Can't connect to the Internet; switched from dial-up to cable modem

  • Thread starter Thread starter akrosita2000
  • Start date Start date
A

akrosita2000

I just moved into a new house and having problems with my internet
connection. The computer connects to the Internet for the first minute
or less after I turn it on. Then it disconnects (the ISP agent was able
to ping me for about thirty seconds and then it's gone). In another
house, I used to have a DSL connection and after moving, decided to
switch to cable modem because of the good pricing on the overall
package (phone, internet, TV). After three phone calls and over two
hours of talking to the service provider, I started getting the same
response - it is your computer so you have to call the computer tech
for that. My reply is that the Internet worked fine last week when I
had DSL, but they keep on saying it's my computer. Here is what I've
tried to do so far and hasn't worked:

Move computer and cable modem to another room - still doesn't work.
Removed DSL connection from the Connections tab in the Internet Options
window.
Logged in in the safe mode (by the way, I had problems in the safe
mode, every time I tried to type or basically use keyboard instead of
the mouse, the computer would freeze up)
Checked for viruses (I have McAfee)
Turned off Windows Firewall and McAfee VirusScanner (I do not have
McAffee firewall)
Rebooted my computer/modem several times

The only thing that seems to help the Internet work (for less than a
minute) is when I perform the Repair function in the Support Tab of the
Local Area Connection Status window. Not sure if it means anything.
I've been able to check my hotmail by clicking that Repair button every
thirty seconds or so. Hopefully, it doesn't mess up my computer :)

I am debating on whether or not to switch back to the old service
provider, but then I am worried that my computer won't work with them
either. Plus, my current provider has such a great deal and we already
set up everything (cable, phone line). So, I decided to post this
question here and see if I can fix the problem with your suggestions. I
am not too computer literate (even though I have an MIS degree :), but
I understand the basics and can always look up the terminology if
needed.

Below are the settings of my computer:
Dell, bought two or three years ago; Windows XP Operating System;
McAfee VirusScanner (although, currently turned off); in the Network
Connections screen, the Local Area Connection says Connected; I checked
the Properties of the connection (per my company's IT guy's suggestion)
and TCP/IP does not have an address assigned, it's on automated option.
Not sure what other information I can provide.

I welcome any suggestions! Thank you in advance!
 
If the computer can access the internet for a minute and the ISP can ping the cable modem, it maybe your computer. We need more information to help you. Do you have a router between modem and computer? Can you ping the default gateway? can you ping a public IP? can you ping yahoo.com? Posting the result of ipconfig /all here may help. Or this troubleshooting may help too,

How to troubleshoot the Internet Access issues
You just setup a network and all networking computers can see each other. However, you have one of some following issues:

1. None of the networking computers can access the Internet.
2. Only one of two computers can access the Internet.
3. Cannot access some web sites.

http://www.howtonetworking.com/Internet/internetaccess0.htm

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I just moved into a new house and having problems with my internet
connection. The computer connects to the Internet for the first minute
or less after I turn it on. Then it disconnects (the ISP agent was able
to ping me for about thirty seconds and then it's gone). In another
house, I used to have a DSL connection and after moving, decided to
switch to cable modem because of the good pricing on the overall
package (phone, internet, TV). After three phone calls and over two
hours of talking to the service provider, I started getting the same
response - it is your computer so you have to call the computer tech
for that. My reply is that the Internet worked fine last week when I
had DSL, but they keep on saying it's my computer. Here is what I've
tried to do so far and hasn't worked:

Move computer and cable modem to another room - still doesn't work.
Removed DSL connection from the Connections tab in the Internet Options
window.
Logged in in the safe mode (by the way, I had problems in the safe
mode, every time I tried to type or basically use keyboard instead of
the mouse, the computer would freeze up)
Checked for viruses (I have McAfee)
Turned off Windows Firewall and McAfee VirusScanner (I do not have
McAffee firewall)
Rebooted my computer/modem several times

The only thing that seems to help the Internet work (for less than a
minute) is when I perform the Repair function in the Support Tab of the
Local Area Connection Status window. Not sure if it means anything.
I've been able to check my hotmail by clicking that Repair button every
thirty seconds or so. Hopefully, it doesn't mess up my computer :)

I am debating on whether or not to switch back to the old service
provider, but then I am worried that my computer won't work with them
either. Plus, my current provider has such a great deal and we already
set up everything (cable, phone line). So, I decided to post this
question here and see if I can fix the problem with your suggestions. I
am not too computer literate (even though I have an MIS degree :), but
I understand the basics and can always look up the terminology if
needed.

Below are the settings of my computer:
Dell, bought two or three years ago; Windows XP Operating System;
McAfee VirusScanner (although, currently turned off); in the Network
Connections screen, the Local Area Connection says Connected; I checked
the Properties of the connection (per my company's IT guy's suggestion)
and TCP/IP does not have an address assigned, it's on automated option.
Not sure what other information I can provide.

I welcome any suggestions! Thank you in advance!
 
Do you have a router between modem and computer? No router, but used to be in the previous house (I was connected to another computer). Could that be a problem?
Can you ping the default gateway? Is that the last IP address (listed under Default Gateway) in the Support tab of the Local Area Connection Status window? If yes, I'll check that tonight when I get home.
Can you ping a public IP? Can you ping yahoo.com? I'll try that tonight, but I believe I can ping it only when my Internet is working. As soon as the Internet goes down, I can't ping anything else anymore. I tried to ping gci.net and then their IP address (my Internet service provider) and it failed every time Internet disconnected and worked when Internet was connected (when computer just started or when I performed the Repair Network connection function). I'll post the results too.
Click to expand...

I visited the website on troubleshooting Internet Access issues and
will try those suggestions tonight. Thanks again!
 
I cannot ping a website, an IP address or my default gateway when the
Internet is down, only when it's up after I use the Repair function.
I've tried to use the release code in the Command Prompt window and
hasn't helped either. I called Dell since then and they said it could
be my motherboard and will replace it (since my three-year warranty is
still active). So, we'll see if it fixes the problem. The thing is I
already replaced the motherboard right after I bought the computer so
it's kind of troublesome for me to do it now. I don't want to do it
every two years, especially after my warranty expires. At least I
didn't have to talk to somebody from India. Dell's customer service was
pretty good. I'll keep updated if this fixed the problem.
 
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