hi Demolaynyc! I had a similar problem with a Motorola SurfBoard 4200 cable modem. Everytime you go to a website that contains "advanced" stuff like pop-up ads the whole computer restarts. at first I suspected the software but even after buying XP+SP2 and Norton it kept happening. I knew it had something to do with the USB because connecting the modem through the network slot worked ok. I suspected it was a problem with my hardware (the USB "hub" inside) because I brought an older computer and it worked fine. but after going to Start->right click on My Computer->Properties->Advanced->Startup and Recovery frame Settings button->System Failure frame removing the [V] from the Automatically Restart checkbox, I was able to avoid the computer restart. then after the Internet Explorer crashed I sent an "Error Report" to Microsoft and they blamed the modem This was strange for me because the modem (including the USB port) worked fine with another computer of mine (an older computer). I tried to download new drivers for the modem but to no avail because Motorola decided it's a "dis-continued product" and they don't support it anymore. all the drivers I did find didn't help. I was just about to start a long battle with the hardware shop when I decided to try the modem once more...so I called the cable company for the 1000 time and insisted they will send another modem for me to test. and lo and behold after a lot of shouting someone came, changed the modem into a Thomson (another modem manufacturer) and it worked like a charm! So what's the explanation? Windows decided that it's not so bad if Windows Updates (these security patches) doesn't support old modems anymore and causes the Motorola SB4200 modem driver not to function. The cable company knows that but doesn't want to give new modems to everyone so just insists on the home user working through the network cable slot. and all the while they blame everything from a power supply over-heat to a worm. So what should you do? insist on getting another modem or work through the network cable. good luck, hope this helps!
