OMGWTFCOMCAST!?!?!

GoingUp

Lifer
Jul 31, 2002
16,720
1
71
I just got my comcast cable modem set up. Do I really need to have their software installed on all of my computers for my internet to work? Thats what the tech told me, and I couldn't get my laptop to work until I installed it.
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
No I have never installed the Comcast software and my connection works fine.
 

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
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I had to - but I could have probably figured it out without installing it IF I had my old insight broadband stuff. Used to be insight out here until Comcast took over the area - but the setup is the same it looks like. Insight would provide me with instructions on the hard way (ie: tha way a tech-savvy person does it) and the software for computer newbies to use.

It's not permanent software from what I can tell - all it does is change your connection settings to connect to a Comcast proxy server that is used for account setup, then reboot everything. I installed it on my laptop since that's the MAC address my router knows, ran through the steps, and rebooted everything and got a working network

Edit: that's weird it worked for you guys without using the setup CD - I just kept getting DNS errors until I popped the CD in. I also should mention that I don't even connect with my laptop to the home network - my desktop PC (which never even saw the comcast CD) works fine. Just used the laptop for setup since that's the address the router spoofs to the cable modem
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
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Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I just got my comcast cable modem set up. Do I really need to have their software installed on all of my computers for my internet to work? Thats what the tech told me, and I couldn't get my laptop to work until I installed it.

No you don't.
 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
3
81
Actually, if you do self install, I think you have to run the setup CD once on a PC connected to the cable modem. It just asks for your customer # and something else, and I believe links that cable modem to your account.

It doesn't install any software on your PC though.
 

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
1,637
0
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No you don't. But you probably will have to contact customer service so they can give you the initial proxy info and the URL to thier validation site (sas.r[x].comcast.net IIRC) or something like that. I've installed Comcast broadband in Illinois, and here in WA, and the procedure was pretty much the same.



 

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
126
When I ordered Comcast, they threw in free installation, so the guy came out. He said that he had to install the software to set up my email and password for the account, but hinted that I could just uninstall it once he left, which I did.
He also had to call in to validate the modem as elektrolokomotive said.

However, I recently did a Verizon DSL install for someone, and the modem/router had a password that was not admin or anything I could figure out, and it wasn't listed in the book or on the confirmation paper the client got. The only way I could configure the router was to run their crappy installation CD, and then uninstall it when I was done.