Solution to a maddening connection problem (OT for t.o.)

[zosdad]

In the faint hope that this might solve someone else's problem and
save them some grief, I offer my recent experience:

I signed up for Comcast cable internet service last week in a package
deal with a RCA wireless gateway/cable modem/router (all one system)
(model: DCW615R). I was able to hook up the modem and the PC just
fine, and register using the Comcast CD. The hookup was with an
ethernet cable. However, the internet connection seemed slow and then
would typically disconnect after a few minutes. The "Repair" button
didn't work unless I powered down the modem and brought it back up. I
have a laptop with a wireless card and was able to get that to connect
to the internet also, but again only for a few minutes. When the
connection cut out the modem lights would "freeze" in a certain
configuration, no more happy blinking.

To make a long story short, here are solutions that didn't work:

-- Tightening cables/cords
-- Having the cable guy come out and check the line
-- Undoing security, firewalls, etc.
-- Calling comcast repeatedly to have them check the account, ping the
modem, reset the account, tell me how to click "repair" (again), etc.
-- Switching to a USB connection between PC and modem
-- Checking for electrical interference between power cords, modem
cords, etc.
-- Re-installing drivers, cards, etc.
-- Changing options on drivers, cards, network adapters, etc.
-- Going back to RadioShack and exchanging the modem for another one
(same model)
-- Calling the RCA modem customer service (1-800-587-5850 by the way,
it's very difficult to find on rca.com) which Comcast had told me to
call -- the RCA guy said call Comcast

Eventually I realized that if I connected with my laptop only, the
connection would stay on. If I then connected the PC, the modem would
freeze up after a few minutes and the connection would die. I
realized this by using this webpage on both computers at once:

http://www.cablemodemhelp.com/speedtest_large.php3

So, the problem was my PC. Eventually google revealed some post that
said a virus might be responsible for the problem, so I downloaded
PC-cillin from pcworld.com. No viruses on my laptop, but a single
worm on the extra drive of my PC was detected. Evidently the Norton
AntiVirus Corporate Edition that I had installed when the PC was at my
university had missed this worm.

So what was happening was that when the internet hooked up, the worm
woke up and started trying to propagate, and this shut the modem down.
It would have been nice if one of those many Comcast or RCA people
had thought to mention this possibility, I am quite sure I'm not the
first person this has ever happened to.

I know that for any of you computer mavens out there this was probably
an obvious thing, but, well, go to heck. It was a discovery for me,
now ensconced forever in the google archives for posterity.

nic, Slayer of The Great Worm

PS: I wonder how many copies of that worm I helped propagate over the
last week...

 

[Ron Hunter]

In the faint hope that this might solve someone else's problem and
save them some grief, I offer my recent experience:

I signed up for Comcast cable internet service last week in a package
deal with a RCA wireless gateway/cable modem/router (all one system)
(model: DCW615R). I was able to hook up the modem and the PC just
fine, and register using the Comcast CD. The hookup was with an
ethernet cable. However, the internet connection seemed slow and then
would typically disconnect after a few minutes. The "Repair" button
didn't work unless I powered down the modem and brought it back up. I
have a laptop with a wireless card and was able to get that to connect
to the internet also, but again only for a few minutes. When the
connection cut out the modem lights would "freeze" in a certain
configuration, no more happy blinking.

To make a long story short, here are solutions that didn't work:

-- Tightening cables/cords
-- Having the cable guy come out and check the line
-- Undoing security, firewalls, etc.
-- Calling comcast repeatedly to have them check the account, ping the
modem, reset the account, tell me how to click "repair" (again), etc.
-- Switching to a USB connection between PC and modem
-- Checking for electrical interference between power cords, modem
cords, etc.
-- Re-installing drivers, cards, etc.
-- Changing options on drivers, cards, network adapters, etc.
-- Going back to RadioShack and exchanging the modem for another one
(same model)
-- Calling the RCA modem customer service (1-800-587-5850 by the way,
it's very difficult to find on rca.com) which Comcast had told me to
call -- the RCA guy said call Comcast

Eventually I realized that if I connected with my laptop only, the
connection would stay on. If I then connected the PC, the modem would
freeze up after a few minutes and the connection would die. I
realized this by using this webpage on both computers at once:

http://www.cablemodemhelp.com/speedtest_large.php3

So, the problem was my PC. Eventually google revealed some post that
said a virus might be responsible for the problem, so I downloaded
PC-cillin from pcworld.com. No viruses on my laptop, but a single
worm on the extra drive of my PC was detected. Evidently the Norton
AntiVirus Corporate Edition that I had installed when the PC was at my
university had missed this worm.

So what was happening was that when the internet hooked up, the worm
woke up and started trying to propagate, and this shut the modem down.
It would have been nice if one of those many Comcast or RCA people
had thought to mention this possibility, I am quite sure I'm not the
first person this has ever happened to.

I know that for any of you computer mavens out there this was probably
an obvious thing, but, well, go to heck. It was a discovery for me,
now ensconced forever in the google archives for posterity.

nic, Slayer of The Great Worm

PS: I wonder how many copies of that worm I helped propagate over the
last week...

First, go to one of the sites such as ZoneLabs or Agnitum, and download
a FREE firewall program. Second, USE, and keep updated, your antivirus
program. Third, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER open an attachment in email unless
you KNOW what it is, ASKED for it, and have run it past your virus
checker. Last, go to Microsoft.com and do all applicable updates for
your OS. These steps should prevent another such 'interesting' experience.

 

[John Wilkins]

First, go to one of the sites such as ZoneLabs or Agnitum, and download
a FREE firewall program. Second, USE, and keep updated, your antivirus
program. Third, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER open an attachment in email unless
you KNOW what it is, ASKED for it, and have run it past your virus
checker. Last, go to Microsoft.com and do all applicable updates for
your OS. These steps should prevent another such 'interesting' experience.

And if that fails, buy a Macintosh, or install Linux...

 

[Ron Hunter]

And if that fails, buy a Macintosh, or install Linux...

Neither is immune. There are hundreds of virus and worm programs that
can infect either of them. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Practice 'safe hex' no matter WHAT computer/OS you choose.

 

[nobody]

And if that fails, buy a Macintosh, or install Linux...

Or eComStation - OS/2.


Alan

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[AC]

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 01:06:48 +0000 (UTC),

I know that for any of you computer mavens out there this was probably
an obvious thing, but, well, go to heck. It was a discovery for me,
now ensconced forever in the google archives for posterity.

nic, Slayer of The Great Worm

PS: I wonder how many copies of that worm I helped propagate over the
last week...

The ISP I work for (read: poor little ol' me) has been absolutely inundated
with Nachi and Blaster worms. Our oldest machine, an old Cisco dialup
server, was croaking roughly every 24 hours for the last week. When it
first started happening I thought it was a hardware issue, as the unit is
about six or seven years old. We were preparing to spend thousands of $$$
on a replacement when I took a stroll down to comp.dcom.sys.cisco, where I
was told that Nachi and Blaster were likely responsible. Nachi, in
particular, opens all sorts of invalid routes, which fill up the route cache
table on the Cisco unit, leading it to eventually run out of memory. The
unit remains active, but the modems onboard cease to function, meaning all
dialup users get booted off and no one else can dial in, forcing a reboot.

These worms are serious issues, and because they have been spreading for
months via people who do not apply the patches to their Windows machine (the
average is around one major patch every week). My solution was to block
specific types of traffic on our network. This, unfortunately, limits my
ability to test outside our network, but the other choice is rebooting the
machine once a day.

Not just virus checkers must be updated, but the operating system as well.
Go to update.microsoft.com at least once a week and apply the latest
patches. Since there are many ISPs who still do not block Microsoft
filesharing traffic and other vulnerable ports, you could still be
vulnerable. Never make one single technology; firewall or anti-virus
software, your single line of defense.

As a peculiar side note, can you believe that comp.dcom.sys.cisco actually
has it's own net-kooks?

 

[Susan S]

In talk.origins I read this message from (e-mail address removed)
(John Wilkins):

[snip]

And if that fails, buy a Macintosh, or install Linux...

I saw a bumper sticker today that said "LINUXGRUVEN".

Susan Silberstein

 

[Martin Crisp]

Neither is immune. There are hundreds of virus and worm programs that
can infect either of them. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Practice 'safe hex' no matter WHAT computer/OS you choose.

Sure. That's exactly what John was saying.

Do a search for viruses (trojans, worms, malware) reported &
verified in google groups for the last few years in the Mac
groups. From those you find, remove those that:
a) are Word or Excel macro viruses
b) rely on Outlook Express and/or really stupid users to spread

Post the results.

[Hint: the Viruses and the Macintosh FAQ, last posted
16-December-2003 was last updated 1-Jan-2000]

Have Fun
Martin