minimum computer requirement for using a cable modem with broadband

mandrake · 23-03-2005, 17:13

Not sure if this is the correct forum?

A young friend of mine has recently had a new modem delivered by NTL, the guy who delivered it just connected the modem gave the lad the set-up disk and said " just run the disk and then insert your PID and password when requested"

He did as he was told by the engineer, (who had by this time departed.), and his computer promptly froze up.

My question is: What is the minimum requirement a computer has to meet such as ram and hard disk space in order that broadband will run, I understand he has win 98. Not sure if he is using usb or ethernet

Any help would be appreciated.

Raistlin · 23-03-2005, 17:16

Everything you need should be here:

http://www.home.ntl.com/page/broadbandneed
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Actually, let's make that easier for you:

Quote:

Minimum Specifications
Operating System - Windows 98, 2000 Professional Edition, ME, XP Home Edition, XP Professional

Processor Speed - Pentium 166MHz (or equivalent)

Memory (RAM) - 64MB

Hard Drive Space - 60MB

PC Hardware - CD-ROM Drive, Sound & Graphics Card, USB port (recommended) - if not present Network Interface Card (Ethernet Card)

Better with an Ethernet connection that a USB one though.
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Not exactly a taxing spec

MovedGoalPosts · 23-03-2005, 17:20

USB will need a lot more powerful PC than a dedicated ethernet. If I recall correctly spec is quite low. I could run broadband on my ancient P200MMX that only had 64MB RAM and win 98se, with a network card. Didn't do it very well though.

Edit: Beaten to it with a more comprehensive reply

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If the PC has fallen over, it's quite possible that it didn't have adequate antivirus or something, and once connected that has swiftly picked something up. Also there is a possibility that it was previously doing dial up, and the dial up settings now conflict with the broadband.

mandrake · 23-03-2005, 19:20

as i understand he has not had any internet connection before, would I be right in assuming he has to have a modem driver or would this be included on the instalation disk?.
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Just a follow up to say thanks to Raistlin and Movedthegoalposts

MovedGoalPosts · 23-03-2005, 19:21

If connecting via USB, yep he'll need to load drivers for the USB adaptor ntl supply, and that will be on the ntl CD.

If connecting via ethernet, then the ntl CD shouldn't be needed, but if the network card isn't properly enabled, drivers will be needed from the card manufacturer - possibly supplied with the PC if the PC had the card originally, or on a CD supplied with the card. If you check in control panel > System > devices you will see if the network card is active, or showing as having a problem (big question mark).

Once all is plugged in switch off the modem and computer. give it a couple of minutes, switch on the modem, couple more minutes, switch on the PC. Now you should be able to launch the ntl internet registrations.

More info here: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/article.php?a=13

mandrake · 23-03-2005, 19:28

thanks for the info, I'm going round to his house tomorrow morning to try and sort out this problem, he did mention something about having a couple of trojens on his computer and, further to my last reply about not having a internet connection, aparantly he got the computer from his mother who was on a dial up connection.

Halcyon · 23-03-2005, 21:10

Do remember to put on a firewall such as ZoneAlarm which you can download off the net at http://www.zonealarm.com/ and also Lavasoft Adaware to clean his sytem of spyware.

jrhnewark · 25-03-2005, 02:27

... a piffly little computer of any description, technically.

As said above - don't touch the disc. It never worked with my old Windows 98 - use the Ethernet/web registration method, it works a charm.