Internet connects on one computer but not on the other, alternatively

[kaycam]

Strange things are happening with my computers and the Internet
connection. The Internet is working just fine, so is my Mac and PC.

When I logged on to my PC this morning, I got an Internet connection. But when I logged off and plugged the Internet cable into my Mac, the Internet would not work. It
was not until I shut down and unplugged the PC power cord from the power bar that the Internet worked on the Mac.

Now tonight I logged on to my PC, the Internet would not work. I logged off and unplugged the Mac from the power bar, but the Internet still would not work on the PC. So I log back on to my Mac and I get an Internet connection, so I am writing to you from my Mac.

Do any of you happen to have any experience with this scenario? Is it that the Internet connection is not strong enough? Is there a reason why the Internet would be working alternatively like this? I do not wish to connect both computers to the Internet at once. I use the two computers separately with the Internet, either one or the other.

Thanks for your help!
Kaycam

[hughv]

Most likely, you need to reboot the modem when you switch connections.
It's perfectly safe to use a router and connect both computers at once, which is what most people do.

[airbourne]

Most cable or DSL internet providers will only allow 1 PC online at a time. The first PC to claim the internet connection gets it and another PC cannot use the connection unless that connection expires (which is rare as I understand it). To swap who can get out to the internet, you normally have to reboot the modem.

To share the internet connection you need a router between your computers and the modem. The same rules apply to the router - since the router has to make a connection to the internet, you have to reboot your modem before connecting it to your router.

[naeemaziz]

In this case you have to give the manual ip to your MAC thats y the internet will not work without ip it wont work describe me what are u using are u using dsl or what.

[kaycam]

Thanks very much. I rebooted the modem and I got it to work.

Kay

Most cable or DSL internet providers will only allow 1 PC online at a time. The first PC to claim the internet connection gets it and another PC cannot use the connection unless that connection expires (which is rare as I understand it). To swap who can get out to the internet, you normally have to reboot the modem.

To share the internet connection you need a router between your computers and the modem. The same rules apply to the router - since the router has to make a connection to the internet, you have to reboot your modem before connecting it to your router.

[kaycam]

Thanks very much. I rebooted the modem, and it worked. Thanks. Kay

[airbourne]

You are very welcome. :)