My Desktop won't connect to the internet?

[steepcoil265]

This is a curious problem. So for some reason my Desktop won't connect to the internet. Which is strange seeing as my Desktop has both WiFi and the direct connection. My laptop will connect. My brother's laptop will connect. But my Desktop won't. When I go into networking, all the connections seem to be working. I've reset the modem twice. Disconnected and reconnected the cords. Restarted my desktop countless times. But for whatever reason, it won't actually connect to the internet. It says its connects, but then won't actually connect. The only thing I've noticed with the modem is the WiFi light is flashing on and off. Ideas on how to fix this?

[Fester Frump]

First a clarification - Most of the time you see a modem connected to a router all the devices needing Internet access connect to the router. Is that what you have?

Assuming yes, do you have the Ethernet connected to the router AND you have the wifi enabled at the same time? If yes, disable one. If you can use hardwired Ethernet that should be the one you use, it's more stable than wifi and since your desktop doesn't move there is no need for wifi. Wifi is for mobility.

There are two major steps to having a working Internet connection. You need the "physical" network connection which is what Ethernet and or wifi do and you need the logical connection, which is your IP address and associated IP configuration information. If you're getting the "connected" message that means that step one is accomplished. Your problem is step 2. For some reason your not getting an IP address assigned by your DHCP server, which is usually the router.

You can see if you have an IP address by going to the command prompt and issuing the command ipconfig. You will see if an IP address is assigned to the "physical" interface. Odds are you aren't getting an IP address assigned. Assuming the physical connection is good than the most likely culprit is your DHCP server, which is your router. Sometimes the DHCP tables in the router get messed up. The easiest way to resolve that is to turn off everything on your network, modem, router and ALL devices. Turn on the modem (wait for it to finish booting, 2 minutes is a safe time), turn on the router again wait 2 minutes for the router to finish booting, then turn on your desktop.

If you don't turn off all the devices they hold onto to IP address that was assigned to them before the router was turned off. Since the router has just booted it doesn't know that some addresses are already assigned. When you start up the network in the method describe above everything comes up clean.

Keep in mind, smartphones, tablets, gaming systems etc.. could all have received an IP address from the router, you need to turn it all off.

For future reference, this same basic question has been answered on here 1000s of times. Suggest you look at previous Q/A and see if you can figure it out on your own.