Help! Cable modem connection issue

I keep having this very odd thing happen on my cable modem internet connection. some background–a larger cable company bought out my local cable company and converted recently and I didn’t have this problem until then. Overall the cable seems fine when it is up and running–however I keep having to reboot the cable modem several times a day to keep connected.

I contacted the cable folks and they replaced the modem but it didn’t change anything. The cable guy said that he felt it was someone using a backdoor to access my computer and that when I couldn’t get online it was because this ‘other’ person/computer was using my machine. He gave me a link to check the cable upstream and I always can get to that page–but then it won’t let me go anywhere else unless I reboot. How is that possible?

I have Norton and keep it updated and check weekly for viruses, and I have also installed Zone Fire wall—yet I still seem to be having this issue. I also use Spybot and Adaware and NONE of them show any issues on my computer–so I am not sure what is causing this.

I thought it might be that I had my computer set to hybernate when I am away from it–so I changed that. That seems to work during the day–I stay connected–however the next day I have the same problem!

But once I unplug the cable from the back of the modem and reboot the modem I typically am fine again for several hours–but if I leave the computer for any extended time it seems the modem goes to sleep.

So what could be causing this? Also how can I check to see if I have a ‘backdoor’ into my computer?
thanks
Hakuna Matata

The problem is more likely with your computer not coming out of hibernation correctly. The next time it happens, unplug the ethernet cable, shut the system down, plug the cable back in, and then power back up. See if that fixes it. If it does, just disable hibenate and be done with it.

Thanks Grave
however I have disabled hibernation–I thought the same thing. Seems logical and that seems to have fixed the problem for short periods–but overnight it still does this. And it isn’t going into hibernation at night just into screensaver. I disabled the hibernation a couple of days ago.

All I have now is a screensaver on the desktop. But this morning when I went to get on the internet, the same thing happened. But once I did what you stated it worked fine–but I have no doubt when I go home tonite that I will have the same problem.

Is there another spot to check for hibernation? I am pretty sure it is disabled, if I jiggle the mouse I am right back to my screen from the screensaver.

hakuna matata

Is this a laptop by any chance?

Also, what OS are you using?

It is a Sony Vaio desktop just purchased this last November. I have had the cable connection with Charter for several months–it has only been since Wavecable took over that I have had the issue.

I am running windows xp

hakuna matata

You don’t seem to have said whether you are connecting to the cable modem by USB or ethernet (mine supports both, although the USB connection is something of a kludge) - I’m assuming ethernet in your case.

Have a look in your device manager (on XP, right-click the ‘my computer’ icon, select properties, click the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button)

Expand the Network Adapters category
Right-click the entry for your network card
Select Properties
Click the Power Management tab
Uncheck ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’
Click OK

Might help

I’ve seen this issue on a variety of Liksys routers, do you have a new one perhaps? Have you updated the bios recently if so?

well I just tried this–lets give it a whirl. You are correct that I am using ethernet and that box was checked–so maybe it is just that simple. Will know by tomorrow morning
thanks again for your help

hakuna matata

okay now you have stepped outside my comfort zone since I read your response and have no idea what a Liksys router is! I didn’t update or install anything recently that sounded like that. Nor have I updated my bios (although I have heard of that word!).

I am hoping that Mangetout has the right solution–it seems logical in that it seems to do it overnight like it is going into hibernation mode.

thanks for you help though–if his trick doesn’t work, I may be back to ask you to explain your strange and foreign words!

hakuna matata

Your sytem BIOS may also have settings for power conservation features. Even if all the Windows power conservation setting are defeated, the BIOS level ones will continue to operate. Make sure all the BIOS level power conservation features are defeated as well.