Computer Hope

Internet & Networking => Networking => Topic started by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 07:48:52 AM

Title: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 07:48:52 AM
-My daughters Toshiba Satellite Laptop has a an icon in the bottom showing it is connected to our internet as unidentified network.
-Trend Micro Antivirus keeps popping up saying No Internet Conncetion Found.
-When trying to go to a site the computer reads - Internet Explorer Cannot Display webpage.
-I went through START cmd and typed in firefox and google websites manually but get the error www.google.com is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file (no other info such as sent and receivced or lost follows).
PLEASE HELP!!!
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 07:51:08 AM
You are not connected to the internet. Would you like to provide some details about how you are connecting / trying to connect?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 07:52:37 AM
ADDITIONAL INFO: The laptop has worked fine and ran internet up until yesterday.  She is running Windows Vista. We do not have a password protected internet and she is wireless.  I also tried direct connect line to the interent and no luck.  We have unplugged both the modem and linksys and restarted her laptop.  Nothing seems to help.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 07:56:10 AM
Her internet status changes from "connected to unidentified" to "identifying Lynksys" - but never connects.  All other laptops in the house are working fine.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 07:59:55 AM
Control Panel - Network Connections - Local Area Connection - what does it show?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:09:00 AM
Shows "her PC" going to "unidentified network" trying to go to "internet" but not making the conncet (has a red X).
WRITTEN INFO ON SCREEN STATES:
Unidentified Network (public network) and changes back and forth to Identifying Network
Access Local -Only
Connection- wireless network connection Linksys
Signal strength - excellent
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:11:30 AM
Does it only show that one "unidentified" network? How do the other computers identify your network? What happens when you try to let the network applet try to "fix" the problem?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:11:46 AM
On the Connect to a network window, although it says she is connceted it shows the Linksys Iconw ith a yellow shield with an "!" on it.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: brett74 on August 31, 2009, 08:15:58 AM
try uninstalling the driver for it and then reinstall it I just had to do it with my niece's laptop and it's the same brand  and it worked. Click on uninstall then click on update driver and reboot it should reinstall for you and it should work.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:18:05 AM
Others that are connected including my sons identical Toshiba laptop and the one I am on now shows connected to "Linksys 2"  (The "Linksys 2" name, may be because the neighbor has a password protected linksys that also shows up).

Not Sure what Applet is...please explain.

When I run the repair and diagnose I get "there may be a problem with one or more network adapers on this computer, so I automatically get new IP settings and then get get windows tried but didn ot fix the problem.  

This is where I unplugged the modem and wireless, restarted her PC etc... no luck
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:21:02 AM
The applet to which I was referring was the Network applet in Control panel - but you already did what you are supposed to there. Please open device manager and see if there are any yellow exclamation marks.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:22:31 AM
ADG - Im Opening device Manager now...

How do I find/uninstall/reinstall the driver?

Upon startup she also gets an error "Could not locate a valid definitions file.  Please go tot he Program Operations page and click "Update definitions" to download a defininitions file.  (This should not affect her connection, right?  We think this is a Spy Sweeper error)
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:24:22 AM
That would be from one of your malware apps - don't worry about it for now. Any yellow asterisks?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:26:41 AM
No yellow that I can see but where specifically shoudl I be looking??
Network Adaptors = none
Modems = None
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:29:39 AM
I was hoping there was a problem with your network adapter. Everything certainly pointed there.

Okay, let's go to the network adapter in device manager. Identify the make and model and then go to the manufacturer's website and see download the driver and install it. If you can't do it that way, then in device manager right-click on the network adapter's name and then update driver. Let it look on the web for a newer driver.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:35:20 AM
This would have to be already located on my PC since I cant get to the internet, right?  Sorry Im a dumb blonde mom! 

I chose both look on the internet and on my PC for updates and...

Atheros AR5006EG Wireless Network Adapter - tried to update but it says best driver is already installed and up to date.
Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0) - tried to update but it says best driver is already installed and up to date.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:43:35 AM
Sorry - I'm the dumb (well, not blonde) this time. Right, if you can't get to the internet on that system you'll have to do it on another.

http://www.downloadatoz.com/driver/item_261458.html
http://www.realtek.com.tw/DOWNLOADS/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=7&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:45:56 AM
But then again it probably isn't the wireless card - you said you tried a direct ethernet connection to the modem, is that correct?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 08:50:18 AM
Yes, i tried direct connect.  I also check the update on the internal modem and that is up to date.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 08:57:02 AM
Well, I'm at a bit of a loss. Neither the ethernet card nor the wireless card are allowing you to connect to the network. The only other thing I can think of is some software issue - either something starting with the system that's causing the problem (not likely) or malware of some form. Can we try running a full scan with Malware Bytes or Super AntiSpyware as well as your Anti Virus utility please? I saw you are running spysweeper, but still..... It's a bit of a longshot but it's worth a try.

And of course if anyone else following this thread has any thoughts....... please jump in.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:00:20 AM
Her antivirus software including Spyroot and Trend are out of date.  She only has the Windows Security.  How would we run the other things that you just mentioned?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 09:07:49 AM
Ahhh. Well, now I'm starting to think that may indeed be something. Installing and updating security software is a little difficult without an internet connection, but let's do the best we can.

Download MalwareBytes and install it on her computer. It won't have the most current definitions, but there's not much we can do about that. Then do the same with Avast Antivirus (http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html). You can disable her current utilities when running these scans. Afterwards, only keep one antivirus utility active (you decide which) but make sure it ALWAYS has the most current definitions (most will do so automatically).
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:11:50 AM
How can I download it if I cant get to the internet on her PC?
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 09:13:18 AM
On another pc. Then copy them to a usb drive or a cd - whatever you like - and then to her computer and install.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:22:58 AM
Okay, doing that now.  (Thats what I thought I needed to do but wasnt sure...)lol
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 09:28:22 AM
That's fine. Always good to ask when you aren't sure. Those scans are going to take a while so we'll see you later :)
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:31:44 AM
Got an error code 732 (0,0) from malware....augh!!!!
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:32:21 AM
Thanks!  have a good day!
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: Allan on August 31, 2009, 09:35:00 AM
That's an error updating, which is because there's no internet connection. Can you run the scan anyway? If not, let's try Super AntiSpyware instead of MalwareBytes.
Title: Re: Laptop says connected to internet but isnt
Post by: stoni_b on August 31, 2009, 09:37:35 AM
Yup figured that out.  Running it now and it already found 30+ infected...