TechBite by Steve Bass: Newsletter #3

Are You Attached?

When you can't connect to the Internet, you can point your finger at a few things.

I'll start with the easiest thing to check, but first I'll make a prediction. You're going to say, "nope, not me" right after I tell you what to do. Look at all the cables going to and from your modem and your router if you have one, and make sure they're all plugged tightly into their connectors. Listen, boys and girls, this has happened to me, much to my chagrin; it's also a common theme on many of the PCs I'm called in to troubleshoot.

BTW, monitor cables are notorious trouble-makers -- if the cable isn't tightened, there's a video problem.

My tech editor Carey Holzman suggests unplugging each end of a cable and then plugging it back in again to ensure a proper connection at both ends. He says that's substantially better than the unreliable and unscientific "wiggle and pull test."

Time Waster: You think computing people are weird? Try architects. No, really, it's true and I have proof. Get a load of the images of the 50 Strange Buildings of the World. [Thanks, Chuck.] 

Hello, Are You Working?

If you still can't get online, it could that your cable or DSL service provider is having a bad day. Or someone might have smashed a car into a nearby service box, cutting off access for everyone in the neighborhood. 

So the first thing I do is check the lights on my modem (yours may be a DSL modem; mine's Charter's cable service).

How do you know everything's kosher? Right now, while you're online and happy as a lark, make a note of the lights on the modem; see which indicator lights are flashing and which are solid. (A digital picture is even better.) That way when you go offline, you can compare your picture to the current state of the modem's lights.

In my case, the modem's LAN line was flashing. That was unusual, so I called Charter. In 2 minutes flat, I heard the announcement that they were having trouble throughout California, with no ETA on when the service would be up. I had a nice non-computing break; I got caught up on laundry and took the dogs for a long walk.

If all the lights look normal, reset the modem by unplugging it from the power source, then wait 5 minutes before plugging it back in. If you know your modem has batteries (which is fairly common if it has VoIP phone services), take out the batteries before unplugging the modem.

Chances are good that resetting the modem will solve your problem. If it doesn't, and you have a router, follow the same steps: Unplug the router and let it sit for 5 minutes. (Go fold the laundry.)

Quick Tip: My friend Rod Ream has a router with cables going to four PCs. He wraps different-color electrical tape on both ends of each cable so he can quickly figure out where each cable goes -- and which PC it belongs to.

Time Waster: If you haven't seen these images of the sun, well, they're amazing. Just make sure you slap on some sun block before you click the link [Thanks to Michal from Portland.]

Oh, No, It's the Software...

I wish I could say hardware is the only connectivity issue you'll face. It isn't. Software can do a number on your connection, and so can something amiss in the operating system.

There are a host of tricks for combating software problems and firing up your connection. I'll show you the ones I've had the most success with.

The first step is to think back to anything new you might have done, say, installing a new antispyware tool, or playing with a program that needs access to the Internet. For instance, I often upload and download files to RapidShare, a file storage service. Their RapidLoader software is poorly written (make that "an atrocious piece of junk") and often temporarily blocks every other program needing Internet access.

If you did install something, uninstall it using Revo Uninstaller. Revo is free and the best uninstaller I've ever used. That alone may put you back in business. But if it doesn't, do a System Restore (from Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools).

At this point, you may still be disconnected from the Internet and really suffering. But first, let's take a break.

Time Waster: Try this game to see how old your brain is. Use with caution if you're over 85 (and I know some of you are...). It's in Japanese, so here are the instructions: click Start, wait for the countdown, and then memorize the position of the numbers on the screen. Now click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number. At the end of game, if you last that long, you'll learn how old your brain is. [Thanks to Dennis G.]

More Software Fixes

If you're using any version of XP, grab a copy of Dial-a-Fix and run it. One important caveat: Dial-A-Fixââ'¬(TM)s author has abandoned the program, so if you have Internet Explorer 7 installed, do NOT check the option to fix Internet Explorer, as this was designed to work only with IE 6. There's no need to reboot your PC.

No luck? Download WinSock XP Fix, a free utility that resets Registry settings that manage the Internet connections in Windows. If your computer has a static IP address, make a note of it before running this software. If you donââ'¬(TM)t know what a static IP address is, you probably donââ'¬(TM)t use one. After running WinSock XP fix, reboot when recommended. I encourage you to grab a copy of these programs before you desperately need them.

Vista users have a built-in Winsock reset function. From the Start menu, type Cmd in the Start Search text box. Type netsh winsock reset into the Command Prompt shell (the DOS box) and press Enter. You'll need to restart the computer.

Chances are quite good that at least one of these tricks will get you cooking again. Unfortunately, if it doesn't, you're going to have to bring in a professional who can look at your PC and diagnose the problem.

Connect with Everyone