Give Me Techno Advice III: I can’t gets the damn Internet

By Dan on Jul 10, 2008 in Techno

I can’t access the Internet on our home PC. But here’s the deal, I can access it on my laptop, which connects wirelessly to the same DSL connection. I’m assuming that this means that the problem isn’t with the modem or the router, but within the PC itself. Here’s where things stand:

  • I’ve tried rebooting the modem and the PC, several times.
  • I’ve tried using different browsers.
  • I’ve run some spyware (most likely outdated).
  • I’ve thought positive thoughts.

None of these things have worked.

Any other suggestions before I resort to calling AT&T support and spending my evening on hold.

4 Comment(s)

  1. What kind of screen are you getting when you open the browser? Does it look like it’s trying to retrieve your homepage, or does it immediatly go to a screen that says it can’t connect.

    Are you using any 3rd party firewall/virus protection? (That’s usually the first place to look)

    From the start button, click run, type in “cmd” in the window, hit enter, type “ipconfig” (let us know what you get) we’re looking for a number like 192.168.1.x.

    Then type “ping google.com”

    Does it timeout?

    Hate to say it, but did you check to see if the network cable was still connected to the back of the PC? Sometimes the most ovbvious things are the most overlooked.

    shoo | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply

  2. Ha. I was just about to tell you to call Shoo. I’m psychic.

    Russ | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply

  3. Okay. I checked ZoneAlarm and changed the Internet Zone Security from High to Medium. Now I can access the Internet.

    I don’t know if it’s always been set at Medium and somehow it got switched to High. (I didn’t do it.)

    Or, if it’s always been set at High and some other problem is preventing a connection at that level of security.

    Should I leave well enough alone, or might there be another issue?

    Dan at BFS | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply

  4. Not sure if you have seen the articles on this. But I would assume what you have come across is the ZoneAlarm DNS issue. From a quick read yesterday – there should now be a fix out for this. You definitely do not want to leave your firewall setting at medium for long periods of time.

    The ZoneAlarm forum and some older helpful resources can always be found at zone.iggyz.com

    DNS Fix Knocks Zone Alarm Users Offline

    http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DNS-Fix-Knocks-Zone-Alarm-Users-Offline-95977

    MS update KB951748 and ZoneAlarm — PROBLEM

    http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20759839-MS-update-KB951748-and-ZoneAlarm-PROBLEM

    Iggy | Jul 11, 2008 | Reply

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