Internet Connection question

1Foxylady

Hi

I have windows vista and down on the task bar I have the 2 monitors icon.
Why is it that I can't connect to the internet when the blue circle is not present? (hope you understand what I mean :-))

I don't know what this blue circle is, is it protection? can I switch it off?
When there is no blue circle and I hover over the icon, it just says local access, when the blue circle is there it says local and internet access.

I've never had this blue circle on any of the other computers I had. I know someone who also has vista but this circle doesn't appear on theirs.

My laptop is a HP DV2278.

Any help would be appreciated :-)

droopsnoot

From what I can gather (I don't run Vista here) the blue circle is supposed to be a globe, which indicates a working internet connection, if it's not there then that would be why. Check out this page: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/understanding-vistas-new-network-connection-icons/

for more information.

Conor_3

1Foxylady wrote: »

Hi

I have windows vista and down on the task bar I have the 2 monitors icon.
Why is it that I can't connect to the internet when the blue circle is not present? (hope you understand what I mean :-))

I don't know what this blue circle is, is it protection? can I switch it off?
When there is no blue circle and I hover over the icon, it just says local access, when the blue circle is there it says local and internet access.

I've never had this blue circle on any of the other computers I had. I know someone who also has vista but this circle doesn't appear on theirs.

Any help would be appreciated :-)

The blue circle indicates Internet Access is available. Without it, you only have local network access. It takes a few seconds when you first fire up - longer if you're using a USB Modem - whilst Vista maps out the network and makes sure everything is up and running.

1Foxylady

If there is no blue circle and therefore I am not connected to the internet, why when I look at the connection's activity, I'm I receiving bytes if I have no internet connection?

droopsnoot

Any network activity will do that, not just internet activity. For example if you have it connected to a router, data coming from the router will show up as received data.

1Foxylady

droopsnoot wrote: »

Any network activity will do that, not just internet activity. For example if you have it connected to a router, data coming from the router will show up as received data.

I didn't realise that, thanks for clarifying :-)