My Broadband is Playing Up!

If things aren't working out for you then don't panic! Here is a list of common problems and their solutions plus, some tips on getting the most from your broadband connection.

I've installed my USB modem but I'm seeing flashing orange or yellow lights, rather than green lights. Why?
Sounds a little elementary. Make sure all the leads are connected to both the modem, the phone socket and the computer and then check the status again. Also ensure your phone connection is working by checking for a dial tone. Make sure that you haven't accidentally placed a microfilter on your ADSL modem. If none of these solve your problem, then your drivers may not have loaded for some reason. Unplug your modem, reboot and plug your modem back in. If there's still no joy, the network may be out. Call your ISP for a status report.

I can't connect, and my connection keeps dropping really quickly. What should I do?
Double check you're using the right username and password for your Internet configuration. Make sure you've got a microfilter on all your phone-based appliances bar the ADSL modem. That includes the Sky box, the answering machine and the fax machine. Check with your ISP about burglar alarms. Also, if you've got a new fax machine, check the manufacturer's site to see whether the unit is compatible with ADSL. Unplug your modem, reboot and plug your modem back in.

I keep losing my ADSL connection. It seems to happen most often if I pick up the telephone - and the line seems to be very noisy, too
Your telephone should be connected to a micro-filter, which ensures the frequencies used by the phone line don't clash with ADSL (In fact, unless you place one on the master socket, you'll need a separate micro-filter for every telephone extension in your home). If you're already using a micro-filter, then there's the possibility that it's faulty. Most ADSL modems comes with at least two, so check around before you buy more.

I get a PPP failure message and error 650, 718, 721 or 645. What should I do about this?
Make sure your line is working by testing for a dial tone on your phone. Unplug, reboot and plug in again to ensure the driver has loaded. If there's still no joy, don't discount the possibility of a faulty modem.

My Alcatel Speed Touch USB modem shows a red status light when I turn on my PC, and occasionally doesn't seem to power up at all. Even if it looks like it's working, I often find that I can't browse
The Alcatel Speed Touch modem requires 500mA of power, which could be too much for your PC. Disconnecting any other USB devices to the same hub might help, or you could try buying a new powered hub (but check that it can handle 500mA devices first). ADSL modems that seem to 'die' after a while, requiring a reboot before they work again, may also be suffering from a related power problem. Locate your ADSL modem in Device Manager (it should be listed under Network Adapters), and click on the Power Management tab (if available). Make sure that 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' is not selected, and your PC won't disable the modem at an inconvenient moment. There are also know to be problems when using the Speed Touch modem on a PC using a VIA chipset. If this is you, try installing the latest Via4in1 drivers and USB filter from VIA Technologies. Enabling a BIOS setting for enhanced chipset performance may also help, if you have it available.

Why does my modem seem to run slowly and the lights just fade out after a few minutes?
If you're running an AMD processor based computer, you might have problems based on a chipset issue. Some units use USB controllers that don't supply enough power to USB devices like your modem. A fix on the Microsoft Web site may help, or else you'll need to get a PCI based ADSL modem fitted into your machine. Search the Microsoft downloads site for chipsets VIA, SIS and ALi.

I've been asked for my CBUK number – what is this?
This is a special code that BT uses to identify your ADSL connection. If you move from one broadband service provider to another, you must get your CBUK number from your old ISP. Contact both ISPs well ahead of time to find out exactly what's needed besides the CBUK number to ensure a smooth change over.

Why do I get an error that says Cannot Create Entry?
You're running old system software with an obsolete version of Dial Up Networking. Head to the Microsoft site to download DUN 1.4.

I get error message: RegDBSetKeyVAlueEX failed when trying to connect my modem.
Something you've got on your system won't loosen its grip on a component in your computer's registry. You can try doing the installation as an administrator. According to Tiscali, this is a problem particularly with Packard Bell computers using Easy DVD. Try locating a patch on the Packard Bell site.

I've done everything correctly, but either my username and password are rejected, or my connection is very, very slow. Why is this?
You may have a problem with your firewall being set to 56K. Disable it, reinstall your modem and check. If this is the case, uninstall and reinstall the firewall.

Why does my connection close if I leave my computer idle for a few minutes?
Your computer may be set to hang up if there's no network activity. Go to your control panel for 'Network and Dial-up connections' and set its 'Idle Time Before Hanging Up' to 'Never'.

I've got ADSL connected and working fine on my Windows XP PC, but the Dial-Up Networking icon has gone missing from my System Tray. How do I get it back?
Select Control Panel > Network Connections, then right-click on your ADSL connection and choose Properties. Check the 'Show icon in notification area when connected' option, and the absent icon will reappear next time you're online.

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Please note that this is a guide only and Kreative Technology cannot be held responsible for any situation created by unqualified personnnel.