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The Great Power Cycle

By: Gregg Housh

There are lots of easy tricks that make computer use much less frustrating. Sadly, quite a few of these are not taught to a surprising number of computer users. For example: losing connection to a wireless router is a basic problem with a simple fix many users are unaware of that will eliminate a vast majority of the problems that cause this symptom.

When you drop your connection to your wireless router, power cycling the modem and router will frequently resolve the problem. A number of users don't know how to perform this very simple task. It's a sad fact that pretty much any router and modem will require the occasional power cycle. They run all the time and will at times run into conflicts that can be resolved with a restart.

If you try to resolve the problem by calling for support, you'll probably experience the following: aAfter spending an hour on hold with the internet service provider, you will be lead through a series of unnecessary tasks to rule out serious but not terribly common problems. Since so many of these issues can be quickly resolved by power cycling, it makes good sense to learn this technique for home use before calling up tech support.

To power cycle your modem and router, all you need to do it unplug both devices. That's it. If your modem uses a battery, reset it after you have unplugged the router. While each device is different, you should wait at least two minutes before plugging back in both machines. If either unit feels very hot, you might want to wait until they reach a cooler temperature before powering up.

Once enough time has passed, plug in your modem. Permit your modem to finish booting and acquire a connection. Once it's fully operational, plug in your wireless router. Once your router is functional, attempt to connect your computers to the network.

It can sometimes be a good idea to reboot your computers before connecting them to the router. This will allow them to connect with a fresh IP address. IP address conflicts are a common cause for network connectivity problems.
It's regretable that modems and routers aren't built with a technical mechanism that can re this problem for inexperienced users. Since it's such a common and necessary practice, it really should be clearly indicated to every user as part of proper network maintenance. If internet service providers offered instructions on power cycling with each new account, they could save a bundle on tech support expenses. Countless hours of technical support service are wasted on a procedure that will be necessary for almost every user. In fact, this is something that most people will have to do very often and may make multiple calls for.

As this issue affects both the modem and router, it's complicated to create the type of process that would be needed for a purely technical solution. However, it is not a huge undertaking to enable even the novice user to solve this problem without further complications. Education is the only reasonable solution. While it might not seem to be the biggest challenge facing humanity, there is a value in solving this communication issue. Routers and modems need frequent power cycling, and users and tech support alike will be happier and more productive if consumers learn how to do it on their own.

Article Source: http://www.ezgoarticles.com

Gregg Housh works at a nationwide Computer Repair company. At Geek Choice we solve computer problems such as: Slow computer, Virus Removal, Spyware Removal, Computer startup problems, and much more.

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