If you can’t get any connection to the Internet, make sure that your DSL provider has set up your service. It’s not uncommon for users to install their modems only to find their phone companies or Internet service providers are a day or two behind them.

Of course it also helps to check the basics, too. Does your modem have power? Do you have a dial tone? If the answer to both those questions is yes, make sure the modem is correctly installed on your PC. Open the Device Manager by clicking Start and then right-clicking My Computer and choosing Properties from the context menu. Click the Hardware Tab followed by the Device Manager button. Now locate your modem in the equipment list. If you don’t see it, it’s not installed, and you’ll have to run the setup procedure outlined in your modem’s user guide.

If the modem appears but has a red “x” or a yellow question mark by its name, there was a problem with the modem’s installation. You have two options:

1) You can uninstall and reinstall the modem, or you can call your ISP’s help line, as they can help you tweak the modem’s advanced properties or download a firmware update. Sometimes new firmware can fix a faulty connection, go your the modem manufacturer’s website to search for new firmware or driver if any.

2) If your modem has two connection options, Ethernet and USB, try connecting it with the option you’re not using now.

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If your connection normally works fine but suddenly becomes slower than normal only to speed back up without any input from you, then it’s highly likely that you’re losing your DSL signal, due to a problem in your phone line or a problem in your modem itself.

Start by checking the lights on your DSL modem. Most often you’ll have a power light, a line status light, a connection light, and an activity light which blinks when your PC is downloading data. These lights may go by different names on your particular modem. The line light is often labeled Sync, Ready, DSL, ADSL, PPPoE, Status, Network, or Line. The connection light is often labeled Ethernet, USB, Link, or LAN.

If the line light is amber, red, or slowly blinking in any color, consult your modem’s user guide for the correct interpretation. Often it means there’s a problem between your modem and the phone line, or a problem in the phone line itself. If that’s the case, there’s a help desk call in your future, since there’s little you can do to fix your phone lines yourself.

You can, however, try using a different jack; sometimes merely switching jacks will clear things up.

If you can view a web site but it takes forever to download, try a different site. A good test site is www.google.com, which has white background amd very simple design, but to help it load quickly. (Big, splashy sites like CNN, Microsoft can load slowly on even the fastest modems because they have so much content and so many users.

If your downloads are glacial no matter where you go, reboot your PC and try again. If the problem persists, cycle the modem’s power. Start by turning it off, or simply unplugging it if there’s no on/off switch. Some USB modems draw their power from the computer they’re attached to, so you’ll have to detach the modem from the computer itself. Next, reboot your PC. Last, turn the modem back on, connect to the Internet, and test your download speed again.

Still slow? If your modem has a Reset switch, use it. A Reset switch is a small hole on the back of the modem’s case that can only be pressed with a paper clip, the tip of a sharp pencil, and so on. Be sure to reboot your system as well and then try to access a Web site.

If your Internet connection is still slow, check your system for spyware. Spyware can download huge amounts of data without your permission, clogging your connection or scotching it completely. Programs from Symantec, McAfee, TrendMicro and LavaSoft can scan and remove offensive code from your machine.

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Common DSL modem problems include no downloads, slow downloads, or downloads that freeze one second then crawl the next. Blinking lights on the modem, strange errors with unknown codes, loose cables, and router problems can mess things up, too.

Before you can fix your modem, you need to know what kind of modem you have. By and large, DSL modems come in two flavors: Ethernet and USB. An Ethernet modem connects to your computer using a standard network cable with RJ-45 jacks. To use an Ethernet modem, you’ll need to have a notebook or desktop with a network card, also called a network adapter. In contrast, USB modems connect to your computer through a USB port, and they tend to install without much fuss. Some modems offer you both Ethernet and USB connections.

You’ll also want some nuts-and bolts information such as your modem’s make and model, in case you need to contact the manufacturer. The simplest way to find this is to look on the modem itself. On the back of the modem, you’ll see a label with the manufacturer’s name and the modem’s model and serial numbers. If for some reason that’s missing, you can also get the information from the user guide that came with your modem, or even from Windows itself. In Windows XP, click Start, right-click My Computer, and click Properties. Click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button. You’ll see a list of all the hardware installed on your system. Click the plus sign next to Modems or Network Adapters to locate your DSL modem and then double-click its name for more information.

If you have a connection problem, you’ll know it at once. What you won’t know, sadly, is what’s causing it. Is it your modem? Your router? The ISP? It could be your phone jack or even a nearby microwave or cordless phone if you’re using a WiFi network. Because Microwaves, cordless phones, and even remote controls can play havoc with WiFi signals.

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A broadband connection such as cable is excellent for multiple computers connected to a wireless network. But it’s not uncommon for secondary PCs on a Wi-Fi network to have access problems while your main computer is still able to access the Internet through the cable modem. Although this isn’t a problem with your cable modem per se, you can often fix this problem by resetting your cable modem.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll also want to reset your wireless router and any wireless adapters you’re using on other PCs in your home. This means rebooting all your notebook computers and desktops connected to the network, as well as unplugging the power from your wireless router and plugging it back in. It may take a few minutes for all your wireless equipment to reset all the connections, but this will fix most wireless network problems.

Hopefully, the solutions to these problem scenarios can save you some lengthy phone calls with your cable service provider. It’s always better if you can troubleshoot a PC problem yourself. You save time and you always learn something in the process.

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Cable modem connections, like other always-on broadband connections, are vulnerable to outside attacks. While these are fairly rare for most users, it’s still good to protect yourself when you have broadband access.

First of all, make sure you’re running a software firewall. This application will prevent unwanted users from accessing your system. Windows XP has a firewall built in, so make sure it’s up and running. You can access it in the Control Panel by selecting Network and Internet Connections and then Windows Firewall. If you not prefer Windows firewall, the alternative is Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm is an excellent and free firewall.

You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t have File and Print Sharing turned on if you’re not sharing files or printers over a network. In Windows 2000/XP, open the Control Panel and then click Network and Internet Connections and then Network Connections. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties from the pop-up menu. In the window that appears, uncheck the box in front of File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and then click OK.

You should also have an antivirus application running to prevent infection or Trojan horse attacks. If you have antivirus software and your computer is acting suspiciously, run a full system scan to see if you’ve been infected. If you don’t currently have antivirus software installed, Grisoft’s AVG is an excellent and also free program.

If your cable modem is having problems maintaining a constant connection to the Internet, it could be because the signal isn’t strong enough. If you have a splitter on the coaxial cable line (a y-shaped device used to connect two cables to one main cable line), this could be weakening the signal. Make sure that your cable modem has a dedicated coaxial line.

Also, you’ll want to recheck all the connections to and from your modem and make sure that every cord is attached snugly. And it never hurts to reset the modem and reboot your computer. But if this intermittent connection goes on too long, you’ll need to contact your service provider. If the cable signal in the room where you have your cable modem isn’t strong enough, your service provider can add a signal booster that will beef it up so it’s strong enough for high speed data transfer.

More basic guide here.