Laptop can't connect to internet ... suddenly stopped working 7 days ago

[AlaskaHQ]

I have a Dell laptop, and we have a Plus.net broadband access with a wireless router thing.

Always has worked fine, until last week. Now it can find our Plus.net router network fine still, but can't get an internet connection through there (either through plugging in directly to the router, or wireless-ly). I have got both Internet Explorer and Firefox installed and neither work any more.

Both my new work laptop and DH's work laptop still work fine through our wireless network. Randomly, this problem started just after I first started using my new work laptop from home ... but I don't understand how that could have affected anything - it may be just a coincidence.

What could be going wrong?? What do I need to do??

I have tried logging in to a neighbours' wireless network, and the same happens ... my computer can find the router, but can't access the internet through it.

Any help really appreciated.

Just to add, I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Plus.net trying to sort the problem out, and they were baffled. My laptop was definitely reaching the router, and they got me to "ping" a few different addresses, including for example the address for google.com, which did get through and bounce back. So that was all working, but it just wouldn't for example, load the www.google.com page.

Mine has a little button near to the mousepad. Sometimes I accidentally knock it and it stops the internet working. Have you done that?

OK try this...

Bring up a DOS prompt (where you typed ping earlier) and enter:
telnet news.bbc.co.uk 80

What happens?

"Mine has a little button near to the mousepad. Sometimes I accidentally knock it and it stops the internet working. Have you done that?"

If it's pinging then it's got a network connection of some sort...

I typed "telnet news.bbc.co.uk 80" as suggested and the response was "Access is denied."

Aarrg - ignore that ... DH has just pointed out I've typed that in the wrong computer. (I'm on his work computer as needed internet access.)

When I do it on the right computer (ie the one that isn't working) the response is " 'telnet' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

That'll be Windows Vista or 7 then....

Try installing it with this:

Click the Start button
Click Control Panel
Click Programs
Click Turn Windows features on or off
In the Windows Features dialog box, select the Telnet Client check box.
Click OK

Telnet is basically behaving how a web browser would at a very low level. Ping is showing that you can connect to the remote server, so Telnet is a quick step up the list of things needs to browse the net.

However you shouldn't have got an access is denied message on a machine with an internet connection, the DOS box should either have gone black or said something about escape characters. But that said the work machine might be going through some sort of proxy, and that might actually give us some clues...

Sounds like there is a glitch on the laptop itself. I had this problem with my Dell aspire laptop and our BT hub. Every other computer worked wirelessly in the house except mine, it just stopped working! I just couldnt get the internet connection.
BT couldnt work it out either.

So I did a system restore and took the laptop back to an earlier state when it was working properly. Turns out it was an anti virus download had caused the problem and once removed the laptop started working again!.

Try doing a system restore back to when the laptop was working properly.
( From start menu - into programmes - then accessories - system tools - system restore). This will take the laptop back to a date you choose without loosing documents.

Good luck

"OK try this...
Bring up a DOS prompt (where you typed ping earlier) and enter:
telnet news.bbc.co.uk 80
What happens?"

Hi - Back from work again.
I've enabled telnet as you said in the control panel, and then redid the above. It's now come up with a blank (black) dos screen, with "Telnet news.bbc.co.uk" at the top, but no text in the actual black bit.

Does that help at all?

I'm just trying the system restore thing too.

Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!!

Both Badgers Paw & faban fabby. Really appreciate the help.

System restore seems to have worked ... internet now up again.

DH is seriously impressed that Mumsnet helped me fix this .... he thought it was all just about toddlers & playdates!

Thank you!!!