GregHowley.com

Wireless Woes

October 16, 2008 -

Why does this crap always happen to our computers? This time it's Linda's laptop. Every time she reboots, it work fine for 10-15 minutes, and then the connection drops. But wait - it's only the browsers. She can still use IM, she can still ping the router and yahoo.com from a command prompt, but neither Firefox or Internet Explorer can bring up any web pages. Not even the router.

I've run virus and malware scans, I've checked the HOSTS file, restarted a couple services, and changed many router settings, but nothing has fixed the issue. I've currently got Spybot running a full scan in safe mode on her machine, but I'm not hopeful.

Here's the interesting thing: I've found a number of other sites with people describing the exact same problem, and no one has found a solution other than reinstalling the operating system. Aack. Guess if all else fails, I'll try that this weekend.

Comments on Wireless Woes
 
Comment Fri, October 17 - 11:56 AM by tagger
If all your other PCs are working OK, the problem is probably with the client. First thing I would do is to try a wired (CAT-5) connection. If that works, you may be dealing with flaky hardware on Linda's PC.

Try typing IP addresses instead of names. Here are some you can try:

http://209.85.171.99 -- Google

http://207.46.232.182 -- Microsoft

http://63.245.209.10 -- Mozilla.com

You have to type the protocol (http://) into the browser if you use an IP address. If the numbers work and the names do not, you're most likely looking at a DNS problem. Before you run off and reinstall Windoze, try reinstalling TCP/IP.

At the risk of beating a dead elephant, as cryptic as UNIX is, these kinds of problems are a lot easier to ID. Ever consider Linux?

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Good luck.
 
Comment Fri, October 17 - 9:25 PM by pmd
As far as your issues go... What he said. I still don't trust those new-fangled things, so I haven't done much troubleshooting on them.

Oh, and about Linux... I'm taking a Linux class now (about time), it's really pretty slick. I'm not fully sold on switching over, but I was impressed. Wish I could say the same about the instructor since the class doesn't have much faith in the guy. Seems to get stumped a little too much.
 
Comment Sat, October 18 - 10:35 AM by tagger
Guess I shouldn't have retired so soon. :-)

Linux is Unix, I don't care what GNU says. After teaching Unix user, troubleshooting, tuning and admin classes for about 16 years, I can tell you if your instructor learned it out of a book teaching it is going to be problematic. If you can get close to a working admin type, you'll get a lot out of it.

Pass the course to get the credit and learn it by using it, is my advice.
 
Comment Sat, October 18 - 5:00 PM by Greg
Well, even IP addresses don't work through the browser. I'm reinstalling the OS even as I type.
 
Comment Tue, October 21 - 11:09 AM by The Dock
Greg as potential purchaser of wireless equipment in the near future. Did the OS re-install solve your wild, wearisome, wireless, woes, whose, wholesomeless, wranklings, wracked your worried head? In short, with out all the aliterative verse, did re-installing operating system (windows?) solve the issue?

Oh and the new Knight Rider is a nice sedative even when you have chugged a vat of coffee. I have seen better waffle in cheap diner.
 
Comment Tue, October 21 - 11:14 AM by Greg
Yeah - the reinstall fixed everything.