why wont pc connect to internet

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Hi there,
I tried to re- send my previous message but Microsoft said they couldn’t deliver it ,so I will re-write it .I have 3 computers, an HP laptop in my lounge downstairs win 10,  A main desk top in my loft [Man-cave]  running win 10 2004 64 bit, that I use for every thing and another desk-top running win 7 which needs updating. which my wife uses to play games on.  My problem is the win 7 will not connect to the internet although it is connected to my Virgin hub by ethernet cable as is the main computer, the rest of the house is connected to the internet via electric socket system The win 7 has Asrock P55 motherboard , Samsung 1tb SSD,  Intel core i5 760 @ 250-350GHz, 8Gb Ram .When I research internet  {Win7} it shows unidentified network which it seems to be connected to in the drop down list it also show Virgin as being available at a very strong signal with a blue connect label if I press this it will start trying to connect -run for a minute I then get the message [Unable to connect to internet please try troubleshooter],which I do but it says it can’t solve the problem. I keep going over and over things but I’m getting nowhere, It’s very frustrating I can usually solve things ,with a bit of help from Google but not this time! It shows it is part of the network but when I check this on my computer it only shows my PC and the laptop on the network. The trouble is I can’t do anything with that PC until it’s  connected.
I hope you will have an answer,
Regards Anthony

Edit: HTML removal – Please use the ‘Text’ tab in the post entry box when you copy/paste

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Hi Anthony

If Win7 is showing 2 networks connections and one is the dreaded “Unidentified Network” it may be all you need is a simple reset of the IP stack.  From an CMD window (run as Admin) issue the command:

netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

Then once this has completed please reboot the system and hopefully the local network problem will be resolved.  See how you go.

 

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36dups wrote:

Hi Anthony

If Win7 is showing 2 networks connections and one is the dreaded “Unidentified Network” it may be all you need is a simple reset of the IP stack.  From an CMD window (run as Admin) issue the command:

netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

Then once this has completed please reboot the system and hopefully the local network problem will be resolved.  See how you go.

 

Hi 36dups thanks for your answer but I’m sorry this did not work I tried it 3 times but it’s still there.Anthony

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[36dups]

Hi Anthony,

Okay, sorry that the simple fix did not work.  I’m assuming that the “Unidentified Network” appeared when the access to the Internet was lost.  I can give you a few things to try but it’s a bit hit and miss, also note I’m assuming an IPv4 only system. I’m also assuming that other devices can use the local network to access the internet – you may need to use them to download files…

First check if the routing table is showing 2 default routes.  Do this with an admin CMD window and use the command:

<b>route print</b>

The resulting display has several sections, the first SHOULD be the list of interfaces Windows thinks it has and then at least one Route Table (IPv4 first then maybe IPv6).

On a normal system this should list at least one interface and only one default route identified in the table as destination and netmask as all zero’s in the IPv4 address. If the routing tables show more than 2 default routes you can delete them and re-install a single default route. You’ll need to record what the gateway is (your router IPv4 address) before you start and then use the command:

<b>route delete 0.0.0.0 netmask 0.0.0.0</b>

This will remove the default route, repeating in will delete the next default route.

To add a new default route use the command:

<b>route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 gateway <i><IPv4 of router></i> IP metric 10 if <i><Interface number></i></b>

The correct interface number to use is the first number in the list of interfaces for the relevant hardware device on your system.

If replacing the route has an impact then Internet access will be working at this time. This is not a fix by the way.

Assuming this works then the H/W is fine it’s just Windows is mis-configured. A possible fix is to use the device manager to delete/remove the hardware device and then reboot and allow windows to re-detect and reload the default H/W drivers.

Please reboot after each different attempt just to see if there is a lasting change of networking behavoiur.

If there are newer or more specific H/W drivers available upgrading to these later drivers can also solve the problem.

It’s also possible that a total clearing of the Windows 7 network settings may resolve things. If you want to try then using an admin CMD session issue all of the following commands one at a time. This is a superset of the simple approach you’ve tried and may have no impact.

<b>ipconfig /release
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
ipconfig /renew
netsh int tcp show global</b>

Are you having fun yet?

Let me know how you go.

G
So if that

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by 36dups. Reason: Formatting not correct

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Hi Again 36dups,More problems, when I put route print in cmd I get this message [the syntax of the command is incorrect] I get the same message when I try  your long list in Cmd. Regards A

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Hi,

Mmm.  You see to be having problems on multiple fronts.  Just to confirm this is a windows 7 system?  If you are getting problems with the command lines I sent then you show hold on them.

To try to get PaulT’s requested info can you use the snipping tool if you can not get cut and paste to work from the command window.  For help on this see the article:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots-00246869-1843-655f-f220-97299b865f6b

G

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Hi Anthony,

I typed a really long and detailed reply and it did not show up on checking.  So this time I’ll be brief.

Are there any newer drivers for the network hardware on the system?  If so please try a driver update.  That’s going to need a reboot.

If no drivers, please use device manager to locate and delete (not disable) the specific network hardware for the system.  Reboot and allow windows to re-detect the hardware and install drivers.

I’d suggest checking the routing table to see if more that one default route is showing if you are able to delete any multiple default routes and re-add just one it may be a temporary fix.

G

 

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Open a Command Prompt.
Enter the command: ipconfig /all
Post the result here please.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Paul T,  thanks for your reply how do I send it to you? Anthony

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Highlight the text in the Command Prompt.
Right click to copy the text – or right click on the title bar and select Edit > Copy.
Post the text into a post.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Paul T  I tried this but it wont highlight and copy is greyed out1

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The verbiage used for the problem is somedwhat ambiguous.
Does the computer not connect to the local (in house) network, intranet; or is inhibited from getting to the (world wide) internet?

A bit of research discloses that a “Virgin Hub” is a Virgin Media router; it is not a network hub in the networking usage of the word.

Sorting through the original description, my understanding is that the Win 7 does connect to the intranet (“it also show Virgin as being available”), but “Unable to connect to internet”.

If this is so, log into the Hub and check the Parental Control settings. If you are not familiar with this, do a Search for [ virgin hub parental control ] for instructions. This may not be the problem, but it is something to examine.

Further comments –
“[The Win 7] is connected to my Virgin hub by ethernet cable”, and “it also show Virgin as being available at a very strong signal”. To me, ‘strong signal’ implies wireless, not wired. By any chance does this Win 7 machine also have a wireless adapter?

I find this statement “It shows it [Win 7] is part of the network but when I check this on my computer it only shows my PC and the laptop on the network.” to be baffling. “is part of” and “it only shows” appear to be contradictory. Three “it” pronouns; but what are the referential objects, or subjects? The “network” here I understand to mean the intranet.

As @Paul-T requests, please post the result of an [ ipconfig /all ] on the Win 7 machine. If you need assistance to create such a post, please ask.

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Hi Paul K, Sorry I didn’t explain myself very well I will try to do so now.  Para [1]The computer will not connect to either intranet nor the internet.

[2]Virgin Media does show  in the network connections drop down list, but when I highlight the blue tab and click connect I get a message a minute later saying “cannot connect to virgin media

[3]  Yes it does have a wireless adaptor :Realtek rtl8168d PCi Gigabit ethernet nic NDIS620

[4] Yes when I read the message I can see what you mean by too many  IT’S!!.  it 1 – When  I open network settings in Win 7 I can see that the panel shows it is part of the network,  [this is my home private network  Intranet], but when I check network settings on my main computer,[win 10 2004] only the lounge laptop[Win10] and Win2004 is connected,  Win 7 doesn’t show!.  I did the ipconfig /all CMD  the results  show but COPY was greyed out  I have informed  @ Paul T of this. Regards A

 

Win 7 doesn,t show.

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OK, let’s fall back a bit and regroup some things.

First —
The request by Paul T is valid, BUT: the highlight-and-copy capability is not available in Windows 7; it was added in Win 10. So we’ll modify the procedure thus:

In a Command prompt, key this in:
ipconfig /all > desktop\ipconfig.txt

This takes the output of the command and puts into a file on your Desktop.
Now, on your Desktop, Open this [ ipconfig.txt ] file. It probably will open in Notepad.
Here you can do a Ctrl+A (Select All), and then a Ctrl+C (Copy).
{Upper/lower case is unimportant.}
Then, as Paul requests, do a Reply here on Woody, and Ctrl+V (Paste).

Second —
Ref: Your last post above, 2303350

[2] – This Network Connections Dropdown List: I am not familiar with this. What is your sequence of keying and clicking to get to this?
Is Virgin Media your name for your ISP?

[3] – Here are snips of a section of the Device Manager from each of two of my computers.

The upper snip is from a laptop, which has both wireless (b/g/n) and wired (PCIe) adapters. The lower snip is from a tower, which has only a wired (Gigabit) adapter.
(Ignore the Miniport Adapter: like a ghost at Halloween, ‘taint real – it is virtual.)
Terminology: wired = ethernet; wireless = Wi-Fi® (See Reference.)

[4] – Can you log on to your Virgin Hub and find something like this? It is a snip of the DHCP Reservations list in my (tower) router. The name/title may be different for you, but it is the content that is significant.

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Hi Paul K, Sorry again when I typed in ” ipconfig/all >desktop\ipconfig .txt ” I now get the message : The system cannot find the path specified. Also if I take a snip of what you require How do I get it from the Win7 computor to this one if they’re not connected.? Regards Anthony

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when I typed in ” ipconfig/all >desktop\ipconfig .txt ”

Syntax is important.
There should be a space between “ipconfig” and “/all” and after “>”

ipconfig /all > desktop\ipconfig.txt

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Hi PKCano, Thanks for your update, yes I do know about Syntax,  but when I tried it the proper way I still got the same message so I tried it in different ways and still the same message.? regards Anthony

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Please give us everything that is on the line after you type in the command, before you tap the Enter key.
This is the line that starts with [ C:\ ].

You may have to copy it to a piece of paper to move it from the problem computer to the one you are using for Woody. Be sure exactly to replicate where the spaces are and aren’t.

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Since the troublesome computer can’t connect to any other, try this:
0 – On the problem computer:
1 – In a Command Prompt, do the [ ipconfig … ] command
2 – As we Pauls show below, do the Copy of what is in the panel
3 – Open Notepad
4 – In Notepad, Paste (Ctrl+V)
5 – In Notepad, File > Save As, give it a name and location (the Desktop is fine)
6 – Plug in a USB stick
7 – Copy the saved file to the stick
8 – Move the stick to your working (“this one”) computer
9 – Using Notepad, Open the file (on the stick); Ctrl+A (Select all); Ctrl+C (Copy)
10 – Start your Reply here on Woody
11 – Position the cursor where it needs to be; Ctrl+V (Paste)

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Oops – Sorry – Moderate Revision. Should’a measured twice.

Delete items 2-5. (1 already created on the Desktop the file [ ipconfig.txt ].)
7 – Copy from the Desktop to the USB stick the file created in 1.
(This could be: [ copy desktop\ipconfig.txt x: ]. (Substitute for ‘x’ whatever the memory stick shows as. There are no spaces in the string “desktop\ipconfig.txt”; there are spaces after ‘copy’, and before ‘x:’) Note that PKCano inadvertently has a space preceding ‘.txt’.)
8-11 – no change

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PaulK wrote:

highlight-and-copy capability is not available in Windows 7

Yes it is, but “quick edit” may not be enabled.
Try right clicking on the title, then Edit > Select All, Edit > Copy.

cheers, Paul

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Wow, Paul. All these years I didn’t know about – had never tried – a right-click there!
For the benefit of the two others here on Woody that didn’t know about this –

Right-click on the top of the panel:

Then select what you want to do:

If Copy (or just hit the Enter key), it will leave this Edit mode.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Paul T

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Hi Paul K and Paul T, Sorry I haven’t posted I’ve not been well,  will post again soon.NOT covid!! Regards anthony

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Hi Paul K & Paul T, I’m Back! Is it OK to post this to both of you to save duplicating it?,  I hope I have done everything right, I have added a couple of attachments and I’ve had to type in the CMD as I couldn’t get it into this computer from the troublesome one.   Which is  {C:windows\system32\>ipconfig /all> desktop\ipconfig.txt ]  The reply is [The system cannot find the path specified]   I was talking to somebody in hospital about it he said it could have been caused by a windows update is this so?. I opened system restore and the last update was early in the year would it be feasible to go back that far ?,There is hardly any files on that computer only card games the the wife plays. I hope you can understand all this Regards  Anthony

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Anthony – OK, we’re making progress. Glad that you are out of hospital, recovering, and back here again.
To answer your questions –

Yes, a post here is seen by everyone who is reading this topic; so no need to double-reply.
No, a Windows update is not the cause of this latest hiccup.

Here are comments on the attachment, which demonstrates three valid ways to create an output file [ ipconfig.txt ] to capture the response to issuing the command [ ipconfig /all ]. Note that any one of these ways is sufficient, you don’t need all three. This attachment was created on Windows 7, which you said is where you have the problem.

In order to self-document which is which, there is a ‘Remark’ command [ rem ] in each section. This is present purely for documentation here, you don’t need it for what you are doing.

Syntax notes:
– Case – UPPER or lower or mIxeD – generally is immaterial.
– The number of spaces that separate elements is immaterial, as long as there is at least one. The samples here have 3 spaces for clarity.

Without going into a long explanation of the hierarchy of Windows folders, I’ll just note that what you posted as a problem (‘invalid path’) is the result of your having used an Elevated Command Prompt. For some commands, an Elevated Prompt is needed; for this command however, it is not. If you do use an elevated prompt (section 2) you will need to include the full path to the Desktop. (Obviously, insert the correct username instead of ‘Paul’.) A full path description is always valid (sections 2, 3); an abbreviated path (section 1) is valid when the ‘normal’ Prompt [ C:\Users\Paul> ] is present.

Alright, now to reiterate the next thing to do:
On the Windows 7 computer, do any one of the formats illustrated. The output file [ ipconfig.txt ] will be lengthy. On my computer it is 53 lines, yours will be different. The length is why you will need to copy the file from that computer’s desktop to a USB stick, from which you will then copy it into a post here on Woody.  Then we can get back to attacking the original problem.

(Note to Mods: Replies here seems to drop back-slashes. I had to edit a previous reply twice to correct this; the second Submit evaporated. Please delete any duplicate.)

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… you will need to copy the file from that computer’s desktop to a USB stick, from which you will then copy it into a post …

Sorry; just to be precise, these two “copy”s are not the same.
1 – ‘copy the file’ – is perhaps a drag-and-drop of the file-ID [ ipconfig.txt ] from the Desktop to the USB stick. This will create, on the USB stick, a copy of the file.
2 – ‘then copy it into a post’ – is NOT a copy of the file-ID, but a copy of the CONTENTS of the file:
In detail:
– Open the file on the USB (use Notepad, or easiest, just double-click on the name)
– with the cursor somewhere in the document, Ctrl+A (which is: Edit > Select All)
– position the cursor in your Woody Reply to where you want the data to be, and Ctrl+V

If you need detailed illustrations of these steps, just ask.

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(Sometimes I’ve put on shoes without first putting on socks.)
Correction to above:
After: Ctrl+A (Edit > Select All)
Insert: Ctrl+C (Edit > Copy)
Then: position cursor in Reply here at Woody, and Ctrl+V (Edit > Paste)

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Hi Paul K, I have copied what you asked for to a USB stick , But for the life of me I cannot get it to copy when I’m in this computer. Am I doing something wrong in windows 7 before sending it to the USB or when I open it in this computer.? If I try to open it in notepad all I get is a load of rubbish [Gobbledegook] as we say over here!  Sorry for all this hassle.  Regards Anthony

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Hi Paul K , I hope this is what you require,?  It took me ages as this computer couldn’t recognise the flash drive for some strange reason?!?  Regards Anthony
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Lynsgamesmachin
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::1cc6:fec9:d223:3c6f%10(Preferred)
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.60.111(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 234890530
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-27-13-D9-26-00-00-00-00-00-00
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{2A98A66B-F1F9-40F2-A30B-B7143D23AA31}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

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Your config shows the network card is connected but has not received DHCP data from your router.
It also shows your network card does not have a MAC (physical) address and that is not right.

Have you changed the network adapter MAC address – see this page for details.

Cold boot the PC and see if the adapter has the correct values.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Paul T,  Thank you once again I have found and entered the MAC address and checked result and it shows in CMD, but still internet! so now how do I enable DHCP?.  Regards  Anthony

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WSroblyn wrote:

I have found and entered the MAC

You should not need to do this, it is automatic.
Having no MAC suggests something is unwell, either with the network card or the network settings.

Unplug the network cable and run “ipconfig /all” again.
Does it show the network as disconnected?

Try removing the network card driver via Device Management. Then reboot Windows and it should reinstall the driver.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

You should not need to do this, it is automatic.
Having no MAC suggests something is unwell, either with the network card or the network settings.

Exactly. And the lack of a MAC usually means it’s a driver problem, driver not being able to read what the hardware has… but could be a hardware problem too.

Network adapter manufacturers are assigned blocks of MAC addresses to use, cards are “supposed to be” unique that way and the operating system is supposed to be able to read its own MAC anyway…

WSroblyn wrote:

so now how do I enable DHCP?

Well it does say there that it already is,

WSroblyn wrote:

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

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Hi Paul T,  Sorry but that didn’t work, I did as was suggested, I unplugged the ethernet cable and it did show internet   disabled, I uninstalled the Network card  and re-installed it  and the I entered the MAC code in the Physical address line .After another CMD it now shows the Mac code and also show DHCP as enabled ,but still won’t connect! I notice that the bottom two paragraphs in the CMD shows  no MAC code and DHCP as not enabled . I was wondering how can the computer upload a new  Realtek driver if it can’t connect to the internet?  I wish I had your knowledge of these things ,but at 79 I think it’s a bit too late to learn!!  Regards Anthony,

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You should not enter the MAS manually.

Can you post screenshots of the IPCONFIG output when the cable is disconnected and after removing the driver and rebooting?

cheers, Paul

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WSroblyn wrote:

I cannot get it to copy when I’m in this computer

Check that you can open the txt file on the USB on the machine not connected to the internet.
Close the file.
Move the USB to the “good” computer and try to open the txt file from the USB. If this works, copy the text to a post.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Pauls, I blame FRI 13th?  I hadn’t been on computer all week as I had been busy elsewhere, so I thought I would try what you requested in your last reply, then I noticed that the  red x on the internet icon on the taskbar was not lit and internet was connected, then I had a pop-up from AVG antivirus saying I need to update,  This I did which required a reset, BUT when it rebooted no internet! although I tried all the usual things to get it to connect it wouldn’t . So I left it, as it was late Fri night and tried again Sat and lo and behold internet was back and still is [Sun Evening] so whatever happened is still a mystery.??. I have updated the ethernet driver and a couple of others and internet is still OK. Should I upgrade to WIN 10 now or leave it a few days to make sure it’s settled down? I just want to say a big THANK-YOU for all your help and patience, Thanks and Regards Anthony

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Something has reset so I would leave it for a week to make sure it behaves. You could also back it up.

As an experiment, list, but don’t change, the network settings from IPCONFIG.

cheers, Paul

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