PC Tech Support

[jmur5074]

Considering the broad type of backgrounds and professions here, I figured this would be the best place to look for assistance. I need help with my wireless internet connect.

I've got a HP Pavillion notebook PC with Windows Vista with a wireless cable internet connection. In the last week, I've had multiple, multiple, multiple pages online come up with "page not found" as if I'm not currently connected to the internet. I assure you, I am connected when I get the "page not found" page. Also, the connection icon in the lower right corner shows that I'm connected. But when I open the "Network and Sharing" center, I see a "map" of my network. The map shows my PC..with a green line leading to my network (named jmur)...followed by a red "X" which leads the a picture of a globe labeled internet. So somewhere between my wireless network and the internet something is being disrupted.

When I click Diagnose and Repair, it tells me that it is a problem with my DNS Configuration and Window's can't fix it. It suggets I call my ISP. When I called them, they told me it's a problem with Vista because my computer isn't set up as a "home" network, and suggested I call HP Customer Assistance. When I called them, they told me it was gonna cost 50 bucks for help over the phone. Ridiculous.

I've gone through the troubleshoots available with the provided Windows Help and Support. I've also "flushed" my DNS cache with no luck.

Also, my girlfriend has had the same problem with my network when she's been over, and it happens on both firefox and internet explorer. Any advice?

[Pudge]

Considering the broad type of backgrounds and professions here, I figured this would be the best place to look for assistance. I need help with my wireless internet connect.

I've got a HP Pavillion notebook PC with Windows Vista with a wireless cable internet connection. In the last week, I've had multiple, multiple, multiple pages online come up with "page not found" as if I'm not currently connected to the internet. I assure you, I am connected when I get the "page not found" page. Also, the connection icon in the lower right corner shows that I'm connected. But when I open the "Network and Sharing" center, I see a "map" of my network. The map shows my PC..with a green line leading to my network (named jmur)...followed by a red "X" which leads the a picture of a globe labeled internet. So somewhere between my wireless network and the internet something is being disrupted.

When I click Diagnose and Repair, it tells me that it is a problem with my DNS Configuration and Window's can't fix it. It suggets I call my ISP. When I called them, they told me it's a problem with Vista because my computer isn't set up as a "home" network, and suggested I call HP Customer Assistance. When I called them, they told me it was gonna cost 50 bucks for help over the phone. Ridiculous.

I've gone through the troubleshoots available with the provided Windows Help and Support. I've also "flushed" my DNS cache with no luck.

Also, my girlfriend has had the same problem with my network when she's been over, and it happens on both firefox and internet explorer. Any advice?

Same laptop here, same configuration. I had that problem soon after setting up my network. My problem turned out to be the cable internet itself. Tightened some connections, took out a splitter, and direct wired to the modem and everything was fine.

Now I occasionally lose my connection. When I do, I reset the router and cable modem and it comes right back up.

[MacLean]

Considering the broad type of backgrounds and professions here, I figured this would be the best place to look for assistance. I need help with my wireless internet connect.

I've got a HP Pavillion notebook PC with Windows Vista with a wireless cable internet connection. In the last week, I've had multiple, multiple, multiple pages online come up with "page not found" as if I'm not currently connected to the internet. I assure you, I am connected when I get the "page not found" page. Also, the connection icon in the lower right corner shows that I'm connected. But when I open the "Network and Sharing" center, I see a "map" of my network. The map shows my PC..with a green line leading to my network (named jmur)...followed by a red "X" which leads the a picture of a globe labeled internet. So somewhere between my wireless network and the internet something is being disrupted.

When I click Diagnose and Repair, it tells me that it is a problem with my DNS Configuration and Window's can't fix it. It suggets I call my ISP. When I called them, they told me it's a problem with Vista because my computer isn't set up as a "home" network, and suggested I call HP Customer Assistance. When I called them, they told me it was gonna cost 50 bucks for help over the phone. Ridiculous.

I've gone through the troubleshoots available with the provided Windows Help and Support. I've also "flushed" my DNS cache with no luck.

Also, my girlfriend has had the same problem with my network when she's been over, and it happens on both firefox and internet explorer. Any advice?

Most tech support people are worthless.

Tell us how your system is set up, as in a a little map.

Mine goes Cable Modem to Firewall to Wireless Router to broadcast in the home.

How does yours look?

[jmur5074]

Most tech support people are worthless.

Tell us how your system is set up, as in a a little map.

Mine goes Cable Modem to Firewall to Wireless Router to broadcast in the home.

How does yours look?

I just have a cable modem and wireless router (Netgear). I don't believe I've got a firewall between the two. I do have a firewall on my laptop, but have never made any changes to it since the day I bought my computer.

So I guess, my set up would be cable modem to the router, to broadcast in my house. With a Windows Defender firewall on my laptop.

[MacLean]

So the issue is probably in the configuration of the router, since you get there just fine.

Did you pull it out of the box and plug it in, or did you set it up?

[jmur5074]

So the issue is probably in the configuration of the router, since you get there just fine.

Did you pull it out of the box and plug it in, or did you set it up?

Well I set it up over a year ago, and then about 6 months ago I relocated it to a different part of my house. The issue with my computer though has only started in the last week.

But anyway, I took it out of the box, followed the install instructions, plugged everything in following the instructions, set up my own password secured network, etc.

[MacLean]

I would run the setup on the router again, and make sure the laptop is setup for DHCP.

Vista pretty much automates that process now.

[Odd]

Could be that your ISP's DNS servers are flaking. Easy way to find out is to switch to Open DNS temporarily.

I never bothered making an account, just switched the servers from Charter's when they were having problems. Instructions below walk you through it pretty nicely. If you already have DNS servers entered, jot those down. Most likely it's set to auto detect, and to undo all you need to do is set it back to auto detect.

https://www.opendns.com/start/device/windows-vista

[Jks9199]

Get your cable company to check the signal strength, both at the point where the cable enters the house and at the modem. If you've got a bad splitter or too much wire, and they've dropped some signal strength in the last week (added more houses, or other changes on their end, including problems), you might not be getting enough signal.

I'd also consider checking for interference in the wireless signal by changing channels on it, if you can... And can you try going straight hardwire from the modem to your computer? If the problem persists that way, you know it's in the cable end of things. If the problem goes away... it's in the wireless side.

[Odd]

Did you get it fixed up?

[jmur5074]

Well actually before I tried ANY suggestions from here, it seems to have fixed itself.

I'm assuming it was something on the ISP's end...?

[MacLean]

Could have been. Weird it took their network monkeys that long to see it.

[Jks9199]

I had a similar problem with my cable internet for a while. Have a technician come out, and check the signal strength both into the house and at the modem. You almost undoubtedly have splitters, and the length of the cable is a factor. Depending on what's going on in the cable system -- the signal strength can fluctuate. If it's running low, it doesn't take much to drop just under the strength needed to work.