| This is part two in this series for troubleshooting your | | | | successful? If it has been a week since the last check |
| network connectivity. Confirming the connectivity with | | | | for viruses, run a full system scan. If this does not |
| the Internet was the focus of the first three steps in | | | | work and no viruses are detected, move on to the |
| our process. We now continue with the remaining | | | | next steps. |
| steps to help you discover what the problem with your | | | | 4. Try another system. Do you have another PC or |
| Internet connection might be. | | | | laptop that you can plug in to your router to try and |
| 1. Check functionality. Once the network cable has | | | | get out to the Internet, or do you know anyone else |
| been confirmed to be working correctly, we need to | | | | with a laptop PC who would be willing to bring it over |
| see if the router is working correctly. Since you have | | | | to see if they can plug into your router and get out to |
| already unplugged and re-plugged the router in and | | | | the Internet? If so, that will confirm if you have a good |
| rebooted both it and your PC, that should have taken | | | | working router and cabling. If you or they are able to |
| care of any automatic configuration issues that might | | | | get out to the Internet, then the problem lies with the |
| have become hung up. High speed Internet providers | | | | original PC you were troubleshooting. |
| can change the network address (also called the IP | | | | 5. If you cannot get out to the Internet with another PC |
| address) of your router at any time. This usually | | | | or Laptop, contact your Broadband Service Provider. |
| requires a re-boot of your router (and sometimes of | | | | Work with their support staff to troubleshoot the |
| your PC) in order to pick up that new address and | | | | connectivity issue. |
| begin communicating. Also, there are other network | | | | 6. Final options. If all else fails, take your PC to another |
| addresses that are used to get outside to the Internet | | | | location like a friend's house or a relative who has high |
| that are automatically configured as well, but we will | | | | speed Internet access. Plug into their system and see |
| deal with those in a later step. | | | | if the PC will access the Internet. Another option is to |
| 2. Test functionality. If after you have rebooted the | | | | take your PC to a local shop to have it examined for |
| router and PC and performed all of the steps above, | | | | any virus or spyware software that is not being |
| but it appears that you are still having problems, make | | | | detected but is preventing you from accessing the |
| sure that you try other ways to get outside to the | | | | Internet. Usually, these local PC repair companies have |
| Internet by launching your email program (if you use | | | | the software tools to help detect and eradicate these |
| one). If it works, but your Internet browser still does not, | | | | problems. |
| then something is preventing your Internet browser | | | | Trouble-shooting a connection for your PC can be a |
| from resolving website addresses on the Internet. | | | | frustrating thing to do because there are so many |
| 3. Check virus software. When was the last time your | | | | variables to address. Be patient, and follow the above |
| PC performed an automatic update or a scan for | | | | steps and hopefully you will find the source of your |
| viruses? Can you try to force an update now? Is it | | | | problem sooner rather than later. |