Internet down

[KerryS]

After the storm on Tuesday evening here, the Internet died.

System:

ISP ntl Broadband via cable "modem"

cat 5 cable to WiFi router

cat 5 cable from router to NIC in PC

I waited about a day to see if it came back then called support to be told there was a local fault that should be cleared by Wednesday evening. It wasn't.

Tried again this morning and apparently the fault had been cleared but still no Internet access. Indian lady took me through various processes looking for the IP address. When wired as above, it gave an IP address but presumablythe lady knew this was a router. With the "modem" wired straight to PC no IP address was found - can't remember the error message something about media not found.

She then made me connect via the USB cable, which needed drivers installing because I have never used it this way before, and after re-booting the "modem" and the PC the Internet is back.

So either:

- the two cat5 cables I tried between "modem" and PC were duff

- the NIC card has gone phut

- the ethernet bit in the "modem" has gone phut

Rest of the machine seems fine; I use the desktop as a printer server via the WIFi router and, as originally wired, this worked OK, that is I could print from a wifi'd laptop. As it still didn't work though the ethernet connection when wired directly, I deduce it's not the router that's wrong.

What steps do I need to take to establish which of the three above - or any other option - it might be?

A NIC is fairly cheap, as are some cables. If the ntl box has gone partially phut, it's their property not mine.

Kerry S

[Richgm]

Have a look at Robin Walker's Site. It's what I always use when my NTL connection goes t-up.

Also IMHO using the nic and cat5 cable is by far the best setup.

[ballistichamster]

Same happened to my Wanadoo Broadband, ADSL died following the storms. Spoke to a really unhelpful, miserable moo at BT before being directed to 'Kevin' at the Wanadoo Broadband helpdesk in India.

After re-installing my modem twice, I was told it was a line problem that they would have to refer to BT!!  Worst thing was I had toleave my computer switched on for 48 hours so that BT could 'diagnose' the fault.

Was back on line 36 hours later... bl**** technology!