Getting Back Online

[joepa99]

Hi all,

I just reformatted and loaded Windows XP Pro on my home computer and have installed all the motherboard drivers. I use Charter Pipeline for high-speed internet access and have a Motorola cable modem connected to the PC.

All the cable modem lights (send, receive) are solid, but I am unable to connect to the Internet. Everything is setup to automatically detect settings, which is the way it was before I reformatted.

Any ideas? I have called Charter "support", and they had no help for me.

 

[mechBgon]

Unless your WinXP CD has Service Pack 2 or your modem is equipped with a built-in NAT/Firewall (some are, but not most), you should probably back up, unplug from the network cable, and start over using this approach. Personally, I'd slap a router between the modem and the computer for initial firewall protection, but that'll set you back about $40-ish (Netgear RP614 for example).

If you need Service Pack 2 from an offline source, call your local OfficeDepot, CompUSA, Best Buy or CircuitCity stores, I hear Microsoft keeps 'em stocked with free Service Pack 2 CD-ROMs to give away. SP2 patches the known worm vulnerabilities and enables the Windows Firewall, so your computer doesn't "take candy from strangers" through your modem behind your back.

 

[Rocket321]

Some cable companies will record your computers MAC address, so if you are using a new NIC chances are the cable modem is blocking you because its a different MAC. If not, you might want to give this a try anyway to see what happens.
Try this: open a browser window and type http://192.168.0.1
this should open the modem and give you the option to register your computer with the modem/cable company.