Ethernet versus USB modem connection?

Sloper · 04-01-2007, 21:05

Hi all, this is my first post.

Late last night my 10mb BB connection went down and was still down when I came home from work today. Rebooting the PC and modem didn't work so I contacted NTL tech support. She said my ethernet settings had probably been corrupted. I was told to connect my modem via a USB cable and install a driver from my original CD. It worked!

The thing is, I remember reading in several places that ethernet was better. I asked if I could return to my ethernet connection and was told to try it in a couple of days because it 'might come back'.

Seems strange and a bit vague that it "might come back", just like that? Can I not repair my ethernet connection somehow?

Paul K · 04-01-2007, 21:08

What oeprating system?
You can try powering the PC and modem off, leave for a few mins, disconnect USB, re-connect to ethernet, power up modem, wait for lights to settle, power up PC. Check connection by firing up the browser.

rikur · 04-01-2007, 21:12

Ethernet is certainly better than USB (less processing load on your PC)

Could be a whole range of things stopping your ethernet port working.

When you plug the ethernet cable in what results do you get from an c:\>IPconfig ?

Presumably you've checked the obvious things:
- it's not disabled (check the "Network Connections" folder)
- the ethernet status lights come on on the card/modem when the cable is connected

Sloper · 04-01-2007, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

What oeprating system?
You can try powering the PC and modem off, leave for a few mins, disconnect USB, re-connect to ethernet, power up modem, wait for lights to settle, power up PC. Check connection by firing up the browser.

Wow such rapid responses!

OS is Win Xp Pro SP2.

Ta Paul, I'll have to try your suggestions later this evening and will report back.

---------- Post added at 21:26 ---------- Previous post was at 21:24 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by rikur

Ethernet is certainly better than USB (less processing load on your PC)

Could be a whole range of things stopping your ethernet port working.

When you plug the ethernet cable in what results do you get from an c:\>IPconfig ?

Presumably you've checked the obvious things:
- it's not disabled (check the "Network Connections" folder)
- the ethernet status lights come on on the card/modem when the cable is connected

Nope, it's not disabled. It has a yellow exclamation mark and a note that there's little or no connectivity.
The status lights were all ok, and as they should be even when I had no connection.
I haven't tried that command. I'll get back to you.

Thanks

04-01-2007, 22:29

In my opinion, uninstall the CD gubbins, turn everything off, unplug the usb lead, from the modem, re-connect the ethernet lead & turn the modem on - let it settle down for a minute ( synch & ready lights should be lit & steady).

Turn on the pc - let it boot........

- does it work, now?

oops, sorry

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...30&postcount=2

handyman · 04-01-2007, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sloper

Nope, it's not disabled. It has a yellow exclamation mark and a note that there's little or no connectivity.
The status lights were all ok, and as they should be even when I had no connection.
I haven't tried that command. I'll get back to you.

Thanks

Whenever you change anything with ntl modems especially changing from ethernet to usb you need to remove the power from the modem for a few seconds. Ntl modems associate thier ip address via a mac address hardcoded into the hardware they connect to (pc's , routers etc). This mac address can only be released by a reboot.

Sloper · 04-01-2007, 23:16

I disconnected my Linksys wireless router ( um, perhaps I should have mentioned this before) , reconnected my modem directly to my PC via ethernet, rebooted the PC and the modem, and it works.

There's still no connection when I'm hard-wired to the router though

When I run the command c:\>IPconfig, I get the error.. 'Windows couldn't find the file', even now, while I have a connection

What should I get?

Ta for the replies

---------- Post added at 23:16 ---------- Previous post was at 23:00 ----------

Whoops!!

I just moved my router and the ethernet cable connecting it to my PC, just fell out. It obviously wasn't plugged in properly. All is well now!

Thanks for your trouble

04-01-2007, 23:58