Lost Internet Access on PC

[Thurbane]

Hoping someone can suggest something to help.

My PC suddenly just up and decided it didn't want to connect to the network/internet anymore.

• Asus P8Z77-M mainboard
• On board network adapter: Realtek PCIe GBE family controller
• Windows 7 64 bit

I've done a fresh install of Windows (including re-formatting), and it hasn't helped.

I've tried using a USB dongle (802 1 1n WLAN Adapter) to connect to the network/internet, but despite the driver being installed correctly as far as I can tell, also not working. Telling me driver not installed.

I've disabled and re-enabled the on board network adapter through the BIOS, which didn't help.

Assigning IP address manually didn't help.

Either did manually assigning the network address value.

It's definitely not the modem/router, as my wife's PC connects to the internet just fine, and the wi-fi is working.

...I'm wondering if it's a hardware issue, and the network card/board has issues?

Can anyone else suggest anything to try before I take my PC into a shop and pay to have them check it out?

TIA.

[Rogar Demonblud]

When exactly did you lose access? Because Microsoft just axed another section of Win7 functionality on 1/1.

[Thurbane]

When exactly did you lose access? Because Microsoft just axed another section of Win7 functionality on 1/1.

No, probably around late November.

It's taken me a while to get around to this, been using my wife's PC.

[Brother Oni]

Have you tried using a different network cable?

Can your computer at least reach the router?

[halfeye]

If you tried via a USB implementation of Ethernet and that didn't work, it's a software problem.

[Peelee]

Remarkably stupid question here. What happens if you ping google?

[factotum]

Remarkably stupid question here. What happens if you ping google?

Or ping 141.1.1.1? If you get a response from the IP ping, but not the named one, you have an issue with your DNS setup.

[Thurbane]

Have you tried using a different network cable?

Can your computer at least reach the router?

Yes and yes.

If you tried via a USB implementation of Ethernet and that didn't work, it's a software problem.

That's what I thought, but then why didn't a reinstall of Windows fix it?

[Erloas]

Is anything at all working? You've tried a few different browsers, tried pinging a few well known sites, tried games, messenger services, automatic updates?

Does Windows tell you that you don't have access to the internet or does attempts to access things simply not happen, wait forever, give some sort of error, or?

[Manga Shoggoth]

If your PC can see the router then try doing a tracert to see how far you get. Here is an example:

C:\Users\Browser>tracert www.google.com

Tracing route to www.google.com [216.58.206.68]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 ^C

This shows that I am getting as far as my router (192.168.0.1), but no further (in this case because I have tied my router down so it is probably blocking tracert traffic).

(EDIT: It is also showing that DNS is working as it has resolved the address used in the tracert command)

If you only get that far then the problem is probably with your router - for example it might be blocking traffic for your specific IP for some reason (I have this set for a couple of addresses so that some domestic kit doesn't try to call home, but I also have that kit on fixed IP addresses).

What you do about that depends on how configurable your router is (and indeed whether you can get in and configure it).

If you get further then something upstream may be blocking you.

[Brother Oni]

As Manga Shoggoth and halfeye said, now that we've eliminated the hardware aspect, it's a software configuration.

To follow up on Manga Shoggoth's question, does your router have any QOS software? If so, have you accidentally blacklisted your computer's MAC address somehow?
Does your ISP have any QOS software that does that same?

[Thurbane]

Well, after messing around with ipconfig and powering the router off for a while and switching back on, somehow seem to have fixed the issue.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[Rogar Demonblud]

The modem might have had a codelock on the one computer (similar to how you suddenly have one channel disappear for a moment, but can get it by switching channels then going back). Really, rebooting the modem should probably be the first step in any connectivity issue.

[Peelee]

The modem might have had a codelock on the one computer (similar to how you suddenly have one channel disappear for a moment, but can get it by switching channels then going back). Really, rebooting the modem should probably be the first step in any connectivity issue.

You dare suggest percussive maintenance ever take a backseat?!?

[Rogar Demonblud]

For a connectivity issue? Of course. It's really hard to hit those little wi-fi fairies flitting about, but if you cut off the free bar at the modem they tend to shape up.

[Thurbane]

The modem might have had a codelock on the one computer (similar to how you suddenly have one channel disappear for a moment, but can get it by switching channels then going back). Really, rebooting the modem should probably be the first step in any connectivity issue.

I'd turned it off at the switch at the back of the router, but this time I turned it off at the wall. Not sure what difference that should have made.

[Rogar Demonblud]

The switch on the modem is more of a standby mode thing. Killing it at the wall is probably a complete power-down-and-reboot cycle.

[Bohandas]

You mentioned it saying the driver wasn't installed even though it is. Maybe try uninstalling the driver for real and then reinstalling it?

[Thurbane]

The switch on the modem is more of a standby mode thing. Killing it at the wall is probably a complete power-down-and-reboot cycle.

Good to know for the future.

You mentioned it saying the driver wasn't installed even though it is. Maybe try uninstalling the driver for real and then reinstalling it?

No longer need a USB dingle, the router is connected directly by cable.

[Brother Oni]

Good to know for the future.

The old IT standby of 'Have you tried turning it off and on again' is always a good start for fixing computer issues.

If you want to get fancy, I believe the accepted jargon is 'Have you tried power cycling it?'.

[snowblizz]

Couple of months ago neighbour asked me to look at his IP tv that lost conention. I find it is bridged wirelessly to the router. I lgo in top it poke abit aroudn to see conenctions going in/out are ok and then I disconenct thme and move them closer to rooter so I can see them both connect.

Takes me two reboots to get bridge talking again and when I move other unit out in the living room it all lights up.

Neighbour is amazed and wonder what I did. Nothing. Just rebooted them in the right order. The provider's support had had him move lan cables around and stuff.

Dad's Surface 2 wouldn't open Internet Explorer. No matter what one did. Weird. So naturally, restart the thing and lo and behold eveyrthing is back to normal. Waht ya do? Reboot.

So yes, it's annoying how effective power cycling is.

[halfeye]

So yes, it's annoying how effective power cycling is.

Now imagine that not working. I think that would be a lot more annoying.