Connectivity Issues

If your having problems connecting to the internet here are some troubleshooting tips to help solve your internet connectivity issues. Please note that this article is written for Windows XP, but can be applied other operating systems. Be sure to pay attention to your computer and the steps it goes through when accessing the internet. Watch the small icon on your quick launch bar in the far right corner of your screen to see where it may be running into a problem. If you hold your mouse over the icon it should relay what part of the process it is currently working on or state of your connectivity. Also be aware of the icons and what they mean. If you are not connected there will be a small red x over the icon, and if there is some issues with your connectivity there may be a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on it.
Establish a Connection:
First establish your internet is working and that all your cords are snapped in securely into place. Most problems occur between the router and the computer, so check to see if your internet connection is simply out first. Also be sure to check on the settings of your firewall. If you just installed one and haven’t allowed correct program access that may be the problem. If you suspect its your firewall disabled it to test out your connection if its not be sure to turn it back on.
Modem to computer:
* Unplug both router and modem* Connect your computer directly into the modem* Restart your computer* If your internet connection works then it is an issue between your router computer and modem.
Power Cycling:
Many times power cycling will solve your problem. You can also try resetting your modem and your router. If you have wireless security setup make sure you enable it again if you restart your router.
* Power down both router and modem* Plug modem back in wait until all lights are flashing correctly. Make sure not to skip this step, the modem needs to be able to recognize all ports connected to it.* Power router back on* Restart your computer
Checking and repairing your status via Network Connections:
If your on windows xp go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. From here you can view the current status’s of your internet connection. There may be many icons depending on if you have a wireless card or adapter hooked up to your computer. If your using a wired connection then you want to pay attention to the Local Area Connection icon. If your using a wireless connection then you want to focus on the Wireless Network Connection icon.
* Ensure your connections are not disabled, you can right click the icon to enable disabled connections.
* Right click and drop down to repair to see if it can fix your issue. Many times it will tell you a more specific error such as an ip conflict, or it will say: “Windows finished repairing your connection. You can try connecting again. If the problem persists, contact the person who manages your network.” This is an all clear sign that windows cannot detect a problem and your connection should be fine. Of course this isn’t always the case.
Ipconfig:
Another good way to see if your connected at all is ipconfig. To check ipconfig go to Start > Run > and type in cmd. This will open command prompt, then type in ipconfig. Become familiar with this while troubleshooting as it can help you isolate issues in the future. Ipconfig will show you your ip address, subnet mask and default gateway if your computer is receiving any. Your ipaddress is from your modem and generally if it shows up your getting a signal from your modem to your computer. If only your subnet mask shows up and the rest are 0.0.0.0 then there is no internet signal coming through your modem and you only have a connection to your router.
Limited or No Connectivity:
One of the most common, and sometimes the most frustrating annoyances of not being able to access the internet is the limited or no connectivity sign. If you just upgraded to service pack 2 are experiencing the limited or no connectivity error you can try downloading this patch from Microsoft.
* Releasing and renewing your DHCP via your router. Your computer to have to access your routers settings via your web browser if your not sure how to do this check with your routers hompage. With linksys I connect via the default gateway listed in ipconfig above. Example default gateway: 192.168.1.1. So in your browser type in http://192.168.1.1 it will ask for your password it varies from router to router try typing admin in either the username or only the password. If your not sure contact your routers customer support. On my Linksys the buttons to release and renew your DHCP is found under 'status'.
* Assign your own ip. While not recommended unless you’re an advanced user you can assign yourself an ipaddress if there happens to be an ip conflict in your system. Right click on your active internet connection via network connection drop down to repair. On the general tab highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click properties. By default it should obtain an ip address automatically. From here you can specify your own ip address that another computer on your network may not be using. Generally it follows a code of Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 Ip Address: 192.168.1.100 for one computer 192.168.1.102 for another computer and so on. Try to keep in line just add one close to it such as 192.168.1.105.
* Try resetting your winsock settings. Start > Run > cmd then type in winsock reset.
Other Tips:
If you just reinstalled your operating system, be sure to check to see if the drivers for your network device is correct. Start > right click My Computer > Hardware > Device Manager. From here you can view what you have update, or go to your computer manufacture’s homepage to see if there are any updated drivers. If your unable to connect on your computer you can download the updates to a cd rom or flash drive and transfer it to your computer.
If your using an adapter make sure that the signal and your adapter are on the same wavelength. For example; I had a wireless G adapter picking up a signal from a wireless B router. Even though it worked for a while it stopped working because they are actually broadcasting and receiving on different frequencies. Check your router and adapter for more information. Sometimes the newer versions broadcast on different frequencies to cover the bases, while the older models may just broadcast in one.
Don't forget to have a good and active security system on your computer including a firewall anti-virus and spyware scanners. Malware issues can also interfere with your computers connectivity.