Cable Modem Troubleshooting Tips

Intro & Index.
Update history.
Installer issues.
Registration issues.
Network setup.
Mobile setup.
Cable Modem LEDs.
IP addresses.
MAC addresses.
Dead connection.
System updates.
Network tweaks.
Ethernet issues.
USB issues.
Surfboard tips.
CM diagnostics.
CM config file.
CM tech info.
DHCP issues.
DNS issues.
Web proxy issues.
Streaming media.
Gaming issues.
P2P file-sharing.
SETI@home issues.
Faster web browsing.
Faster downloads.
Simul down/uploads.
Swapping PCs on CM.
PCs sharing CM.
Simul dialup & CM.
VPN issues.
Time sync.
Virus security.
Firewall security.
Speed testing.
Latency issues.
Traceroute.
Packet loss.
FrontPage tips.
NTL/BY Tech Support.

System updates and patches

Some system updates and fixes are important for use of cable connections. Now that you have a broadband connection, you can afford to download updates and fixes that previously would have been too time-consuming. To find out the version and sub-version of operating system you are using:

Windows: click Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click System. The long version number is shown under the Microsoft Windows name.
Apple Mac: click on the desktop to bring the Finder to the front. Pull down the Apple menu, select About This Computer, look at the Version string.

Windows 95

Windows 95 has some serious deficiencies with networking that need to be fixed for satisfactory use of a broadband service. All the updates and patches are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/.

If you are running the original Windows 95, 4.00.950 (with no suffix A, B, or C), then before anything else, you should apply Windows 95 Service Pack 1. This will take you to version 4.00.950A.

With Windows 95, versions 4.00.950A or B or C, apply:

Windows Socket 2 Update, which incorporates many important TCP/IP network improvements and fixes, without which you will have problems on the cable system. This update must be applied before others below.
Dial-Up Networking 1.4 Upgrade: more TCP/IP improvements, including the earlier DUN 1.3 and Year 2000 fixes, making it unnecessary to apply those first.

If your version of Internet Explorer is 3.x, you should download a newer version.

Then apply all the Critical Updates listed on the Downloads page in chronological order for security fixes. Note that the Windows Update site no longer supports Windows 95.

Windows NT 4

All the updates and patches are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsnt/downloads/.

Apply Service Pack 6a, then apply the latest cumulative Security Update, then any single Security Updates more recent than the cumulative one.

The Windows Update facility is available to NT users who have applied Service Pack 3 or higher and Internet Explorer 4.01 SP2 or higher.

Windows 98/ME

Win98 only (not WinME) users: apply Dial-Up Networking 1.4 Upgrade, for some TCP/IP improvements.

Both Win98 and WinME users: go to Windows Update (click Start, Windows Update). Click Product Updates. Apply all Critical Updates. Repeat regularly.

Windows 2000

Go to Windows Update (click Start, Windows Update). Click Scan for updates. Apply all Critical Updates and Service Packs. Repeat regularly. Also, with effect from Service Pack 3, open control panel Automatic Updates:

Check Keep my computer up to date;
Choose your preferred setting for automatic updates;
Click OK to close Automatic Updates.

Windows XP

Go to Windows Update (click Start, All Programs, Windows Update). Click Scan for updates. Apply all Critical Updates. Repeat regularly. Also:

Right-click My Computer, select Properties (or open control panel System);
Click tab Automatic Updates;
Check Keep my computer up to date;
Choose your preferred setting for automatic updates;
Click OK to close System Properties.

Windows Update (all except 95, NT, XP)

It is strongly recommended that you visit the Windows Update site, click Product Updates, and install Windows Critical Update Notification, which will check for new critical updates daily. For Windows 2000, with effect from Service Pack 3, the Critical Update Notification is superseded by the Automatic Update control panel.

Apple Mac OS 8.5

Update free to Mac OS 8.6 at http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n60283.

Apple Mac OS 8.6

Apply Font Manager Update 1.0 from http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n60444. This fixes a frequent crashing bug in 8.6.

Apple Mac OS 9.x

Pull down the Apple menu, select Control Panels, and open the Software Update control panel. Apply all listed updates. Repeat until no further updates shown. Repeat regularly.

Apple Mac OS X

Pull down the Apple menu, select System Preferences...; click Software Updates; click Update Now.

Microsoft updates for Apple Mac:

Apple Mac OS (versions 7.6.1 to 8.0)

Update to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 from http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/ie/ie50.asp. All earlier versions of IE for Mac have trouble with some secure web sites.

Apple Mac OS (versions 8.1 to 9.x)

Update to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 from http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/ie/ie51.asp. This version works better then 5.0 with transparent web proxy caches.

Apple Mac OS X

Update to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2 from http://www.microsoft.com/mac/DOWNLOAD/IE/ie52.asp.

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