Thanks a lot, Time Warner!

[doctorwho]

My cable modem appeared to die on me on Monday. I had difficulty locating a replacement, which took until Wednesday and I was too tired to deal with it then. So Thursday I called them after work to set up the new cable modem. After the first tech support person could not get it to work, she forwarded me to the next level of support. After 38 total minutes on the phone, the tech found out (I believe by calling someone else) that some server was down and that the broadband service was not working, period. He said to call back on Friday. So I did, only to hear in the greeting message something like this: "If you are calling about your high-speed Internet service, we are aware of the problem and are working on it." ARGH!

I haven't tried today, but it didn't look good this morning (modem was still locked up).

I would think that a company like them would have redundant (backup) systems, or am I expecting too much from them?

Bottom line: I will be off-line unless I come into work (where I am right now) and access the Internet from here.

[collin]

I hear ya Gary! I'm in Orange County and use T.W too....unfortunately they are the only company that provides service in my area, so I have to deal with the interruptions. This week there has indeed been many. Spent hours on the phone with support earlier this week. yeesh!

[jdogric12]

m-o-n-o-p-o-l-y

[dlandau]

I switched from TW to Verizon in August. Not so much for internet but for the HD. Time Warner's Cable boxes are junk. Had to replace them 4 times. What a difference in picture!

[rickenbrother]

I hope you get your internet connection fixed soon, Gary!

Another example that shows how customer service of most large companies has taken a nose dive!

[whojamfan]

m-o-n-o-p-o-l-y

I know that all too well, my little cable company doesn't offer internet. I can only get it through the phone line, and have to pay a stupid amount just to have the phone(which we never use)just to use their overpriced modem. As soon as my little cable company decides to offer internet, the phone goes out the window!

[doctorwho]

Still out last night with the above-referenced voice message, but I called just now and the message is gone ... but my modem was still locked up before I came into work.

[doctorwho]

Back up and running this morning with a replacement TW modem but with typical computer goofiness. The modem I bought still had all four lights lit, and the computer did not see it ('a network cable is unplugged'), but the old modem (which I think is actually non-functioning) was seen as connected, but did not connect to the 'net. I think whatever screwed up TW may have taken out the modem and the on-board NIC. I'll try a spare PCI NIC later tonight and see whether that will work.

[doctorwho]

Forgot the NIC card, but what I don't understand is why the other desktop (a Dell) doesn't connect, either, and there isn't anything wrong with it. The laptop works the moment it's plugged in, but neither desktop works right. I don't understand.

[johnallg]

Gary, are the TCP/IP settings for the desktop NICs set to automatically get an address? If so, then go to Network and Dialup Settings and Disable, then Enable the NIC cards. See if that forces Windows to behave. It is feasible both desktop NICs are blown, especially if the notebook was not plugged in when the original problem developed.

[doctorwho]

Gary, are the TCP/IP settings for the desktop NICs set to automatically get an address? If so, then go to Network and Dialup Settings and Disable, then Enable the NIC cards. See if that forces Windows to behave. It is feasible both desktop NICs are blown, especially if the notebook was not plugged in when the original problem developed.

I had already tried that, but I will try it again ... one thing I did note was that the first number in the renewed IP addresses was different between the desktops and the laptop. I will also be taking one desktop to work to see whether it will work when plugged into the network there.

[fatcat]

From command prompt type ipconfig and see if that helps it connect to the modem.

[johnallg]

Gary, are the TCP/IP settings for the desktop NICs set to automatically get an address? If so, then go to Network and Dialup Settings and Disable, then Enable the NIC cards. See if that forces Windows to behave. It is feasible both desktop NICs are blown, especially if the notebook was not plugged in when the original problem developed.

I had already tried that, but I will try it again ... one thing I did note was that the first number in the renewed IP addresses was different between the desktops and the laptop. I will also be taking one desktop to work to see whether it will work when plugged into the network there.

Gary, the 192 was different?! That would be unique and cause the problem. They should all be 192.168.XXX.xxx where the XXX is the same across all three and the xxx is unique to each.

[doctorwho]

I added a router, and the desktop now connects with no problem!

Being that I originally had the computer plugged directly into the modem (no router in line), the IP address on the laptop was something other than 192.etc and after I read the router documentation, I realized that the IP address I saw on the desktop (when directly plugged into the modem) was one that is assigned automatically to a weak or non-functioning network connection.

It still doesn't explain why the desktop wouldn't work when plugged directly into the modem.

Thanks for the support, guys!