Internet Explorer problems

[SpankyML]

Hi all,

My daughter has a toshiba laptop with vista os. For the past week I have had to go back to an older restore point in order for her internet to work. I have no idea what the problem could be. What I have done to try and figure out the problem:

1. Laptop shows excellent conectivity to wireless (strong signal)
2. ran the "fix problems" wizard for internet connection
3. reinstalled her wireless software

PLEASE HELP!

Thanks,
Spanky

[Trooper110]

Have you tried downloading Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc. to see if it's a problem with IE or her connection to the internet?

Tried pinging out to Google, Yahoo, etc. to see if she can even reach the outside net at all?

Tried updating IE to the newest version, or dropping back to 7 if she recently upgraded to 8?

What has been installed recently as far as antivirus, firewalls, spyware cleaners, etc?

Have you made sure that TCP/IP settings are correct/didn't get corrupted?

What software was installed that got removed with the restore?

Have you run virus scans on the machine?

When it won't connect on wireless can you get a wired connection?

[SpankyML]

she has safari and it won't connect either
can't reach an outside site at all
still running IE 7
norton 360
won't even connect to the internet when plugged straight into a modem

I'll run a virus scan (oops....should have been the 1st task to check for any corruption)

thanks for the information!

[SpankyML]

I just installed microsoft updates per vista and as soon as the updates were completed and installed i get the same problem again...can't log onto the internet even though the computer is showing "currently connected" to a wireless sourse (strong). So, i'm thinking that this is a problem with the microsoft updates and IE 7?????

[Trooper110]

Try disabling Norton and see what happens....maybe a recent update doesn't Norton.

Try to ping a website, see if it's just the browsers having trouble reaching the net.

Check the TCP/IP settings, if you use DHCP, nothing should have changed, but I'm never trusting of Microsoft that they're not setting something stupid, like a static IP.

Can you connect to other devices on the network? AKA, is she getting a "real" connection from the router, or is nothing available?

[mapes]

Just outta curiosity when this happens do you have an IP address or a DNS? You can find out by opening a cmd shell and typing ipconfig /all. Make sure the network card "wireless" has an IP address that is not all 0.0.0.0 or a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx number. Also make sure that the default gateway and DNS server IP's are valid.

[MRDEATH[GoD]Gen]

Have you tried resetting your moden and router.Turn off your pcs and laptop.Unplug the power to you moden and router.Plug your moden back in and waitlet it set itself,when you see all green lights,plug your router back in and let it reset it self.when all the light are on...turn on your pcs and laptop.
See if this helps.

[SpankyML]

Just outta curiosity when this happens do you have an IP address or a DNS? You can find out by opening a cmd shell and typing ipconfig /all. Make sure the network card "wireless" has an IP address that is not all 0.0.0.0 or a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx number. Also make sure that the default gateway and DNS server IP's are valid.

the MAC, IP set to AUTO, Gateway, DNS and IP address all look good, no 0.0.0.0 or 169.xxx.xxx.xxx. How do I check the validity of the DNS server and IPs? My laptop is right next to her's on the dining room table and I'm running great.

[SpankyML]

my laptop connects fine to the internet....still can't get her's to connect even though her's shows "excellent connectivity"?????

I'm about ready to run over it with the car and have Best Buy replace it....hhhmmmmm that might be a pretty good and fun option.

[Trooper110]

Find out who makes the wireless adapter in her laptop and try downloading the drivers directly instead of letting MS find them or getting them from the retailer (HP, Dell, etc.)

[SpankyML]

would this effect connecting directly though the modem b/c that doesn't even work either

[SpankyML]

the only thing that seems to let IE work is going back to an earlier restore point. thanks to all that posted

[Trooper110]

It could if MS is pulling bad drivers for the NICs, whether wired or wireless, from whatever source. Honestly I'd update both from their respective manufacturer's website and see what that does.

Also, did you try disabling Norton to check and make sure a recent MS update and your antivirus aren't playing games with each other?

[SpankyML]

It could if MS is pulling bad drivers for the NICs, whether wired or wireless, from whatever source. Honestly I'd update both from their respective manufacturer's website and see what that does.

Also, did you try disabling Norton to check and make sure a recent MS update and your antivirus aren't playing games with each other?

disabling Norton did nothing, next I'll try to update drivers from their respective websites and not through MS.

thanks!!

[mapes]

Okay try this for DNS from your laptop open a cmd shell and

ping http://www.google.com" it should show you an IP

now ping "http://www.google.com" from your daughters LT. Does it work? If yes then everything should be ok network wise. Try a different browser. Maybe look at IE security settings

If it dosn't work try pinging the address that showed up on your laptop from her LT. If that works the problem is DNS.

Compare the output of ipconfig /all from your laptop and her laptop make sure DNS is the same

IF that did not work try pinging the default gateway that is listed in your daughters laptop (via ipconfig) from your daughters laptop.

Also is it the same default gateway thats listed in your laptop?

If the the default router is different than yours something wierd is happening like your connecting to a neighbors wifi. If you can't ping the default router listed on your daughters laptop from your daughters laptop something wierd is up. Like your wifi config is wrong. Divide and conquer... your list of probs could be (if not hardware)

wifi ( WEP key is wrong...you can be connected to a access point but, not authenticated or your connected to the wrong AP)
DHCP (if you have it on your net maybe your not getting a lease)
DNS (name to IP mapping service)
Wrong default router
a mis configured netmask (compare the netmask via ipconfig it should be the same for your and her laptops)
Internet Explorer security settings