Basics of Windows 7 and Internet Troubleshooting

Windows 7 has been a confusing switch for many new users who upgraded directly from Xp and have never used Vista. Menus are not where we left them and certain bits of information that we have become accustom to in one spot have all mysterious "vanished". We especially have this issue when the internet goes out. Something that I have run into quite a bit are people who are fixated on this lovely picture (notice the red x):

The above picture is the main network and sharing center page arrived at by going to the control panel and clicking on network and internet then network and sharing center. Users are confused because this page tells us absolutely NOTHING! except that our internet is broken. Where is the repair connection button? NOWHERE, apparently Microsoft does not want to make it easy to renew and release the IP address. A page that depicts a working internet connection is pictured below.

 However, any real user knows that the real information is found by going to change adapter settings along the left side of the screen and then right clicking either the LAN option or Wireless option selecting status and then the details button pictured below:

What we are interested in is the IPv4 address because that tell us whether we are connected to a router, modem, or the internet. Routers have a 192.168.x.x address, Modems have a 192.168.100.xx, and if you are connected straight to the modem generally your IP address will start with 2 digits. if you see 169.254.x.x then you know that you are not connected to anything...start looking for loose cables and that the modem is online. Generally 169.254 addresses indicate an issue with the computer and not a provider issue...especially if the online, cable, or ready light is on on the cable modem.

Finally we can now get to renewing and releasing the IP address for Windows 7 and Vista computers...the easiest way to do this is to just open up Internet Explorer and then click on diagnose connection problem. Part of diagnosing includes trying to renew and release the IP address. Speaking of IE issues make sure that you are not working offline in IE. To do so open IE and then click file, look for work offline, if that is checked then you are working offline if there is no check next to it then you are good to go for IE.

Furthermore, if your computer takes more than 5 minutes to start up you have something going on with your computer and it needs to be checked out...don't waste your time on the phone with the ISP to find that out after 30 minutes of troubleshooting and then get frustrated. Generally if a computer is slow something is wrong with it and it needs to be taken to a PC repair shop...your ISP is not a PC repair shop...they repair internet issues only NOT slow or malfunctioning computers.