I Think I May Have Slowed Our Internet?

[SageRaziel]

The old computer was never unhooked from the router or the modem, which is what's got me confused. It works, then it didn't and nothing was unhooked or anything.

The old computer is hooked via USB to the cable modem. Then the wireless router is hooked to the cable modem.

Are you suggesting that I could completely unhook my modem and simply plug the router up???

The reason we needed the modem was for the cable line to hook into to provide internet.

~Sage Raziel

[Computer_Commando]

You can't use both the USB connection & the LAN connection on the cable modem, at the same time.  The router connects to the ethernet port on the modem, all computers connect to the router.  NO USB.

[SageRaziel]

Obviously there was a misunderstanding here...My Modem connects USB, the router connects to the Modem. No use in telling me that's not how it works because A.) The manual shows a nice big pretty picture of how it connects B.) I've had SuddenLink folks here before to fix something and they hooked it back up the same way it was before(USB) C.) It worked perfectly fine just how it's hooked up for the better part of 11 years.

My issue has to be some software or setting problem because I haven't unhooked or changed ANY hardware in any way shape or form in the past 11 years. All I did was wipe my old computer and restore it using the restore disc it came with. So I know nothing is hooked up wrong, just maybe set up wrong.

Anyway, thanks for trying. I'm not chewing you out(So please don't think I was trying to be hostile). I was simply trying to update you on my situation quickly. I may be misunderstanding you, the way I read that you were telling me I hooked it up wrong, or that what I had said was impossible.

Anyway, I've been reading most of the day through countless forums and links and thus far have found nothing. I did run a Network Diagnostics Test and nothing failed. When I do try to repair the connection it attempts to renew my IP address and then fails. The error message is a simple, "The IP Address Could Not Be Renewed" or something to that effect. I've ran cmd.exe and given the command ipconfig/all and it had no effect on my problem.

I am entirely clueless on how to fix this. I have internet on all my other devices, so it's not crucial I fix this(As I went 9 years without ever turning the old PC on), but after investing so much time into it I feel it would be a waste to give up now. Any suggestions on what to do next would be great.

Thanks again to everyone who has posted here trying to help me out. I really do appreciate ALL the posts.

~Sage Raziel

[rthompson80819]

I'm still not entirely clear on how you have everything hooked up.

A single computer can be hooked up to a USB port on a cable modem.  There are a few USB routers, but they are few and far between.  The router should only be hooked to the cable modem with a ethernet cable.  No USB involved.  From the router either ethernet cables or wireless should be used.

And personally, even with a single computer and cable modem involved I would go with ethernet everytime over USB.

[Sleepyjohn]

Sorry to interupt and add my two cents worth;
But I wanted SAGERAZIEL to know that I agree with JASON2074.

SAGERAZIEL; your older computer (that you recently brought back into service) probably did not have all the current updates loaded on it (SP2 or SP3).  Perhaps it had NOT even (never) been configured to work on this local router?
But, as JASON said, you should have been able to plug the ethernet cord into that old computer, and into the router to establish internet connectivity.  It does have an ethernet port in it, doesn't it?

Now here are some basic facts:
1. that USB CABLE connector is only going to give you a 10MB connection speed between the Router and that computer.
2. The ETHERNET (wired) cable will allow a 100MB connection speed between the router and the computer.
3. The WIRELESS connection's maximum connection speed is 54MB. (Many times it is even slower)
Think of these connection speeds like driving speeds (MB=MPH) and you might understand this easier.
Do you want to "drive down" the information highway at 10mph, 54mph, or 100mph?


Are you still with me?  These are just the connection speeds to connect EACH COMPUTER to the ROUTER.
YES; they can all be going at different SPEEDS as they connect into your ROUTER.
Your ROUTER is then connected to the DSL Modem or CABLE modem.  Think of your ROUTER as a FUNNEL.
All your computers (whether Ethernet, USB, or Wireless -at different speeds- are all funnelled together into that ONE CABLE/DSL MODEM.

What speed did your cable company tell you that you have coming into the house? 
Is it the cheap/easy/basic 1.5MB speed?  Did you upgrade to the 3MB. 6MB, or 12MB speed?
YES, they charge more for faster connections!

JASON2074 was correct to tell you to get rid of the USB cable.  That is ancient technology (at least 10+ years old).
YOU were correct that powering down your old computer allowed the other computers to connect at a faster speed.
(again; think of the funnel.  Or think of the slow folks in front of you as you merge onto the freeway each morning)
Am I making any sense for you?
Hopefully, I was able to explain this in a manner that informed you without insulting you.

Best regards in your future computing,

Sleepyjohn

[SageRaziel]

I updated to Windows XP service pack 3 the day after I restored the computer. I installed both SP2 and SP3. I don't wish to be rude, but please guys stop telling me to switch hardware or from USB...My point here is I KNOW without the shadow of a doubt it DOES work the way I have it set up because it's worked that way for 11 years. It's kind of like you putting gas in your car and driving it for 11 years with no problem, then all of a sudden people are telling you that that doesn't work and that you have to put water in the gas tank instead.

I have no other way to hook this stuff up, I ONLY have the stuff it came with. Once again; Cable Modem is hooked to PC, Wireless Router is hooked to Cable Modem. I have internet from the Router at normal speeds. The issue is the computer those two devices are hooked to does not have internet. (It did for 11 years on this setup though). So, without telling me to go and buy new stuff or to unhook my modem from USB(That's the only way I can hook it up as my internet comes from Cable hooked to the modem).

Okay, now I know my issue has to be some kind of setting, or software, or configuration, or driver or something of that nature. Any more suggestions on a fix?

[SageRaziel]

Oh yes, it should be noted that my wireless router is not hooked up by USB. The Modem itself is.

[jason2074]

Are there available ethernet ports for the wireless router? Just to be clear, a USB port is not an Ethernet port. And your modem has both.

[SageRaziel]

I know USB and Ethernet are different. My wireless router connect via ethernet. I will post some pictures of my set up later so everyone here can see exactly how I'm set up, but I tell ya even if my setup is wrong it works as it worked perfectly fine for 11 years...

Anyway, I'll post back here with links to the pictures. I'll be uploading to DeviantArt so you can all see my setup.

Thanks for all the help guys.

~Sage Raziel

[Computer_Commando]

Setup is on P.11
http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/userguides2/4005527.pdf

[SageRaziel]

Thank you for posting that. I looked into it and that is exactly how mine is hooked up. Now everyone telling me it isn't supposed to use USB can go and see what I'm talking about. So according to that manual I have all the hardware set up perfectly...Yet it still is not allowing internet to the computer its hooked to, thought wireless is working fine for all other devices.

[Computer_Commando]

I suspect there is an IP conflict between the address the modem is giving to the USB computer & the IP address the router is giving to one of the other computers.  The easiest & best way to determine this is to remove the USB connection & connect that computer to the router.  If you will notice in the diagram, it's an ethernet hub & not a router.  Hubs don't issue IP addresses, routers do.  Take my advice or not, it's your choice.

[jason2074]

READ the manual on page 12,  TO INSTALL THE CABLE MODEM.

Instruction number 2 - Connect your PC to either the ethernet port or the USB port using the appropriate data cable. DO NOT connect to both the ethernet and USB ports at the same time.

Are there available ethernet ports for the wireless router?

[SageRaziel]

Computer_Commando I will try it tomorrow but I'm clueless as to how I'll be getting internet if I unhook my modem and simply hook my computer straight to the wireless router....Considering my internet comes through our cable line into the cable modem and then from there goes to the PC and wireless router, but if everyone here insists I unhook my modem from USB(as everyone has suggested) I suppose I'll do it. I will ignore that it has worked the way it's set up for 11 years and simply try the proposed idea because at this point I don't believe anyone can figure it out if I don't unhook the modem to prove that using just the wireless router will not work. Though I desperately hope I'm wrong and it somehow does magically work(Because my goal here is still to get this situation fixed).

Thanks for all the help guys. Tomorrow morning(As it's insanely late here) I will be trying to remove my modem from my computer and hooking up my router directly to the PC via ethernet cable. I'll post results here assuming the above action doesn't completely destroy my entire network connection.

Wish me luck. ^_^

~Sage Raziel

[Computer_Commando]

You're not "unhooking the modem from the pc".  The computers are connected to the router and the router is connected to the modem.  That's the way everybody in the world does it.  The USB connection on the modem is only there as a convenience to those that have no ethernet connection on their computer.  It's a carryover from earlier times when pc's had USB & no ethernet (about the year 2000), & is being eliminated.  The latest Motorola Surfboard modems have no USB connection.

You said earlier:  "It's kind of like you putting gas in your car and driving it for 11 years with no problem, then all of a sudden people are telling you that that doesn't work..."

Try using unleaded gasoline in a 40 year old car.  You'll damage the engine.
The valve seats needed the lead.  Newer engines have hardened valve seats.