Installed OSX 10.4.3 And Lost Internet Connection ! Help Please.

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Level 7

24,503 points

Installed OSX 10.4.3 And Lost Internet Connection ! Help Please.

I have updated from 10.3.9 (Panther) to 10.4.3 (Tiger) on my eMac.

Everything appears OK except I cannot connect to the internet.

On finishing the installation I got an error message saying "Could not load login file".

Incidentally, during the installation I disconnected all peripherals including my USB Broadband "modem" (I can't remember the correct terminology).

My "modem" is a "Speedtouch" and in the dock I have an application named "Diagnostics" which has to open to allow the Speedtouch to connect to the internet.

"Diagnostics" will not open.

When I look in my Network configurations the Speedtouch name has a red dot alongside and it is not connected.

If I open Network Port Configurations the Speedtouch name is greyed out and cannot be selected.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian.

PS. Luckily my iMac internet connection is OK !

eMac 1.25 Superdrive(768MB RAM) + iMac G3..... 160GB LaCie FW HD, Mac OS X (10.3.9), FCE 3.0 HD + Premiere 6.5... MUST STOP PLAYING WITH FCE AND MAKE FILMS AGAIN!

Posted on Aug 6, 2006 2:20 AM

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Answer 1

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Aug 6, 2006 2:54 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Hi Ian,

The only long term solution to your problem is to replace the USB ADSL modem with an ethernet ADSL router/modem.

The speedtouch usb modem has been problematic with Macs for years. It requires a driver to be installed on your mac in order to work often the drivers are buggy or need updating each time you upgrade your Operating System.

USB modems can't network.
USB modems don't work with apple's wireless technology
USB modems don't provide any firewall or security.
USB modems require a driver to work.
USB modems crash
USB modems can cause kernel panics.

An ethernet device requires no driver and will work on any platform. An ADSL router has many other benfits.

An ethernet ADSL router provide you with a firewall, the ability to network, it is compatible with apple wireless technology, it allow you to share your connection easily, they don't require a driver to work. They maintain your connection independantley from your mac.

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Answer 2

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

24,503 points

Aug 6, 2006 3:14 AM in response to Tim Haigh

Thanks for the information Tim.

I assume my "Diagnostics" application is the driver?

The Speedtouch/Diagnostics combination was provided by my internet supplier - NTL (under the Tesco name).

Incidentally I have been getting kernel panics once every few weeks when waking the computer and have long suspected either the Speedtouch or my Logitech wireless mouse.

I am clueless about ethernet ADSL routers!

Regarding updating the driver. How could that be accomplished?

Could I update the driver on my iMac (everything is identical) and copy it across to my eMac? (The two computers are connected directly with an ethernet cable).

Also if I updated my iMac Speedtouch, would it still be workable on the iMac, as I don't want to lose my last connection to the internet?!!!!

Ian.

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Answer 3

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Aug 6, 2006 4:06 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

I assume my "Diagnostics" application is the driver?

Nope that is not the driver.

Incidentally I have been getting kernel panics once every few weeks when waking the computer and have long suspected either the Speedtouch or my Logitech wireless mouse.

It is most likely the speedtouch.

I am clueless about ethernet ADSL routers!

An ADSL router is normally a 4 port ethernet switch (i.e you can connect 4 devices via a network cable)+router (it allows you to share your connection and network your computers)+intergated DSL modem.

You can purchase them for as little as £30 upto £400.

For cheap adsl router have a look at solwise

http://www.solwise.co.uk/modems.htm

Or you can goto pc world and ask for an ADSL router. the Netgear DG834 is the one I am using at the moment and is proving to be very reliable.

Regarding updating the driver. How could that be accomplished?

The driver for 10.4 is available on the speedtouch support page

http://www.speedtouch.co.uk/330.asp

However It really is a waste of time encouraging anyone to continue to use the modem as it will only lead to more problems if not now but when you next upgrade.

Could I update the driver on my iMac (everything is identical) and copy it across to my eMac? (The two computers are connected directly with an ethernet cable).

You could download the updated driver on your imac and then transfer it over to your emac using filesharing.

But the sooner you get an adsl router the better as you will be able to have both your computers online at the same time.

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Answer 4

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

24,503 points

Aug 6, 2006 4:53 AM in response to Tim Haigh

Thanks for all your help Tim.

I had actually solved the problem with Adrian Clarke's help before I read your last post.

Just a matter of downloading a Speedtouch Tiger Update and running the installer for a minute.

Everything is now OK - touch wood!

Thanks for all the information on routers etc. I will probably get one in the near future as I will then be able to run both my machines simultaneously. (At present I have to disconnect the Speedtouch and plug it into the other machine).

I am printing out your answers - if that's not a breach of copyright!

Thanks again.

Ian.

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Answer 5

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Aug 6, 2006 5:43 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

I am printing out your answers - if that's not a breach of copyright!

I am not sure who owns the content once it is posted on the forum but I should not worry about any copyright issues 😉

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