Posting from the library, question about the internets...

[smokymountainrain]

I didn't want to post this as I really don't want to show my extreme ignorance about all things computer related, but I'm desperate and don't want to use the library for this anymore...

My home internet doesn't work right now. My internet service is through comcast. They tell me everything looks good and from their end it should be working - that the problem is with my router. Nothing happened to my router (that I'm aware of), yet as of yesterday morning, I can't get the internet to work.

Can too much porn simply shut down the internet like that?

Do routers wear out? What else should I be checking?

[Coach McGuirk]

I didn't want to post this as I really don't want to show my extreme ignorance about all things computer related, but I'm desperate and don't want to use the library for this anymore...

My home internet doesn't work right now. My internet service is through comcast. They tell me everything looks good and from their end it should be working - that the problem is with my router. Nothing happened to my router (that I'm aware of), yet as of yesterday morning, I can't get the internet to work.

Can too much porn simply shut down the internet like that?

Do routers wear out? What else should I be checking?

what have you done so far?

[smokymountainrain]

what have you done so far?

Called comcast and told them about it.

[Donuthole]

Called comcast and told them about it.

The correct response was "Asian, Teen, hadn't really tried Animal stuff yet"

[Coach McGuirk]

The correct response was "Asian, Teen, hadn't really tried Animal stuff yet"

Yes, this is the correct answer.


Try unpluging the router and refreshing the DNS.

Is your computer connecting wirelessly?

[DU Ute]

Called comcast and told them about it.

Wow, you really don't know anything about computers.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I assume you have at least reset your router by unplugging it?

[smokymountainrain]

Yes, this is the correct answer.

<hangs head in shame>

Try unpluging the router and refreshing the DNS.

Is your computer connecting wirelessly?

I did unplug the router and plugged it back in, but what is the DNS?

It is connecting wirelessly. That's why I thought it was a Comcast issue.

[smokymountainrain]

I assume you have at least reset your router by unplugging it?

Yes. That did nothing.

[smokymountainrain]

Okay, since I'm getting the sense that I'm screwed, just answer one question...I'm being told that I probably need a new router - that the old one is no longer good...That just doesn't sound right to me. Is it possible that a new router is the solution?

[beelzebabette]

Okay, since I'm getting the sense that I'm screwed, just answer one question...I'm being told that I probably need a new router - that the old one is no longer good...That just doesn't sound right to me. Is it possible that a new router is the solution?

You should at least take the ethernet cord from the router and plug it into the laptop so you're corrected directly to the cable modem. If that works, then you know the problem is the router.

If it's the router, there's a lot of things you can try before you buy a new one. Update the software, e.g., but there's a lot of people here that could walk you down that path.

[smokymountainrain]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[statman]

What is the make/model of your router?

Also, what type of OS are you using on your desktop/laptop? (I'll presume some variant of Microsoft's Windows.)

The first thing I would try is to eliminate the router from the equation... turn off the wireless NIC in your computer and connect an Ethernet cable directly from Comcast's cable modem into your desktop/laptop computer. Refresh the IP connection and see if you get an assigned IP address from Comcast. If you are getting a connection and can access the Internet unfettered, then there is a problem with your router and skip the next paragraph....

If you don't get a connection, then be sure to check the computer's TCP/IP properties to see if the "auto assign IP address" and "auto assign DNS" options are selected. If those options were already selected, then the problem is on Comcast's end and can be one of two things: 1) your modem has gone bad, or 2) the MAC Address on your network card is no longer listed in Comcast's ACL. Since Comcast (presumably) tested the cable modem's WAN interface, it must be an authentication problem. Find out what your MAC Address is and call Comcast and explain the problem and your presumption that the MAC Address is no longer authenticating. The MAC Address should be listed on the outside of your desktop/laptop somewhere, but you can also get it from a cmd prompt (click on "Run->" and type cmd) using the "ipconfig" command... the MAC Address is also probably buried in the Windows GUI for your wired network card somewhere but I can't remember exactly where. (I run Linux or I'd check for you.) So anyway, call up Comcast with your MAC address and ask that it be added to their ACL for your account. Now you should be good to go.... however, your router (which has an entirely different MAC Address) will not be allowed to connect to the Comcast network without first masquerading your computer's MAC address. To masquerade, you'll have to clone your computer's MAC Address using the router's GUI. In which case....

Include the make and model number of your router.

good advice. That's how you figure it out...