# Cable Modem grumblings **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149 "2005-04-26T14:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149/1 "2005-04-26T14:10:41Z")
We just got high-speed internet through our local cable provider. I ran the install disk, everything went fine; finally got the wireless router connected. Now, my IE bar proudly proclaims “- Internet Explorer provided by Cox High-Speed Internet” and the Cox logo appears in the upper right corner of the window, at the same level as the menu bar. Uh, no, in fact it _isn’t_ provided by Cox - I had IE before, and I’m not using my cable modem right now - I’m at _work_, for cryin’ out loud. This isn’t (AFAIK) causing any problems, I’m just massively annoyed at their effrontery. Anyone know any way to make that go away? A more pressing concern though is: my laptop now takes _much_ longer to boot up than it did before I ran that install disk. What sort of things do those cable providers _do_ to these machines, anyway? Unlikely to be any new spyware due to the always-on connection, as we’ve got zonealarm, the router has encryption turned on, and we simply haven’t had it on much at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149/2 "2005-04-26T14:45:14Z")
If the cable modem attaches to your computer by means of an ethernet cable, then you probably don’t need the install disk at all (at least not now the cable modem has been configured) - it should just plug in and _work_ - you might find that running a system restore will remove the branding (and anything else they might have quietly installed). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149/3 "2005-04-26T14:57:58Z")
Thanks - I’ll see about a system restore as one option, maybe I’ll check some of the fora mentioned in the sticky for ways to track down the garbage that has apparently been installed. I actually didn’t need the install disk to get going - it did in fact work nicely just by plugging it in. I wound up running it out of frustration when I had trouble getting the wireless router working. And _that_ turned out to be a problem with crappy, user-surly setup documentation and procedures on the part of the router manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149/4 "2005-04-26T15:01:43Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > We just got high-speed internet through our local cable provider. I ran the install disk, everything went fine; finally got the wireless router connected. > > Now, my IE bar proudly proclaims “- Internet Explorer provided by Cox High-Speed Internet” and the Cox logo appears in the upper right corner of the window, at the same level as the menu bar. Uh, no, in fact it _isn’t_ provided by Cox - I had IE before, and I’m not using my cable modem right now - I’m at _work_, for cryin’ out loud. This isn’t (AFAIK) causing any problems, I’m just massively annoyed at their effrontery. Anyone know any way to make that go away? > > A more pressing concern though is: my laptop now takes _much_ longer to boot up than it did before I ran that install disk. What sort of things do those cable providers _do_ to these machines, anyway? Unlikely to be any new spyware due to the always-on connection, as we’ve got zonealarm, the router has encryption turned on, and we simply haven’t had it on much at all. They give you a bunch of crap programs. I’ve set up a cable connection w/Cox. You didn’t need to use the installation disk. It _does_ make finding you email info somewhat easier, but that’s about it. Go ahead and set up your POP email program (Outlook possibly) before you uininstall Cox’s Crappy Crap. It should be listed in you add/remove programs dialogue. You should be able to simply uninstall the program from there. You’ll have to make sure that your browser’s correctly configured. But, that’s not hard and prob’ly won’t be changed by you uninstalling their programs. Start menu -\> Control Panel -\> Add/Remove Programs -\> Cox Crappety Crap In IE you’ll just need to make sure that you’re set to connect via LAN Tools -\> Internet Options -\> Connections Click/check ‘never dial a connection’ Click the ‘LAN Settings’ button and make sure that only the ‘Automatically Detect Settings’ button is checked. You should be good. Good Luck ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-grumblings/301149/5 "2005-04-26T15:10:46Z")
Uninstalling their software will not typically remove branding from IE, but there are ways to do it: [http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=remove+branding+from+ie&meta=](http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=remove+branding+from+ie&meta=)