Help. My computer is turning off my cable modem.

Factual Questions
1

My cable modem is working fine and keeping the connection open without trouble. I am currently using it for my PS3 without incident.

When I turn my computer on, it resets the modem, which connects again for a few seconds and resets again, and again, and again in an endless loop.

If I connect the computer to the modem through a router, it doesn’t reset it, but it won’t connect to the internet.

The problem started all of the sudden without me having reset the computer or the modem or visited any dubious website or having installed any software in quite a long time.

Help?

In summary:

PS3 to modem: fine
PS3 to router to modem: fine
PC to modem: endless reset loop
PC to router to modem: no reset but doesn’t work.

This once happened before. After a couple days of not using the PC (which is always connected directly to the modem with no router), I tried to connect through the router and it worked. After a few days of going through the router, I took it off and it kept working fine. Now after a few months passed, I am having trouble again.

2

Have you tried a different cable to connect the PC to the modem and/or router?

3

There are two different cables that I choose haphazardly, so I could not discount the possibility of a bad cable, although it would be some rotten luck on my part (which makes this very likely, btw).

Will fetch a new cable from the closet and try.

4

I’m not familiar with PS3s and how they are wired for ethernet. If at all possible, I would swap the two cables. This will be the quickest way to see if the problem follows the cable.

5

I just tried 3 different cables. Same problem with all.

The PS3 just has an ethernet port in the back identical to the one on the PC.

6

Okay, I’d have to say the problem is most likely with the ethernet port on the PC.

Sadly, chances are it’s soldered to the motherboard. My recommendation would be to get an ethernet card and hope that the chances that it’s something bigger to do with the motherboard are in your favor.

Unless you’re in the market for a new motherboard anyway, of course. :slight_smile:

7

Well, if that is the case, then luck is on my side this time, as the computer is still under warranty. It is still a hassle and it sucks, but hey!

8

Ethernet cards are cheap. Unless you’ve an onsite warranty it’s not worth the hassle for sending it back.

9

QFT.

Especially since I’ve heard entirely too many horror stories about people who sent their computers in for service of some completely not-software-type problem and got it back with a re-formatted hard drive.

10

Oh yes. The terror of losing not my data, which is well backed up, but all the installations of my software is a scary one and one that I am keeping in mind.

That said, I am not sure my PC has room for a card. It is one of those compact form factors. It has 2 half-height card plates in the back, though. One is used with what looks like a modem card but the other seems empty. Will have to open and see.