Tiscali broadband/modem problems.

[anutylou]

Recently got tiscali broadband. Was fine & dandy. Then, just over a week ago, my computer died when trying to install the McAfee anti-virus software I'd just purchased.

Got the computer fixed, and upgraded from Windows 98 to Windows XP Professional at the same time. Monday night, wired it up, installed the broadband, plugged in the modem, and then proceeded to pull my hair out as the modem kept dropping the ADSL line or the power, approximately every 30 seconds or so.

Phoned tiscali last night, and they seem to think that it's because my USB ports are under-powered.

I have only got the modem pluged into a USB port, the other one is empty. I have tried re-starting the machine, I have tried unpluging and re-plugging in the modem. I've checked all the connections. I've even google-wacked "USB power loss" and come up with nothing that seems to make sense.

The chap I spoke to at tiscali did say something about some software to increase the power to the USB.

What I want to know is has anyone else experienced this, and how can I fix it?

[DT]

The only time I've come across underpowered USBs was when it involved an external 4in1 USB device. If you're plugging directly into a motherboard USB connection, I can't see it being the cause of your problem.

[anutylou]

Thanks. As it was working fine before the machine crashed on me, I couldn't see how that would be the problem now! (And the modem had been working fine when plugged into a friend's machine that I'd borrowed.)

Any ideas as to what the problem could be? Should I start with the simple idea of a new USB cable?