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xbox 360/internet connection issue

mean dad

mean dad

verum super omnia
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Location
California
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Smoke and mirrors
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AMA #575843
AT&T DSL service working fine
when i try to connect my xbox online, i get an error message saying it can't find my DNS. i called at&t last night, and was directed to a web page with the instructions of turning the xbox and modem off, turn the xbox on, wait 30 seconds, and turn the modem on, and the xbox would take care of business.
it worked, and my xbox immediately started downloading updates, so i left it on all night, and tried to get on this morning.
no joy. same 'DNS not found' message. did the off/off, on/wait/on thing, and it didn't work. did it again, in case i did it wrong.
nothing.
switched cords back to the computer, went online to the web page, and it said xbox or ps3 can use 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 as DNS for at&t.
tried it, didn't work (by 'tried it', i mean i manually configured the xbox DNS info to primary = 8.8.8.8, secondary = 8.8.4.4).
when i looked for my DNS address on my computer (internet connections/properties/ips/dns/etc), it says i need to contact my system administrator (WTF? i'm the only user on the system, and i have admin status!!).
so i call at&t, and after 15 minutes of bullshit, am told it'll cost a one-time fee of 49.99, or a year's service for 14.99.
for them to tell me my fucking DNS address.
i believe this tips the scales for me to ditch at&t as my provider to someone more xbox friendly, as i was ASSURED by the rep taking my order that i'd be able to waste countless hours playing mah box.

however. until that happens, i want to play, and watch netflicks. can anyone decipher my incoherent, luddish ramblings, and hook a brotha up?
 
8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 are Google public DNS servers...never used it before but it should work in theory.

To get the DNS servers that your computer is using:
1.click on the windows icon on the bottom left of the taskbar
2. In 'Search Programs or Files' (win7), 'Start Search' (Vista) or 'Run' (XP) type cmd and then hit enter. A black command prompt screen will pop up.
3. In the command prompt screen enter
ipconfing /all
and then hit enter.
4. you should see something like this as the output, notice the DNS servers at the bottom
ipconfigall.png


If your xbox cannot reach both the AT&T DNS servers or Google public servers, then your Xbox is not connected to the internet for some reason. Your router might be blocking it, e.g. ports are blocked. I don't have an xbox so I can't help with that part really.
 
Hey Kevin I had a bunch of weird connection issues also but they went away as quick as they came. One thing you can try is opening up your NAT which should be in your WAN setup and another thing that works is setting up port forwarding for your xbox. You do this by going to port forwarding and adding a service, call it XBOX_Live, but it doesn't really mater what you call it. You need to add 2 the first will be 88 start port and end port 88. The other is 3074 start port and end port 3074 Then add your xbox IP address, you can find that in your network settings on your xbox. This might get rid of the problem but keep in mind your xbox doesn't have a static IP address so the IP address will change from time to time.

Oops didn't read your entire post looks like you are not using a router, if that is the case just ignore my post but I'll leave it up because it might be helpful to someone else.
 
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gnahc, i'd try that, but i have another issue as well...i can't get my start manu to show. i have no task bar at the bottom of my screen. i can open up my control panel (through "my computer"), and double click the "taskbar and start menu" icon, but nothing happens. it shows open on my task manager, but i can't see or use it.
i'm not tech-savvy enough to find my dns addy another way, and at&t pissed me off wanting to charge me for it.
 
that's unusual. another way to launch the program cmd is to open my computer and go to "C:\WINDOWS\system32". You should see a cmd.exe file, double click it to open the black command prompt screen.
Also, just to clarify, is your setup modem->xbox or is it modem->router->xbox? And what's the make/model of the DSL modem?
 
modem is a motorola...don't know the model at this time as i'm at work.
and it's modem>xbox, no router.

and here's the story behind no start button or task bar.
 
IMO get a basic router for <$50 and you can connect both your PC and xbox to the internet at the same time as a small bonus. It's a small headache to set it up, but less of a headache than messing with a modem->xbox connection. Google "xbox direct modem" and you'll see other people have run into the same problem without a real solution, e.g. power on/off the xbox and/or router each time you play or switch games.
 
and that should fix the DNS issue as well? or just streamline future connections, once i establish connection this time?

edit to add: thanks!
 
cool, i'll probably grab that one. the description is very vague, this model has more than one ethernet port?

thanks again, i appreciate the help.
 
no problem :).

Yep all routers have multiple ethernet ports. Connect the modem to the 'internet' port of the router with plain ol' ethernet cable. Then connect your PC and xbox to any of the other ethernet ports on the router.
The Cisco connect software included with the router *should* walk you through nearly everything. I have a much older linksys router, the same one as the website that I listed earlier on port forwarding. The web admin screenshots on that website with the older router should be similar to the E1200.
 
just picked up a D-Link DIR615 wireless router from Fry's for $39.99, and am online with my xbox now.
finally, i can get my ass kicked again by a 12 year old with a potty mouth!

thanks, gnahc!!
 
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