Connected to Internet...Except Not

DJ-99

Lately when I go to use the internet, I have been having problems. Today, for example, I was on XBox Live no problem (wired connection) but when I went to use my laptop (wireless, same router as XBox) it wouldn't work. The wireless connection says connected, but websites don't load, AIM doesn't work, etc. Also, when I ran another wired connection into my laptop, it couldn't find the network address, and ended up saying limited or no connectivity.

After I shut down power a few times things seem to work ok, but this is really frustrating. I don't know a lot about this type of thing, and I'd like to know why my computer says "connected" but won't actually do anything.

Thanks.

DeShadowC

Just to verify with both wireless and hardwired you're sometimes getting limited or no connectivity and sometimes it'll work?

DJ-99

Well, with my wireless, it always says connected, but doesn't always work. When it says "connected" but doesn't really seem to be, this is when my hardwired connection says limited or no connectivity.

DeShadowC

With the wireless are you certain you're actually connecting to your network at all times? Also what happens when you try to repair either connection?

DJ-99

Yeah, it's definitely my personal network that I'm always connected to. When I try to repair the wired connection, it says unable to renew ISP or something. If I repair the wireless, it goes through its thing and acts like it's working normally.

Often I can't connect to XBox Live from the router, and it says DNS Failed. No idea what that really means or if it's related.

DeShadowC

I've heard a lot of people get that error from XBox live when connected to a router so that doesn't bother me as much. Is this happening often enough on your computer where you can boot it a few times and if it doesn't happen you'll know its "working properly." If so when you boot up press the F8 key repeatedly until you get a windows advanced boot menu, and login under safemode with networking. If this works repeatedly you have a software issue on your computer.

DJ-99

Usually just rebooting my computer doesn't work. I have to unplug the router and the modem, as well. Then it seems to work.

And yeah, I've wondered if somehow my network drivers or something got messed up, but I don't know what has happened in the last two weeks that would have changed things.

ApexMirage

Give your ISP a call. If you've got DSL there's stuff you could have inadvertently done in your own home to mess with the connection (Phone filters, modem location, cable length amongst other things)
Worst case, they'll diagnose whether the problem is actually on their side or yours - sounds like it might be DNS related or something.
Have you tried taking the laptop to another connection somewhere? If it works just fine, you'll at least know the problem isn't the laptop.

ApexMirage

Oh, you can also try removing the router from the connection setup to see if that's the culprit. Just wire your laptop to the modem and see if that fixes it. In that case you can try and find a way to fix the router by updating the firmware or something, or just buying another (Check their website first).

JebusUD

another thing that might work is to go into the control panel, repair the connection. Then there is a thing that says internet connection, set that to enabled. I have found that sometimes you will be connected but if that is set at disabled it wont work. It just randomly disables sometimes.