Are you having problems with your network and/or Internet connection? Was it setup and working fine, previously? Before you call Tech Support or your favorite geek, try a few standard troubleshooting techniques, yourself.
Sometimes giving your network a fresh start will set things right. Here’s how:
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Turn off all network equipment and everything connected to it: any and all modems, routers, switches, hubs, access points and computers. Be careful to shutdown your computers properly. As for network gear, like the modems and routers, many of which have no power switch, the easiest and surest way to completely power down is usually to unplug the power cord from it's AC adapter. -
Wait 1 minute.
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Starting where the Internet enters your premises (usually the modem) and continuing down the line, following the Internet’s “flow” into your network, power up each piece of equipment, one at a time. Each item may need a minute to startup and connect (with the appropriate lights glowing or flashing). In a typical household, you might proceed in this order:
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The router: the network traffic cop that connects and directs all the digital signals between the Internet (the worldwide network outside your premises) and the various devices connected on your own local network. In a typical home or small business network, the router is a small all-in-one device that creates both a wireless (WiFi) and a wired (Ethernet) network for your entire place. If your network is composed of more than one router, WiFi access point, hub, switch or bridge, power them up in the order that they connect to each other.
That should give you a fresh start, assuring that everything on the network is working correctly and connected to everything else on the network.
If you still have problems, here are a few other troubleshooting ideas:
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If you’re using WiFi to connect, try connecting via Ethernet, instead. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to one of the available ports on the back of your router or switch. If that works, your problem must be limited to WiFi, in some way.
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Try using another computer on the same network. If it connects okay, verify that the troublesome computer is using the same settings and password as the good one.
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Take your computer (easiest with a laptop) elsewhere, to a network that you know to be working fine. If your computer doesn’t connect where other have no problem, the problem is probably with your computer (not the network).
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Take the Ethernet cable coming out of the modem and connect it directly to your computer. If you now connect to the Internet, whereas previously you couldn’t, the problem must exist somewhere in your network, with the devices and cables in between the modem and the computers. IMPORTANT: Windows users should only try this as a last resort, because this places your computer outside the protection of the FireWall (a feature of your router), leaving your computer vulnerable to hackers. Disconnect the computer from the modem, as soon you are done! Try this at your own risk.
If none of these actions solves the problem, it’s probably time to call upon more expert advice.
15 November 2007
