Figuring out why you lost your Internet connection is usually a process of elimination as to what is causing the problem. Before calling your Internet Service Provider or a technician, you can check a few things yourself first to try to solve the problem. Are you getting any specific error messages such as "Cannot Display the Web Page"? Do you see a Yellow Exclamation Point indicating Limited Activity to the left or your clock on the bottom of your screen? Did you accidentally tell your Firewall to block your regular connection?
Provided you have paid your bill and your service has not been shut off, you want to start by making sure that you have power to your modem/router. This is usually a box provided to you by your ISP. (Internet Service Provider) Are all the cables connected and securely in place? Check the wire from the PC to the Router/modem and make sure everything is connected. Don't be alarmed if there are open ports/spots. Just be sure that the wires that are there are connected. If the Wires/Cables were disconnected, reconnect them and try to connect to the Internet.
In Internet Explorer there is an option on the TOOLS Menu called Work Offline. If this has a check mark next to it, you will want to click on it so that it has a Red X through it. This should never have a check mark on it. Sometimes if the Router/Modem is failing, it may show you this check mark and prevent you from being able to connect to the Internet. Simply click on the check mark and try to connect back to the Internet again.
If all wires are connected and you still cannot connect then you can try to reset the Modem/Router. This is easily done on most models by simply pulling out the power wire on the Modem/Router. If you are not sure which wire to pull out (it is usually black), then you can safely remove all the wires to be sure. Wait about one minute and then reconnect the wires/cables. Give the Router/Modem another minute to reconfigure itself and then try to connect to the Internet. Be sure if using Internet Explorer to check the Work Offline button after resetting your Modem/Router. If this is still checked off it will still prevent you from connecting. Make sure that you always see the Red X on Work Offline under the Tools Menu. Remember this is only for Internet Explorer but can still affect other browsers such as Firefox.
If resetting the Modem/Router works for you, you will want to keep an eye on the Modem/Router. If it becomes a regular instance such as once a week or 3 times month etc., there is a good chance the Modem/Router needs to be replaced. Most Modems/Routers are rented through your ISP (Internet Service Provider) so you can get a new one for no extra charge. Call your ISP and explain that the Modem/Router has to be reset on a regular basis. They should be more than happy to swap it out for you. For example I had a modem for around 4 or 5 years and it slowly just stopped working over time. Like other devices these can breakdown with age and eventually stop working. I called my ISP and they sent out a new modem to swap it out. A technician may have to come to your house to set it up for you but there is no charge to do it.
Did you see any messages related to your Firewall? Resetting the firewall to it's default can solve this problem. If using the Windows Firewall, just go into Control Panel, go to Windows Firewall. Look for the Advanced Tab and click on Restore Defaults. Firewalls are an integral part of your security protection but can be also made to disable all Internet connections if you tell it too. This is one of things that makes Windows Firewall easy to use as it doesn't prompt you for every little item, such as connecting to the Internet.
If resetting the modem for you didn't work, the problem can get a little bit trickier and more technically involved for the average user. If you are the average user at this point you will want to call your ISP and have them check the modem/router for you. If you are a bit more technically savvy, then you can try a few of these additional steps.
If you suspect a Virus on your machine, you will need to have the infection removed by either your Security Software or have a professional do it for you. There are plenty of infections and viruses that will disable your Internet connection or not allow you to connect to certain sites, and other issues. A virus usually wants your PC to stay connected to the Internet to spread. If you have no Internet at all and know the machine is also heavily infected, you should consult a professional who makes house calls or bring the PC into a store etc., if you can't get connected to the Internet. Removing the Virus may or may not fix your Internet Connection issues. Sometimes you may need to remove the infection just to access some of the settings described above like Control Panel. Some Viruses will block out access to your Network Settings or Firewall Settings as well.
For those a bit more daring and technically savvy enough to do it, you need to check your Network Settings and be sure that your Network card is enabled. When you open Network Connections/Settings be sure that your Network connection does not have a Red X through which indicates either a cable is disconnected or the card is Disabled for some reason. If you see the Yellow Exclamation point indicated Limited Activity, then you can try a reset of your Modem/Router. You should also check to see if you are getting an IP address. If you are getting a valid IP, then you have an Internet connection but perhaps the DNS settings are skewed. Again these solutions here are for the more technically savvy and not the average home user.
If you have explored the easy options such as resetting the Modem/Router, and some of the other options listed here to no avail, you should call your ISP to have them check the modem on their end. They can perform a variety of tests to determine that it is operating correctly. If they tell you the modem is fine, then the problem is most likely related to your PC and it's Internet/Network settings. These can be the DNS settings mentioned above. If your ISP cannot help you to get connected or tells you the modem is working correctly, then you need to call in a professional to diagnose the problem. They may walk you through it over the phone for some of the more advanced steps. Some of the more advanced steps will take time over the phone so be patient when talking to the technician. Alas it may just be easier for you to have someone come out to your house and fix it as well. If you have the $$$ someone will fix it for you.
These days, everybody needs the Internet for Business, Pleasure, Family, School, Bill Paying etc., so when it goes down it is important to get it up and working again quickly. By trying these steps first you can save yourself some $$$ and time because your ISP is going to have you reset your Modem/Router anyway. Your problem could be as simple as a loose cable, or just a nice reset for your Router/Modem. It only takes 5 minutes at most to reset your modem and check the connections. Save yourself a few bucks and try to fix it yourself. If not you can always call in a Pro.
Thanks for reading and have a great rest of the week.
Steve
www.zolexpc.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment