can't browse the internet

I've tried everything I know which isn't much. I have a laptop and I've been trying for the last two days to get online and I can't. Everytime I try connecting using internet explorer or msn it keeps telling me page cannot be displayed. I have a wireless connection and the signal strength is excellent. So I know it's not that. what else could it be? Please help!

I'd try browsing the web instead!

Alright, alright. Not your fault. All those ISP's getting their terminology mixed up for the sake of marketing.

Does email work? Can you ping any websites? Did you try resetting Internet Explorer to its default settings?
Did you try Firefox?

I don't know how to reset internet explorer and I don't know what Firefox is. Also what is ping? It just won't open any internet pages for me.

Try turning off your computer and router and leave for 5 mins. Then turn on your router and let it start up (green lights) then switch on your PC. Does this work ?

I don't know how to reset internet explorer and I don't know what Firefox is. Also what is ping? It just won't open any internet pages for me.

You can reset Internet Explorer to its default settings by going to tools -> Internet Options -> advanced
Firefox can be obtained from http://www.getfirefox.com, it is another browser

Ping is a command that you can use in the command prompt. You access the command prompt by typing cmd after pressing Windows key + r
Once you're in the command prompt, you ping google.com and see if you get a response. IF you get a response, the problem is with the browser. If you get no response, the problem lies elsewhere.

I did what you said about ping and I did not get a response. I also reset internet options and got no response to any. So what to do now? Thanks for all you guys are helping me with.

I did what you said about ping and I did not get a response. I also reset internet options and got no response to any. So what to do now? Thanks for all you guys are helping me with.

Few questions:

You reset the router as well?
Is the wireless connection back up?
Do you have any other computers on your network?
Is this a newly configured network?
When did it stop working and do you know what happened that made it stop working?
Have you tried a wired connection?

Where is the router and what is it?
I never lost the wireless connection, it just won't display the webpages.
I only have a desktop on my network.
No the network is not newly configured.
It stopped working when my mom was using skype. In the midst of her conversation it just disconnected and won't reconnect to the webpage.
No I haven't tried a wired connection just yet.

You may or may not have a router. You could also just have a modem which was provided by your Internet Service provider.
You can restart it by unplugging it from the mains. It'll take a few minutes to start up again. If you have both a router and a modem, restart both.

How do I restart the modem and the router?

How do I restart the modem and the router?

You unplug it from the mains. It's usually a black cable leading to a wall socket.

Did you locate your modem and/or router? If you unplug it, you will lose your internet connection.

That makes me realize: How can you post on computerhope if you have no working browser?

This is the desktop not the laptop. The laptop has the issue and I have not been able to use it for three days now.

This is the desktop not the laptop. The laptop has the issue and I have not been able to use it for three days now.

Oh, you said you only had a desktop on the network.

Did you get around to restarting the modem and/or router?

yes I did and I'm still receiving the same error message.

yes I did and I'm still receiving the same error message.

What do you use to send email? Can you still send email?
Do you have anti-virus software?

Are you sure you're hooked up to your own wireless network?