PSA: Comcast Cable Modem Activator Software
Short version:
Did the Bluetooth module on your Mac disappear after running Comcast's modem activation software? Zap the PRAM (restart and hold down Command-Option-P-R).
Long version:
Having immense difficulties doing a video chat with my dad, I went to the handy Circuit City Connect store near me to swap my cable modem for a new one assuming that it may be a network problem. The Comcast people complied and even rejiggered my plan to give me a $20/month discount to boot. Good deal. The trouble started when I plugged the new modem into my existing network and tried to get back on the Internet.
As it turns out, Comcast's network somehow detects a new modem and forces you to a re-activation page when you load your browser. Fine, I get it, they don't want people swapping cable modems willy-nilly. They provide you a link to a program that, according to the page, must be run on your local machine to complete the process. This was the first red flag. The second red flag was the installer needing administrative privileges. My impatience got the best of me and I entered my credentials allowing it to continue and restart my computer. I opened Safari and attempted to navigate to a site. Only problem was, my keyboard wasn't working. Odd, I thought. Opening System Preferences told me the whole story.
The Comcast software had somehow managed to delete the Bluetooth module from my Mac. Which was a problem, seeing as how I needed to, you know, type things from time to time. Luckily I had a spare USB Bluetooth dongle that worked as a temporary fix. Shutting down, and pressing the Command-Option-P-R keys on my keyboard forced the PRAM to be cleared and that seemed to force my machine to re-discover the internal module. I then noticed in the Network Preference pane that the Comcast installer had completely dicked up my network settings and deleted all my network connections. Yikes. Way to test your software guys.
Did the Bluetooth module on your Mac disappear after running Comcast's modem activation software? Zap the PRAM (restart and hold down Command-Option-P-R).
Long version:
Having immense difficulties doing a video chat with my dad, I went to the handy Circuit City Connect store near me to swap my cable modem for a new one assuming that it may be a network problem. The Comcast people complied and even rejiggered my plan to give me a $20/month discount to boot. Good deal. The trouble started when I plugged the new modem into my existing network and tried to get back on the Internet.
As it turns out, Comcast's network somehow detects a new modem and forces you to a re-activation page when you load your browser. Fine, I get it, they don't want people swapping cable modems willy-nilly. They provide you a link to a program that, according to the page, must be run on your local machine to complete the process. This was the first red flag. The second red flag was the installer needing administrative privileges. My impatience got the best of me and I entered my credentials allowing it to continue and restart my computer. I opened Safari and attempted to navigate to a site. Only problem was, my keyboard wasn't working. Odd, I thought. Opening System Preferences told me the whole story.
The Comcast software had somehow managed to delete the Bluetooth module from my Mac. Which was a problem, seeing as how I needed to, you know, type things from time to time. Luckily I had a spare USB Bluetooth dongle that worked as a temporary fix. Shutting down, and pressing the Command-Option-P-R keys on my keyboard forced the PRAM to be cleared and that seemed to force my machine to re-discover the internal module. I then noticed in the Network Preference pane that the Comcast installer had completely dicked up my network settings and deleted all my network connections. Yikes. Way to test your software guys.
