OK, so I bought a new laptop Friday evening. It’s a fairly high end gaming machine, an Acer 8930G. Lots of gigabytes and hertz, and other fancy stuff.
Unfortunately, it uses Vista.
Problem is, the damn thing refuses to stay online. I connect via a cable modem through the ethernet port. The first time I got online with it, the connection lasted a couple of hours. Since then, each connection lasts less time. I’m down to maybe 10 minutes per connection now. Often, when it disconnects while I’m in the process of downloading a game update (City of Heroes, if it matters), the whole machine will lock up…sometimes I can unfreeze it by using the task manager to end program on everything that’s running, sometimes I can’t even reboot without unplugging the machine and removing the battery. The laptop doesn’t seem to like it when I do that. I generaly can’t re-establish an internet connection without some type of reboot.
I use same moden with my desktop, connected through a usb port. The desktop uses XP, and will stay online…but also seems to lose the connection fairly often. It makes the “Ba-dum” sound and seems to pause for a bit…mouse pointer won’t move for a few seconds…then it resumes the connection and works normally.
It’s Sunday afternoon, so not much is open here…Walmart is my best bet. I’m wondering if the problem is possibly that the cable modem is dying? It’s a Scientific Atlanta, made in March, 2007. If I try to connect the laptop through the USB port, I get an error message saying the laptop can’t find the modem driver. The install disk on the modem has only XP drivers on it. When I connect through the ethernet port, it doesn’t use any drivers…or at least I do not get the error message.
Also considering getting a router, and trying to use the laptop in wireless mode. They laptop is a toy…primarily intended for playing WoW and CoH.
Since you are losing connection on the desktop as well, I’d be looking at the modem and Internet connection first.
Was the modem supplied by the cable company? Do they have an online support section? It may be a known issue fixed by a driver/firmware update (though this would more often be the case for routers).
If it is the modem/connection, getting a standard wireless router is not going to fix it if you are just going to daisy chain it into the modem, but it may mean your laptop will deal with the connection losses better than it currently does, much like your desktop.
You can probably (but not necessarily) replace the modem with one that is also a wireless router, or just replace the modem like you say.
Best bet is to check with your cable company first.
For the most part Vista is pretty intuitive re making net connections (more so than XP) so Vista, as an OS, is typically not an impediment to making net connections.
If you call your ISP they can usually check to see if the modem is getting a strong signal. The easiest way to check your notebook is to go to a wireless enabled cafe or public place to see whether the notebook has connection issues with other net service providers.
Is your router also wireless? If so have you tried the wireless connection? You might also try unplugging and then resetting your router (assuming it has a reset button).
If the desktop is also having bellyaches with it I’d first suspect the connection quality/wiring then the cable modem. Try a new one it can’t hurt. Check your bill to make you’re you’re not renting the modem. If you are the cable company will provide a new one free.
I don’t actually have a router yet. Was thinking of running to Walmart to get one if people thought that would help. May get one anyway, to avoid the onerous wire switching and such when moving between computers.
I did try the online support from my ISP (Comcast)–at the time, I was still trying to get online by connecting through the USB port, and they said to do the ethernet port instead, to avoid the need for the modem drivers. That did get me online, but then I ran into the new problem. Think I’ll hit up the onine support thing again. No way I could get a new modem from Comcast today…I will ask about getting one tommorrow. Would really like to resolve this asap…by tommorrow at the latest, because I’m leaving town for the holidays on Tuesday, won’t be back until late Saturday.
It’s frustrating to have a shiny new toy I can’t really play with…the laptop should make a huge difference in my WoW play…lots of memory and better video should help some lag issues I’ve been having.
OK, just got done chatting with Comcast support. They seem to think swapping the modem is the way to go, so I’ll be doing that tommorrow.
The guy I talked to asked if I needed anything esle…so I asked him to come main tank a Kara run. Turns out he’s a Hordie. We ended the chat with him wishing the Dark Lady watch over me, and me going Trinket + AP + PoM Pyro @ Dark Lady.
Cable modems are sold at retail and are not that expensive. If you are paying $3 or so month to comcast for a rented modem it might make sense to get your own. Motorola’s tend to be very popular and are sold at Circuit City and elsewhere. Having said this if all the PCs are working right, in my experience it’s usually a signal quality issue vs a cable modem failure the large majority of the time.