Internet Issues (possible LAN settings issue?)

doktorb

Hello forum, long time lerker, first time poster.....

Got a new 02 wireless router the other day, all activated fine, and as both a wireless and ethernet-connected-up device, my laptop recognises it, and the router seems to be fine in supplying a connection to the internet.

However neither IE nor Firefox (already installed on my laptop) will display web pages. 02 have looked around my settings and cannot find anything stopping IE from working given the router (seems!) to be working fine.

My mate tells me that the LAN settings in IE need to be changed so "Automatically detect settings" is ticked, and "use automatic configuration settings" is ticked with an address in it. If I do this...what address would I have to use? O2 suggest this needs not to be touched at all, but I can't think of any thing else to try!

Any help? Im not very tech savvy so I hope I've made sense.....

Ximian

One possible cause is that the machines are unable to resolve the website addresses, ie. a problem with DNS. Try the following: click start > run > type in CMD and then enter, this will start up a command shell
Type the following without quotes: "ping www.google.com" and see if you get a reply or at least see the address resolved successfuly into an IP Address.

Then type the following: "ipconfig /all" and enter
Do you see an IP Address listed successfully? (is the IP Address perhaps 169.x.x.x?)
Do you see a DNS server listed?

You shouldn't need to change the settings in your browser to autodetect proxies, unless specifically told to do so by your ISP.

webnise

Have you tried disabling windows firewall or any other antivirus/firewalls? If you are getting good signals strength, then you need to check any firewall settings preventing you from accessing websites.

Or else reboot your routher/pc and restart after 30 sec

pcombo

"my laptop recognises it, and the router seems to be fine in supplying a connection to the internet."


Seems like a DNS issue to me.

doktorb

Sorry for not replying sooner, I have limited internet access in libraries and such (so, obviously, my issue at home is not resolved!)

I have done all I think possible, with my only conclusion that IE is somehow screwed, so monies are being put aside to get the IE8 I cannot simply download in the hope that whatever is wrong with my current IE can be "knocked out" by the new one.

I have pinged google, which seems to answer back fine, and after clicking and unclicking all 02's call centre advised, I cannot fathom anything else. The "DNS issue" could well be it, but I wouldn't have the first clue about how to look into this side of things.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions, I will try to get back to this site some time next week.

davb

While you are trying to troubleshoot this, I would stick to using wired rather than wireless, and also use Firefox (3.5) as your browser.
You don't pay for IE8, it's free if you have a genuine Windows XP, Vista or 7 - but Firefox is easier to troubleshoot.

busenbust

Agree with above. Do not trouble-shoot this with a (failed) wireless connection; trouble-shoot with a fixed wired (Ethernet) connection.

My mate tells me that the LAN settings in IE need to be changed so "Automatically detect settings" is ticked, and "use automatic configuration settings" is ticked

^Correct, but you still have to input the designated DNS information (provided by O2) into your router's setup page. Also, confirm once again the correct username and password with O2 (again, needs to be input correctly into the router's setup page). DNS, username, password must be input to the letter; there is no scope for error as the browser will be unable to 'find' a page from the Internet.

doktorb

Thanks for all the above.

It was with a heavy heart that I decided, yesterday evening, to cancel my account with 02. I would rather buy a new laptop and start again than get very angry (and upset) staring at a bunch of tick-boxes and fields on my own that I could not understand.

Quite fitting on a money saving website that I now find myself trying to budget putting money to one side to save for a replacement laptop! If the new one doesn't work when I get round to buying /another/ router, then it must be me after all, LOL.

Cheers again for your advice. I tried my best, but sometimes I guess technology just doesn't want to play.....

pendulum

Riiiight... so to fix this problem you've decided to cancel your internet, replace your laptop AND replace your router. Well that should do it, but... bit of a silly thing to do at this stage, your problems sound like they are settings / software related and it won't take long to get to the bottom of the whole thing, if you make an effort.

sandiep

Is there not a local computer guy that you can pay £30 to come and set this all up for you? It's half an hours work for somone that knows what they're doing.