address. I'd love to know if anyone has figured this out.

Re: comcast problems too

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I emailed Comcast and told them that they needed to update their Mac OS installation page, since it was Tiger-specific.

I couldn't install Tiger on the MacBook. I don't know why--is it because Tiger was never installed on it prior?

I still haven't phoned Comcast or Apple. Only so many hours in a day, and I know I can get online with the iMac at home and that the MacBook will work on the road. It is annoying, though.