Is my router dead?

[Hi Ho]

I woke up this morning and attempted to check my email. It wouldn't work. It seemed the internet was down. Then I noticed the 1 and 2 lights on my router were steadily blinking on.... off.... on.... off.... The "Network Cable Unplugged" taskbar icon was also doing the same. I had to leave. Now I'm back and it's still doing it. I plugged this PC directly into the cable modem and obviously it is working because I'm typing this. Is my router (D-Link DI-604) dead? I have unplugged it multiple times to no avail.

[RJ]

The lights blink whenever there is traffic on that port (so when your PC is connected to 1, and you get your emails or whatever, LED 1 will blink). But the systray icon thing is not normal. Have you tried resetting the router ?
If it still does it after resetting it, I guess it might be dead.

RJ

[Hi Ho]

I know the lights blink when there is traffic but this is different. They are going off for a few seconds, then on, then off, etc. The icon is in synce and comes up when the lights are off. I can access the router from my browser but there is nothing helpful in there. I just reset the router and id did nothing. The lights stay on and the no connection icon does not pop up as long as I'm not accessing the internet (web browser, Messenger, Email, etc.). As soon as I try to open a web page the connection becomes intermintent. Web pages will load eventually, in about 10 minutes, but they are incomplete with missing imagees and garbled text. What would cause a router to just quit over night? This is extremely annoying.

UPDATE: Now it doesn't do anything. When I plug it in the lights flash once and nothing happens. I can't access it anymore. This is so frustrating. Another $24 that I have to spend. Why does it seem like routers in general aren't very reliable? They have no moving parts. A good quality one such as D-Link or LynkSys has good quality electronic components. Why would it just diie after a year and a half?

[mbossman2]

before you declare it a dead soldier and consign it to the junk pile, I would do a hard reset back to factory defaults.

with the router on, push and hold the reset button for 10 seconds, the router will then reboot and factory settings should re-established..

good luck

(if this doesn't work and you can't access the router, then it might be dead)

[glc]

$24 for a year and a half is not bad at all. What do you expect for a cheap router?

[Hi Ho]

I have done a hard restart with the paper clip. It didn't work. I paid $40 at Office Depot (not knowing about Newegg). That's what makes me mad. Besides, I expect an electronic device from a reputable manufacturer to last more than a year and a half. Especially since it isn't going to be obsolete anytime soon. I have a 26 year old TV that still works like new, a camcorder from 1986, and various PC components over 10 years old that still work.

[glc]

$40 is still cheap for a router. Excrement occurs. I've seen several brands of routers die.

[thefultonhow]

I have done a hard restart with the paper clip. It didn't work. I paid $40 at Office Depot (not knowing about Newegg). That's what makes me mad. Besides, I expect an electronic device from a reputable manufacturer to last more than a year and a half. Especially since it isn't going to be obsolete anytime soon. I have a 26 year old TV that still works like new, a camcorder from 1986, and various PC components over 10 years old that still work.

I'm pretty sure that D-Link has a lifetime warranty on their routers... you might want to check that out. With that said, I actually made $45 on my current Belkin 802.11g router. You just have to wait around for the deals.

[Hi Ho]

Well I doubt I have the receit. The same router is only $24 with shipping on Newegg so I'll probably just get another one.

[edfair]

Gone through the power cycle and configuration routines?

The flashing lights in that pattern are bad symptoms but occasionally they will POST correctly with the power cycle.

My primary is a belkin, same for my backup, and about once a month it will upchuck and lose everything. So I keep the manual handy and have all the settings on the front cover. Down to about 5 minutes restore time now.

[Panama Red]

Well I doubt I have the receit. The same router is only $24 with shipping on Newegg so I'll probably just get another one.

I wouldn't worry about the receipt. A serial number should put in in the right time frame for warranty consideration. Worth a phone call, me thinks. ;)

[fudtone]

I have a Linksys BRS1 that only needs reset maybe 2 times a year...paid 80 bucks for it about 5 years ago.

[Hi Ho]

This is the first time I have ever had problems with it. I have never had to reset it or anything. I set it up one night and it was working flawlessly up until now. I'll try calling D-Link.