World of Warcraft Update

I am still not able to connect.  I have done virtually everything that I can try to do.  There is one thing left and I have vowed to get it finally resolve one way or another.  This afternoon I called the store where I bought the computer and spoke with one of the tech guys there who himself has actually been playing WoW for many years.  He didn’t have anything else to offer over the phone but asked me to bring the computer in to check it out there.  So I unplug everthing and haul it down to the store.  I get the computer checked in and they hook it up at one of the workbenches with the input devices and internet connection.  He clicks on the WoW icon, gets to the login screen and types in his account nane and password.  BAM!  It instantly connects to the Blizzard servers and he’s ready to go.  So now at least we know it isn’t a problem with the computer or the WoW software installed on the computer.  All of my problems are completely external. 

So now all fingers are pointing to the cable modem as the culprit.  This seems strange to me since I have always had very reliable and very fast internet access with this modem.  But I am hooked into it using the USB port.  I can’t seem to connect using the ethernet port and this might be making all the difference.  Since I’m using a USB port, I am not making use of the Network Interface Card (NIC) on the computer and this might well mean that I am not trying to access the Blizzard servers throught the correct, authorized ports.  Hmmmm.  Now that I’m writing and thinking about this another way I’m now almost certain that’s the real problem.  I’m not making a properly secure connection and that’s why Blizzard’s servers are ignoring me. 

Anyway, I picked up another cable modem on the way back to the house because that’s what the tech guy at the computer store said I probably needed to do.  I can’t get it up and running until I call the cable company to inform them about the new modem and MAC address and it’s too late tonight.  I don’t know if they have any customer support people working on Sunday or not.  I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.  Stay tuned!