PC question

ben ashton · Post by **ben ashton** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:50 pm

My computer has decided not to let me connect to the internet.
Ethernet connection doesn't want to play.
Wireless connection will connect to network but browser still can't find server.
The reasons it tries to give me are either 'cannot clear DNS cache' or can't renew IP address, the 2 things it seems impossible for any human to achieve!
Spent an hour on phone to BT and they gave up saying 'contact a technician' which sounds expensive and excessive! (Incidentally all of their personnel sound suspiciously indian. I can't imagine where their call centre is..) Anyway...
Had the same problem on my laptop a while ago and no-one in the world seemed to have an answer, though I was told it was a problem with the 'TCP/IP stack' or some such. So I bought my PC. After kicking said laptop.
Running XP btw.
Have used up my meagre knowledge of such things.
Any bright ideas?

englishangel · Post by **englishangel** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:43 am

Thank you Ben fo4r asking the question, we can't connect our laptops to the wireless network either.

Mrs C. · Post by **Mrs C.** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:47 am

i`ve had problems on and off with laptop wireless connections - I just ring Linksys (we have their wireless stuff) and they talk me through what to do - usually involves putting yet another different number into the system somewhere, but it always seems to be at a different point so I couldn`t even begin to explain what to do!

marty · Post by **marty** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:43 pm

We have this problem with Tiscali. My flatmate says it's something the provider do (like changing your IP address without telling you) but I can't be sure...

ben ashton · Post by **ben ashton** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:43 pm

BT is my ISP. Ironic as i've recently written two market reports about them!
With the laptop it was Talktalk.
Using a BT 'Homehub'.
I'm apparently connected, but the PC doesn't seem to be able to access any content due to not being able to reach the server.
Ran ipconfig via the command prompt... initially there was no default gateway, but now i'm told 'media disconnected'. This is a lie! as the ethernet clearly is connected, even has the orange light. And the wireless connection again is connected. Its accessing anything online via a browser that's the problem.
Anyone using BT have the settings (gateway, subnet mask etc.)?
Any techie people please contact me as i'm lost! (response may be delayed as i have to use internet in uni library)

Post by **jtaylor** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:02 pm

Try the following if you haven't already:-
1. Exit Internet Explorer and all other Internet-based programs (MSN, Skype, Email, IE etc)
2. Open a Command Prompt (Start -> Run -> "cmd" and press Enter)
Then do the following:-
a. Type in "ipconfig /flushdns" (then press enter)
b. Type in "ipconfig /renew" (the press enter)

This should simply renew your settings with your router/hub
Check whether this has solved the problem.

3. Check your internet connection settings - for BT, they should all work set to automatic - Open Internet Explorer, click on Tools, Internet Options, Connections tab, LAN Settings, then check that Automatically Detect Settings is ticked.

Exit Internet Explorer, and then reopen.
Check whether this has solved the problem.

The next two won't solve anything, but might help diagnose if you're still struggling:-
4. Try "pinging" the bbc website -
Open a command prompt again, as above, then type in:-
"ping bbc.co.uk" (and press enter) You should get a response time in milliseconds, with something like "Reply from 212.58.224.131: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=119" or roughly similar numbers.

5. If you get "Ping request could not find host bbc.co.uk" then you've got a problem with DNS of some sort (how the internet interprets bbc.co.uk into an actually address. Try running "ping 212.58.224.131" and see if that works instead...

6. Are you able to get to the router config page via the web browse?....that would confirm that the PC is talking to the router/hub, and that the problem is then potentially between the router and the internet, or the way the PC is talking through the router.

7. Run "ipconfig /all" from the command prompt - what does it say? You should see a "DNS Servers" entry against your network card or wireless adapter, which is likely to be 192.168.1.1 - the router's address.

Worth trying the above - then if still not working, let me know and I'll see if there are any other things to try......

(I won't comment on the competence of BT's "technical" support.........)

ben ashton · Post by **ben ashton** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:20 pm

Thanks, will have a go tonight.

When I used Waitrose as ISP they only seemed to have one tech support person, a Jamaican called Marvin! He was very helpful though. I miss Marvin

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:07 pm

ben ashton wrote:Thanks, will have a go tonight.

When I used Waitrose as ISP they only seemed to have one tech support person, a Jamaican called Marvin! He was very helpful though. I miss Marvin

I think you'll find him working on the deli counter now !

Post by **jtaylor** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:19 pm

Did Marvin have a brain the size of a planet, and seem a little depressed??

Katharine · Post by **Katharine** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:33 pm

jtaylor wrote:Did Marvin have a brain the size of a planet, and seem a little depressed??

Just what I was wondering! Did he have a pain in his side?

ben ashton · Post by **ben ashton** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:38 pm

He wasn't working on the deli counter when I was!

Post by **jtaylor** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:17 pm

I'm also assuming he's not starvin' either?