MetaChat - How to ask a question.

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19 October 2013

How to ask a question. Between one minute and the next, my Windows Vista machine stopped talking to the internet. All other internet devices in the house, including this other computer I'm using, work fine. I was using Chrome, but other browswers don't work either. My question is, what do I need to try first/find out in order to properly ask for help over on AskMe? I've restarted the computer and reset the modem and router, but I'm stuck after that.

post by: JanetLand at: 08:46 | 8 comments

Look for any metal grids or racks between the router and the computer. Parallel strips of metal suck up radio waves like nobody's busness, and they can play hell with keeping an internet connection.

posted by Ardiril 19 October | 09:44

I'm connected to the router just fine.

posted by JanetLand 19 October | 09:52

Holy crap I fixed it. While stumbling around I found the window with my DNS settings and told it to connect automatically instead of looking for a fixed number and whaddya know it worked. Mind, I couldn't say why or how, but I'm connected and therefore happy.

posted by JanetLand 19 October | 10:09

I was just about to tell you that it could be a DNS problem!

posted by Obscure Reference 19 October | 10:21

Oddly, some sites, like facebook, still will not load.

posted by JanetLand 19 October | 11:07

Nice! As far as the not-loading thing, clear your browser cookies.

Usually I go through the wireless-connection troubleshooter, and that fixes things most of the time.

I was gonna give the advice that when asking a computer related AskMe, you always have to start with your operating system and version, or that's the first question you'll get.

posted by Miko 19 October | 11:21

Oddly, some sites, like facebook, still will not load.

Try rebooting the computer.

Glad you sorted out the connection problem. I had the same issue the other day with my Wi-Fi repeater (one of those little mini-routers I use to boost the signal from the main router in my home office). Unfortunately the instruction book is in Chinglish and it took me ages to work out how to log in to the Mini-Router control panel (by changing the DNS to a fixed number) and then changing it back again after I'd cloned the MAC number for the main router.

posted by Senyar 19 October | 11:41

Usually I go through the wireless-connection troubleshooter, and that fixes things most of the time.

Yeah, that didn't work at all, which is when I decided I needed help.

Cleared cookies AND rebooted. Everything loads great now. Thanks all!!

posted by JanetLand 19 October | 19:12

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