How to disconnect from net

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I recently made the big step up to cable from a dial-up connection. (Wow, life in the fast lane!) I would like to know if there is a preferred way to go offline temporarily (in order to uninstall/reinstall AV or other software.) Can I just unplug the power cord to the external cable modem, should I temporarily disable the LAN connection in Network Connections (Windows XP home), or is there another setting which it would be better to alter? TIA.

Maud

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I permanently display the LAN Connection icon in the notification area (system tray). You can right-click this and select Disable, or left-click to open the Local Area Network Status dialog; this has a Disable button.

I leave my broadband modem on 24/7.

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Thanks for reminding me, Hans! I had already managed to forget about the LAN icon, which I had set not to display, thinking it would be just one more thing taking up space in the tray. I, too, keep my cable modem on 24/7, though I turn my PC off at the end of the day, and I can easily see the modem lights for the status of the connection. I now need to uninstall NAV 2005 and Zone Alarm (free), preparatory to installing PC-cillin Internet Security, so will need to go offline for the first time. Since you indicate temporarily disabling the LAN connection is not a problem, I think I will do that. Thank you.

Maud

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I usually disconnect the Ethernet cable from the back of the PC.

StuartR

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Thanks for the input, Stuart. Disconnecting the Ethernet cable would be a quick and easy way to do this, if accessing the back of my PC were not fraught with peril. I won’t say I fear for my life when I try to move this computer cart, but I do rather fear for the lives of my PC and monitor!

Maud

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Disconnecting the Ethernet cable would be a quick and easy way to do this, if accessing the back of my PC were not fraught with peril.

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Can’t you reach the other end of the ethernet cable?

Ian

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Ian,

Oh.

Sometimes I think I’m a little overawed by this stuff. I’m afraid to do the wrong thing, lest I anger the vengeful spirit within the machine, and flames shoot out, or something equally dire. (Actually, I know somebody that happened to – flames shooting out, I mean; I can’t say what sort of spirits might have been involved. And he knows a lot more about computers than I do. But I’m going to pretend I didn’t remember that, now that you’ve restored my common sense somewhat.) I appreciate the lack of sarcasm.

Maud

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The way I like to disconnect from the Internet is to push the standby button on my cable modem. This stops any possible exchange of data between my PC and the world! I will do this in the evening when I am done so I don’t have to shutdown my computers. My modem is located on my desk within easy reach!

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Skitterbug,

My modem doesn’t have a standby button. But I’m starting to get the idea that any of the obvious (er – fairly obvious) ways of accomplishing the thing are harmless, and it’s just a matter of personal preference. So I will boldly disconnect with full confidence that I’ll be able to reconnect at will. No need to be scared of the internet; as one of our American senators has informed us, it’s only a series of tubes.

Maud

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