Hello nelclaret and paws,
Please pardon my intrusion at this point.
I have recently dealt with two similar situations for customers where all either customer did (the change that led to the problem), was to physically relocate the computer from one room to the next. (no long cables involved, and no change of ISP service) (The ISP in both cases is AT&T with domains of @sbcglobal.net) (one modem was 2wire USB connected and the other was SpeedStream ethernet CAT6 connected)
The computer(s) initially functioned well, with ordinary connection to the internet, followed by "slowing" of internet responsivity, then slowing of connection sequence, then failed connection.
Interestingly, the computers continued to fail to establish internet connectivity, even when the customer(s) decided to move their machine(s) back to the original location. <-- at that point, I was called.
I pursued the same advice that I offered to you in my prior post (ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew) and "repair connection", as well as the additional - [Cmd – netsh winsock reset] and [Winsockfix XP <--the utility] And, of course, I checked to confirm that all Telephones were properly "filtered". But Alas, to no benefit.
In both cases, the Network Adaptor (one was RealTek, the other was D-Link) reported "working properly" in Control Panel. In one case Network Connections displayed "Limited or No Connection", but displayed connection speed "Connected at 100.0 Mbps" <--hmmm? The other was a Win98 machine and did not have options to display all of the above information, but had the same symptoms.
All of the above steps "presume" that the problem is with configuration that resides in the Computer.
I had taken a "known-good" dsl-modem with me to both residences. In both cases, my known-good" modem remedied the problem, restoring the expected DSL connectivity!
Therefore, faulty Modem hardware??? I was not willing to accept that, nor to put the customer to the expense and wait in obtaining a new Modem.
Diagnosis and Solution:
Dx: In both cases, the Modem(s) itself had lost "configuration".
Rx: Run the Modem's name-branded "Advanced Modem Configuration Utility".
In "most" cases, the DSL Modem will have a yellow sticker on the bottom of the modem itself.
That sticker will display a URL for "Advanced Modem Configuration" and a multi-digit alpha-numeric "Modem Access Code".
The URL is a "dummie" that does not require "live internet connection". It just communicates between the Computer and the Modem, in order to correctly "configure" and "register" the Modem.
For example:
SpeedStream DSL Modems use
http://192.168.0.1 to access a dummie page to configure the Modem using On-Screen provided prompts.
2Wire ADSL USB Modems use:
http://192.168.1.254/setup to configure the Modem using On-Screen provided prompts.
In either case, the owner/user may have to "supply' the Modem Access Code, from the printed sticker on the bottom of the Modem. The owner/user will also have to type in the correct "username" and "password" that was assigned when the owner/user received the subscribed DSL service and equipment. (usually your original ISP-based email address and password) (note: if the owner/user has changed the username/password information, then the newer information prevails)
You should be able to "reconfigure" your Modem, and quite possibly solve your present situation by accessing your Modem's Advanced Modem Configuration Utility as described above, then follow the on-screen prompts.
Note: Each "brand-name" of DSL Modem may use its own URL to access the Advanced Modem Configuration.
Note: Each DSL Modem has a unique Modem Access Code.
Note: If you do not find the necessary "sticker(s)" on the bottom of your DSL Modem, you can call your ISP tech assistance, ask for "connection problem" to get a tech.
The above, restored the problematic Modems in both of the above situations.
Hope this information assists you as well.
In your case, the "change" may have been "upgrading" the bandwidth. Subsequently, the original Modem configuration may have been sufficient for a while, but then degraded, or required "re-registration". It might not even have been anything to do with your machine and modem, but a change at the ISP. For instance, when they initially offered the "upgrade" they may have incorporated all old customers into the upgrade without need to "re-register" the Modem for the higher speed. Then later as they acquired more and more customers upgrading to the higher bandwidth, they may have installed their own upgraded modems at their end at the office site, and began treating all "upgrades" as "new", therefore requiring configuration and registration.
I'll bet the ISP techies have had a batch of similar problem calls. ..... or not.
Best Regards
Edit: Extra "advicy" recommendation. Some folks, facing this similar situation just resort to popping in the DSL installation CD that comes with the subscription and equipment. Doing so, "may" resolve the problem, but you will most likely be required to walk through the Advanced Modem Configuration anyway, as part of the CD driven installation protocol.
The "down-side" is that the CD installation protocol will attempt to give you a new version of IE and "will" install other "bloatware" including Efficient Networks Enternet300 and EnterNet Folder and EnterNet.exe, and probably Yahoo Browser Bloat and Toolbar, and some additional gimics and special offers.
My "advicy" recommendation: To keep your Machine lean, clean and well functioning, stick with the "Advanced Modem Configuration" and skip the bloatware from the CD.
Edited by dough, 16 February 2007 - 10:14 PM.