Forums | MacLife

davebot 0.9 · 2009-04-12 4:22 pm

I just got Comcasted yesterday. I couldn't make any progress until I bit the bullet and ran their install CD on my iMac. I thought I would just plug my router into the cable modem, since I was already set up for DHCP with my old DSL. The CD took me through a license agreement and creation of a user ID and password -- all reasonable. It also created another entry in my Network System Preferences, called "PCI Ethernet Slot @?", except that the question mark is actually some non-ascii character that looks like an upside-down question mark. After getting the iMac connected, I ran it through my D-Link DI-614+ router. The iMac was fine, but my Mac Pro was still offline. So then I set the router to "Clone MAC Address". Now things seem to be working for both computers and my iPhone.

Anyone know what the Comcast CD did? If I now run the uninstall app, will I lose anything? Did Comcast make any changes that are necessary for their "Powerboost technology"?

Here's my hunch: the CD only affected my iMac and the cable modem, and set up an account based on the MAC address of my iMac. But I could be wrong; it might be that they did some "powerboost" thing. Or is that only at the Comcast end?

My iMac has some goofiness with System Preferences - Networking, from before Comcast. It launches an infinite loop of panels for "Your network settings have been changed... OK" -- extremely irritating. And it asks keychain questions about domains from several moves ago.

davebot 0.9 · 2009-04-12 7:49 pm

I hope I did the right thing -- think so. I went back to the iMac, inserted the Comcast CD, and ran the uninstaller. I notice that the Comcast app's desktop link is gone, as is the strange "PCI Ethernet Slot" item from the network preferences. The other thing I did was remove the network "location" for my previous ISP; now the only one that shows is "Automatic." And *that* little operation fixed the irritating loop of warning panels that Your network settings have been changed." I couldn't be happier!

Well, maybe I would be a little happier if someone could tell me what I'm supposed to do about the DNS numbers. I have none in my computer's preferences, after removing the DNS numbers for my old ISP. I thought I wanted to have the router automatically use Comcast's numbers -- but what are they? One blurb I read claimed that I should just tell the router to grab these from the cable modem -- but I don't see a setting for this anywhere in my old router's settings. Alternatively, I could simply enter the DNS numbers for the OpenDNS service. I've seen mixed reviews on that. What should I do? Pages in Safari seem to hang for a bit before loading.

Thanks,

Dave

sturner · 2009-04-12 9:48 pm

Your milage may vary.

The openDNS addresses will work just fine. The Comcast garbage is usually that, garbage. Most ISPs don't really understand anything other than Windows, and that only imperfectly. It's like they hire IT dropouts.

If you search Comcasts website for support, you may find what their DNS addresses are. And those settings may be placed in your router. You can also place the DNS settings in your Location so that it searches based on that.

Jasoco · 2009-07-19 8:12 pm

My condolences. Comcast is horrible. We switched to Verizon a few years ago and it's been heaven. But at least when I was on the phone signing up for Comcast originally (Years before Verizon came along and offered FIOS) the rep on the phone asked me to reboot my computer and when she heard the chime she immediately knew I had a Mac and knew where to go from there.

I don't recall having to install ANYTHING on my Mac though. In fact, I don't think you even need to. I never did. At least not on my Mac.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-04-12 4:22 pm

what did comcast install on my iMac?

#2 2009-04-12 7:49 pm

Re: what did comcast install on my iMac?

#3 2009-04-12 9:48 pm

Re: what did comcast install on my iMac?

#4 2009-07-19 8:12 pm

Re: what did comcast install on my iMac?

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