Error 678: The remote computer did not respond -Study Notes for PSC, SSC, and IT Exams

Updated on January 03, 2026
Author

Published By Alex George

Welcome to the Computer Science and Technology Study Materials section from CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions, a leading mock test and competitive exam preparation platform, for students preparing for SSC, DSSSB, and Kerala PSC examinations. Today, I will explain a network error message- Error 678: The remote computer did not respond.

Introduction

Yesterday morning, my friend called me to fix a network connectivity issue.

He tried to access the Internet with his BSNL Broadband connection but failed. Whenever he tried to connect to the Internet, he saw an error message -Error 678: The remote computer did not respond.

Since he was using BSNL broadband, he called their technical support.

He spent more than forty minutes with them. Still, they could not resolve it. This issue persisted even after an hour, so he called me for a solution.


How does This Study Material help PSC, SSC, and DSSSB Aspirants?

SSC, DSSSB, and Kerala PSC conduct examinations for various IT posts.

Understanding network error messages is essential for candidates appearing for the DSSSB PGT/TGT Computer Science, Kerala PSC Degree Level Exam, SSC Scientific Assistant (CS), VSSC Technical Assistant, and System Analyst posts. These networking fundamentals are core parts of the Computer Science syllabus.

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Kerala PSC Degree Level examinations have a Computer Science section where students can expect questions ICMP error codes. You can check the Kerala PSC Degree Level Common Prelims Syllabus under the Computer Science section. I recommend you download the syllabus using this official link.

Reference: https://www.keralapsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-02/syllubus.pdf

Reasons For Error 678: The remote computer did not respond

I understand that many readers, like Anil Thomas, want to know the reasons behind this error message.

Anil Thomas, in his comment, asked this question.

So, let me explain the reasons here.

Error 678 is due to poor connectivity. The poor connectivity can be due to a faulty Ethernet cable, a loose connection between modem and computer, or even the modem might be corrupted. Some other possible reasons (other than modem faults and connectivity issues) are TCP/IP issues, Firewall blocking, or Malicious programs running.

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I hope this answer satisfies Anil Thomas. Now, let me explain the steps to fix error 678. The steps provided here apply to all types of modems.

In Kerala PSC exams for Computer Assistant, they often ask what the first step should be when encountering Error 678. Hook: Always check the physical cable and modem synchronization lights first.

How To Fix Error 678: The Remote Computer Did not Respond?

As I explained, the primary reason for Error 678 is poor connectivity. So, we must conduct steps to check the connectivity. If that part is correct, then we must proceed to system-level troubleshooting.

  1. Check the Cables Connected

    We need to ensure that the Ethernet cable is not faulty and the connection is perfect. Check the following connections and ensure the respective LED lights on the modem are on.

    • Modem and splitter connection

    • Modem and Computer connection

    • Jack in & Jack out of the splitter

    Matilda Antony asked in the comments section how to identify if the connection has issues. My answer is to check the modem LED lights.


  2. Power Cycle the Modem to fix Error 678

    CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions recommends power cycling the network as the most effective solution to fix Error 678: The remote computer did not respond.


  3. Reset Winsock and Restart your computer

    I received comments from Melvin John saying the second step could not fix it.

    If the second step could not fix the error, reset the Windows Socket. Then reboot your computer. The following link will explain the entire procedure.

  4. Check whether the Firewall blocks your Internet connection

    Ashish Mudgal, a senior network engineer at CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions, mentioned the role of Firewall applications in generating error 678.

    He recommends turning off the Firewall programs (Including Internet Security Suits) to troubleshoot the problem.


  5. Check for Virus Infection

    There is a chance that your PC has network worms or other malicious programs. So I strongly recommend you scan your PC using a trusted Antivirus program.


  6. Reset and Reconfigure the modem

    The last possible step to fix Error 678 is to reset and reconfigure the modem. I do not recommend you perform this (the reason why I give this step only last) if you do not know how to configure the device again.

This tutorial explained different steps to fix the "Error 678 The remote computer did not respond " message. If the issue persists, I recommend you contact your ISP and ask whether the error is with the ISP side. If the modem is faulty, they may replace it.

Reference

  1. https://www.keralapsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-02/syllubus.pdf
  2. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/net_mgmt/media_gateway_manager/5-0/user/guide/ap_error.html

Author: Alex George

Author

Alex George is the Chief Editor and founder of CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions. He is a software engineer and has 20 years of experience in the EdTech niche.

He graduated with a B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from CUSAT and worked with three leading IT companies before starting CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions.

He possesses sound knowledge of SOHO Network Engineering and has completed various IT certifications, including CCNA, RHCE, and CEH.

He developed and published more than twenty professional custom themes for Blogger and is an expert in software app development.

You can contact him at alex.george@corenetworkz.com.

8 comments:

  1. Santosh Sharma5:55 AM

    Hello Alex,

    I have a Mi Router and saw the same error 678 with a PPPoE configuration. I reconfigured it as you recommended. It worked. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Santosh,

      Welcome to CoreNetworkZ Tech Solutions. Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Delete
  2. Matilda Antony5:58 AM

    Hello Alex,

    I feel you are correct about the loose connection. But how do I confirm it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Matilda,

      I recommend you check the modem's LED lights.

      Delete
  3. Anil Thomas6:00 AM

    Hello Alex,

    The quality of this article shows your network engineering experience. But you missed the part explaining the reason for this error.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anil,

      Thank you for reminding me. I updated the article.

      Delete
  4. Melvin John6:03 AM

    Hello Alex,

    The second solution recommended by your company could not fix it. Any more suggestions?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Melvin,

      I added a few more solutions in the article. I hope they will resolve it on your PC.

      Delete

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