Using Windows in my IUB or IUPUI campus housing residence, what should I do if I'm having trouble connecting to the campus network?

Note: You can use the Get Connected web site to register your Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows Vista, or Mac OS X (10.3 and later) computer to use the Indiana University network in campus housing. Computers running Windows 2000 or Linux, as well as game consoles, must be manually registered. For help, contact the UITS Support Center at IU Bloomington by calling 812-855-6789 or at IUPUI by calling 317-274-4357. You cannot register earlier versions of Windows on the IU network in campus housing.

Network card configuration

If you're having problems connecting to the Indiana University Bloomington or IUPUI network with your Windows computer from your campus housing residence, you should first make sure that your computer's network card is configured correctly.

Check your physical connection

Network cable

• IUPUI: In the Campus Apartments on the Riverwalk, you may use a commercial Ethernet cable. At IUPUI Ball Residence Hall, you must use a proprietary Ethernet cable that you can purchase from the IUPUI Housing Office, 405 Porto Allegre Street, Suite 170, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
  
  
• Indiana University Bloomington: If you live in non-Greek campus housing, you will find an Ethernet cable attached to the wall data jack. IUB Greek housing residents may purchase an IU proprietary Ethernet cable. For more, see At IUB, where can I purchase an Ethernet cable?

Data jack

If the room contains more than one data jack, try the other. All data jacks are active, but this can isolate the one with a problem.

Check Dial-Up Networking

If your computer keeps trying to dial the phone, disable the setting in your Dial-Up Networking folder:

1. Open My Computer, and then Dial-Up Networking (in Windows 2000, Network and Dial-Up Connections).
   
   
2. From the Connections menu, choose Settings... .
   
   
3. Under "When establishing a network connection:", select Don't prompt to use Dial-Up Networking.

If the problem persists and you receive an error message, see the appropriate section below:

Error messages

No domain server

This error occurs when a Windows NT Domain server (ADS) attempts to validate your password in Microsoft Networking, but can't because the server either was not available or could not be found. If you receive this error, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the My Network Places icon and select Properties.
   
   
2. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.
   
   
3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
   
   
4. Select the radio button next to Obtain an IP address automatically and click OK.

If this error persists, it could be that the network is very busy. Click Cancel and try logging in again.

Duplicate computer name

For instructions to resolve a duplicate computer name error in Windows, see In Windows, why do I get an error about a duplicate computer name?

Unable to browse the network

When you receive this error, your computer is unable to connect to the network, and therefore cannot send or receive data. Double-check the configuration settings and your network cable. If you have done this and the problem persists, contact the UITS Support Center in Bloomington at 812-855-6789 or in Indianapolis at 317-274-4357.

DHCP error

This error occurs when your computer cannot communicate with the DHCP server, which is necessary for leasing an IP address to your computer. If you encounter this error, it might be that your computer cannot pick up the IP address automatically. Follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, select Run... .
   
   
2. In the "Open:" field, type cmd and click OK.
   
   
3. At the command prompt, enter ipconfig .
   
   
4. When you see the IP address information, if you see a "169.x.x.x" number for your IP address, restart your computer through the Start menu.

If the numbers still do not appear, contact the UITS Support Center in Bloomington at 812-855-6789 or in Indianapolis at 317-274-4357.

Note: Wireless networking is available in some common areas in IU campus housing, although personal wireless access points are not allowed. For more, see Wireless networking in IUB and IUPUI campus housing.

Also see:

• At IU, if I forget my passphrase on a UITS shared central system, what should I do?
• In Windows 2000 or XP, how can I boot into Safe Mode?
• In Windows 2000 or XP, how do I troubleshoot authentication problems against the IU.EDU Kerberos realm?
• In Windows Me, what can I do if I see the message "media disconnected" when I run winipcfg?
• What are some IP addresses that might indicate I have a network problem?