Problem connecting to the internet
 

Hello all!

I spent most of yesterday helping a friend out with a computer problem. I ended up having to re-format the hard drive (it was soooooo full of bugs as she had no firewall and her anti virus hadn't been updated in 5 years o_O). After reinstalling Windows 98 (nothing higher will work on her comp) I tried using the ntl broadband CD to reinstall broadband. Everything was going smoothly untill it asked to plug the USB connector into the computer leaving the power to the set top box off. I did this and it came up with an error code:0. I phoned the help line and the guy told me I didn't need to use the CD at all. All I had to do was plug everything in, reboot the computer and we would have lift off. Well, we don't :( The computer still doesn't realize that it's connected. There's a MSN connection wizard thingy but it askes to pick which modem we're using...except we not using one...are we? I'm stumped. Any help would be great....I can provide more info if needed :)

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

The CS guy was a bit mistaken, I believe. You shouldn't need the CD if you're using an ethernet cable to connect to a dedicated NIC (network interface card) but you do, I believe, require the CD when you want to use the modem via a USB cable, as Windows by default doesn't have the necessary driver.

However, I'm afraid I have no idea what 'error code:0' means, so I'd recommend you call back the NTL support dept and hope that you speak to a different person ;)

ps - Welcome to Cable Forum :wavey:

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

Thank you for the welcome :D

I will give CS another ring today if I can't get it going. If all else fails, I'll just buy her a network card and carry on from there. At least I know now that it's not just windows being a pain as normal ;) Thanks for the help!!

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

And Win98 is notoriously evil when it comes to USB or Ethernet connections. Ethernet sometimes works/most time doesn't. USB is just a bitch if you don't get it right first time.That's my experience anyway.

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

I have 3 win98 machines and they work 100% every time with ethernet.

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

Agreed; I'm running a W98SE machine quite happily.

Luluhime, you can install just the modem USB drivers from the CD and connect that way - in fact, it's the best way to do it as, even if you're setting up a new modem account, the ntl software is, erm, less than satisfactory. Suggestions about extra long bargepoles spring to mind.

However, ethernet is a much better way of connecting: it's capable of faster data transfers, is much more reliable and permits networking much more easily. Connect with USB if you want, but your friend will be a lot happier in the long run with an ethernet connection.

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

Error code 0 means :

1. You are using an OLD ntl CD :) Not a problem, as you can manually install the drivers (Sounds like Version 1.3).

2. You are using USB? ( I never saw Error 0 on an Ethernet connection... ? )

3. You formatted / reinstalled OS with the USB cable connected, therefore putting the device into an Unknown state. Is this true?

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! :D I went back today and managed to sort things out without phoning CS. All I ended up doing was uninstalling then reinstalling the driver for the Ethernet/USB connector. After that, everything worked :)

KevAmiga: You were right with #3 :doh:

patrickp: Thanks for the advise. Although, when I went back and had a look, it doesn't look like theres anywhere to actually fit a network card so I guess that rules out the Ethernet option.

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

not unless you buy a NIC card (network card). you can pick them up really cheap about a tenner nowadays. Or if u like pm and i can send you one with drivers too. have about 6-7 lying around gathering dust. Being a school technician did have its uses :D

Re: Problem connecting to the internet
 

I'm connecting via usb and for win98 I installed just the drivers and that was sufficient.
I installed xp last week and just installing the drivers wouldn't seem to work, so I had to use the cd, and I went through the procedure on the cd part of the way through until I was connected to the net and then quit out of it.