Need help with desktop ethernet connection.

I have a Motorola Surfboard cable modem that is connected to my desktop PC through a USB cable. I want to connect it through an Ethernet cable instead but whenever i do, the Internet/modem does not work as the "PC Activity" Light does not light up on the modem but the rest of the lights do.

What can I do to fix this so that i can use my modem through an Ethernet cable?

 

Have you tried powercycling or using the manufacturer's reset after plugging in the ethernet cable? A lot of cable modems I've run across seem to only give out an IP address to whatever computer(s) is/(are) connected when they first turn on.

 

Sorry for being a noob, but how do I do a powercycle or reset the modem?

 

To reset, there is a small pinhole on the back of the modem. Just take a paper clip and press into that pinhole for about 10 seconds.

To powercycle, unplug the power to the modem for about 5 minutes, then plug the power back in.

 

Ok so i should:

Insert the Ethernet cable into the modem and pc. Turn it off for 5 mins. Turn the pc and modem on and then press the reset button and see what happens?

 

Also if i do reset the modem will i have to "re-install" it and enter the MAC cide etc?

 

Don't reset until you've tried powercycling, just in case there IS configuration information in the modem, because a reset will wipe out any data entered after the modem shipped from the factory. Leave your computer on while you're powercycling, though, and you should see your computer try to acquire an IP address once the modem cycles back up.

 

Ok so i should do this:

Turn on my pc, but not the modem, insert the ethernet cable into the ethernet port in the modem. Wait 5 mins and then turn on the modem?

BTW you've been really helpful so far so you earned some rep already

Edit: I think i've found the problem, on Device manager it says the Ethernet controller is not installed corretcly and that i need to install the cd that came with my pc but i cant find any of those cd's! What should i do?

 

That's pretty much it . And if that doesn't do it, call your ISP first to make sure that resetting the modem isn't going to clear out any important settings, but then try resetting the modem.

 

Man i im really unlucky. Basically there is no reser button anywhere on the modem and the device manager has an "!" on the Ethernet port. It says that I need to install the cd that came with my pc but i cant find any of those cd's! What should i do?

 

Ah...that explains a lot, actually. Did you build your PC or buy it? If you bought it, check your manufacturer's website for drivers. Just download and install the LAN/Ethernet driver and you should (hopefully) be good to go.

 

Well i brought the pc from Dell like 5 years ago. I re-installed windows ariound 3 years ago. I went to the dell website and i found that apparantly if i didnt install the chipset drivers before the others then downloading the drivers is useless as it wont recognise them.

From the download page which driver should i download:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8250&hidos=WW1&hidlang=en


According to the guy in the below link its the Intel/100 driver:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...r&message.id=340195&c=uk&l=en&cs=ukdhs1&s=dhs

Is he right?

 

Check the back of your desktop: is the ethernet port in a card slot or is it bunched together with things like your USB, audio, keyboard, and mouse inputs?

If it's bunched together, I'd say it probably is the Intel driver. Otherwise, it is probably the Broadcom Gigabit driver.

 

Its all bunched toghther with the USBs and other ports so im gonna try the Intel driver and post up what happens.

 

Update:

So i installed the Intel driver from the link belowand whenever i go to the Device manager and expand "Network" it now says "Intel PRO/100 M Network Connection", instead of "Ethernet controller driver" as it said before. Under this it says "Motorola Surfboard SB5100 USB Cable Modem#2" (which is my cable modem).

Now i tried using the modem with the Ethernet port instead of USB but it still does not work and the Ethernet port light on the back of the pc does not come on. I think that as in the Device Manager it says "USB Cable Modem" maybe it only has software that allows only a USB connection?

What am i doing wrong? ANY help would be grateful

 

You may need to contact your ISP. It's been a while since I've done internet support, but, from what I understand about broadband modems, they can work one of two ways: ethernet or USB. Ethernet is plug-and-play 90% of the time (the other 10%, it requires a static IP address to be set up, but the computer still recognizes that it is plugged in). USB requires installation of drivers and can be flaky, depending on the modem.

On some modems, only one connection can be used AT A TIME (but either is capable of being used). On some modems, both USB and ethernet can be used simultaneously. If you unplug the USB cable from your computer AND modem, then hook up ethernet, does the ethernet LED on the back of your computer light up?

 

Ill try that within a few hours. Whats weird is that when i tried connecting my wireless router through Ethernet (which is why i want my modem working through ethernet in the 1st place), the light comes on but when i just put the Ethernet cable into the oc and modem it does not come on. Maybe i damged the port itself when ejecting the wire?

 

That is certainly a possibility. What happens if you hook your desktop up to your wireless router via ethernet?

 

Ok so i have tried hooking up the Wirelss router to my PC by Ethernet and the light at the Ethernet port on the PC lights up.

 

In that case, can you hook the surfboard up to your wireless router and plug the desktop in via ethernet to the router? If not, it sounds like there may be a problem with the Surfboard's ethernet port, so you may want to contact your ISP.

 

Ok so the connections are supposed to be like this:

-Modem to wireless router in the WAN port (by ethernet)
-Wireless Router to PC (in Ethernet port)

I have done this and the Ethernet light is on (on the Ethernet port on the PC) but when i try to set it up it says "Cable not inserted in WAN port". Thats the same cable that connects the Wireless Router and modem together. So i think your right when you said the Modem may be faulty.

Im gonna call my ISP tommorow so I can get my modem replaced. Thanks for your help

 

Bump, Thain do you think what i written above is true?

 

@Manzi:

Sorry for not responding sooner. Yes, I do think what you wrote above is correct. There is clearly something wrong with the modem's ethernet connection, and the tests you have done should be sufficient to any ISP that the computer and the wireless router are both functional.

 

Thanks for the response, lol ur under no situation to say sorry as its not like im paying you, ur just a good guy helping a stranger out

Ill call my ISP now so that i can arrange for my modem to be replaced.

 

Update:
So i received my new modem and after activating it, the modem worked via an Ethernet connection. So i then ran the Wirelss router setup and within 10 minutes i was up and running.

Thx for your Help Thain, its been quite a mission for me to get this ti finally work LoL

Thx for ur time

 

Cheers! I was happy to help