Internet Troubles

[Rapsven]

Okay, here is a list of my known problems:

1. CNN doesn't. When I type in the address, it "connects" just about instantly and even gives me the title head for the top of Firefox. Also, I can view parts of the source, but the actual page never loads onto my browser.

2. Can't connect to MSN messenger. Sometimes, and when I do, I stay on for about 10 seconds and then disconnect.

3. IRC servers are unresponsive or slow. I can join an IRC server, but I can't join any channels. My client is mIRC.

4. Can't connect to game servers. I can't connect to the Steam game network, I try to log into my account when I start up the Steam client, but it just tries to load and never does and then finally gives up.

I am not behind a router.
I am not behind a firewall.
I am not infected with a virus (I reformatted Sunday, just to make sure I didn't have anything).

When I went over to my friend's house with my computer to reformat, I tried visiting CNN there, and I could. I assume all my other problems were temporarily fixed when I was using his connection.

I think I might have a bad connection or modem. I've tried contacting tech support from Comcast (bunch of idiots) and they say everything is fine over there.

Any ideas?

 

[bigalt]

it sounds like you just have a flaky internet connection. Check that your cables aren't crimped, try to keep your modem away from wireless and high wattage electronic equipment. But most likely it's a problem on comcast's end.

Try pinging yourself, your gateway, your dns, and cnn or yahoo or something. That should give you some idea of where the breakdown in communication is coming from.

I've actually been having intermittent problems of a similar nature (you don't live in Seattle do you?), and basically I'm just trying to ignore it and call periodically until they fix the network.

 

[Rapsven]

CNN is the only website I've tried that doesn't respond to my pinging.

DNS works fine...

And I live in Georgia, with Comcast service.

This is REALLY pissing me off...maybe I should get a new modem...

 

[mechBgon]

I am not behind a router.
I am not behind a firewall.
I am not infected with a virus (I reformatted Sunday, just to make sure I didn't have anything).

If you're not behind a router or a firewall, and you reformatted Sunday, and you plugged your freshly-formatted, unfirewall-protected system into Comcast, your non-infected status might last less than one minute :evil:

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
[If you're not behind a router or a firewall, and you reformatted Sunday, and you plugged your freshly-formatted, unfirewall-protected system into Comcast, your non-infected status might last less than one minute :evil:

Usually, home users are saved because ISPs are blocking a lot of the troublesome ports. But, yeah, with no blocks, it's claimed that a new XP RTM install won't last more than twenty minutes on the 'Net without being infected by a worm. By the time you've downloaded the security updates, you'd already be infected.

 

[Rapsven]

Well, are there any worms that prevent people from playing games, visiting CNN, and going on MSN?

I'm just looking for a solution.

 

[Slikkster]

Is your cable modem split off from several TV feeds, too? In other words, does the cable going into your modem also feed other televisions in the house? You might be getting a poor signal into the cable modem. It may be something as simple as a poor/faulty splitter feeding the line that goes into your modem, or the section of cable going from the splitter to your cable modem.

Additionally, I would do this.

Open up a command prompt on your pc. I assume it's XP. At the command prompt, type: (without the quotation marks!):

"ipconfig /release" Make sure you put a space between "ipconfig" and "/release". Tap the enter key.

Now, don't do anything else and shutdown the pc after the command finishes.

With the PC off, pull the power connector on the cable modem for about 30 seconds or so; longer if you feel like it.

After that time has elapsed, reconnect your cable modem power connector first (PC is still OFF).

Once the cable modem totally syncs up (takes a minute or two), turn the pc back on and let it get an IP address from the modem.

See if your problem has gone away.

If not, I'd look into the splitter and/or the length of coax cable going to the modem from the splitter as a source of issues.

Also note that many sites do not respond to pings. That test is not useful.