WinME & Cable Modem

[Pnambic]

I have a Dell Dimension XPST600 (p2-600, 256MB RAM, 26GB HDD, etc) running Windows ME with a Time/Warner 3Com Cable Modem (looks like a big shark fin).

When I start up the computer, there are no error messages. If I try to access email or to browse the net, I get nothing ("The Page Cannot Be Displayed" in IE or "Unable to Connect to Host" in Outlook).

If I unplug the modem and let it sit for 90 seconds, plug it back in, go to winipcfg and release and renew, all is well and everything works great.

I have to do this everytime I turn the computer on. This can't be right.

(Interesting Note)
When I release and renew, I get the same IP address back.

Does the problem sound like its cable-modem related or software related?

Thanks for your thoughts! ! Caution !
All letters typed above are the direct result of staring at computer screens for extended periods of time and the consuption of massive quantities of caffeine. Beware!

 

[Ma3x323]

Hey Pnambic,
I have a Road Runner cable modem (probably the same as yours). They do have it in their manual to have the cable disconnected when not in use because sometimes it slows down the connection or no connection at all. This only happened to me once but from then on, I didnt have to disconnect my modem. Check with Time Warner first. If their "ideas/opinions" don't do anything, then it could be your comp. -Feryl
--> Just a silly software engineer wannabee.

 

[Pnambic]

Thanks Ma3x323 for your ideas.

That release & renew deal worked for all of one night. After it stopped working, I tried pinging the addresses that Roadrunner gave me to test while talking to them earlier in the week. I was able to ping Roadrunner no problem, but I couldn't ping ANYONE else (Yahoo, CNet, CNN). That lasted for about one night. Now, the modem indicates that it isn't even getting a signal from Roadrunner. I've told them to bring out a new modem to test in case mine was damaged via power surge in the cable or something. *(shrug)*

I'm pretty much out of ideas. ! Caution !
All letters typed above are the direct result of staring at computer screens for extended periods of time and the consuption of massive quantities of caffeine. Beware!

 

[Pnambic]

Update:

Requested another cable modem be sent to the house so that I could test it.

They sent a guy out to take a look.

He booted up the computer and cable modem (which had been turned off since rebooting it every time you rebooted the computer was the only way to get a connection).

It worked. (Well duh, I told them that every time the modem is rebooted, you can get reconnected.)

CableGuy didn't bother rebooting anything to test it. He also didn't bother switching out the cable modem. He just said its all working and left.

Took a week to schedule a time that I could be there with the CableGuy. I showed him exactly what was happening. Switched it out with a Motorola cable modem and all is working perfectly again.

The final CableGuy was actually pretty knowledgeable and said that the 3-Coms had been giving them a lot of troubles recently. There's supposed to be a ground on the cable line outside the house to keep it from getting struck from lightning. *(shrug)*

Hope this helps someone.
! Caution !
All letters typed above are the direct result of staring at computer screens for extended periods of time and the consuption of massive quantities of caffeine. Beware!