Why does it take 10 minutes to reboot the modem?

I had no idea. I thought that was just a remote restart.

A reboot or restart just turns off and on equipment.  A network reset should wipe the current network config and reload it, such as a factory reset would do for hardware.  Cox could push an update to your modem so all you'd have to do is reboot.

However, there may be nothing wrong with its config because as others have noted, some modems take a long time to reboot.  Is 10 minutes unusual for the OP?  I don't know, but it was worth a post.

A network reset should wipe the current network config and reload it

Is a network reset the same as a factory reset? Also how would a reset correct firmware issues? Do you mean it does error correction on the firmware itself or does it just make sure firmware is up to date?

As for boot time, I think the manual calls for up to 6 minuets(1 for LED activity and up to 5 for boot) for factory reset so maybe what OP is reporting isn't that abnormal. I could see 5-6 minuets seeming like 10 when your staring at the lights.

Mouth...I didn't see your reply.  I got a bubble for a post but didn't see yours.

I wouldn't think a network reset would be the same as a factory reset.  I think a factory reset would rollback the firmware and U/I of a device to its original factory (or Cox) default settings (username, password, SSID, hotspot, etc).

It'd probably be quicker to just verify the name of the configuration file as opposed to correcting any errors within the file.

From my experience, any tech would use specific terms to perform specific actions:  reboot, reload, reset, replace, etc.  If Becky recommended resetting my modem, I'd start looking for a paperclip.  However, according to Becky, these are the same action.

Armed with Becky's definition a few years later, a rep wanted to reset my modem.  [I already rebooted it.]  The rep then skool'd me a reset signal "refreshes" other things.  Good lord, another term, but it worked...so I distinguish between the two.

forums.cox.com/.../reset-my-modem-link-on-cox

Ten minutes is a long time.  I'd understand the bloated software of a cable-box taking 10+ minutes...but a modem?  I'm not disputing the 10-minutes for other users...but it is a noticeably long time.

There was a recent post about the StraightUp Internet plan and the Add/Change Device link in the Equipment section of our accounts page.  I was curious about the Add/Change link and the Reset Device is beneath it.  [Yeah, why not] and the reset took only 3-4 minutes.  I didn't time it but it was a lot quicker than the song "Coma" by Guns N' Roses (10:14).

Chrispy is correct:  OP is rebooting for a reason.

Ha-ha..."bugs."  Cox issued my first HD receiver and when I got it home, there was something rattling inside.  Further inspection revealed the dried corpses of 2 stinkbugs.

You could stuff a stress ball (foam) into the access holes to keep out bugs.

When I rented a house in NM, roaches were entering with the water pipe for the kitchen sink.  A big, squishy ball nicely sealed it.

I don't think the bugs are causing this issue.

Oh no...not for abnormal reboots.  Lab had cleaned bugs from the outside box because bugs were in the outside box.  The box is now quite spotless, so I suggested sealing its feed holes.