PLEASE HELP! I have really bad internet.

[Phantasmatron]

I recently had a real internet connection installed in my apartment (instead of just tethering my phone, because that sucks).  But it doesn't work. 

There was apparently a problem with the phone line, which a repair guy fixed.  Now all the right lights on my router are lit, and my connection should be steady.  But it doesn't work.  I'm thinking maybe the problem is on my computer instead of with my connection.

I'm using Chrome on Vista (although IE doesn't work when I try that either).  My computer tells me I'm connected and I should have local and internet access, but when I open a browser it just tries to load forever.  My home page is google, and all I have is a blank page with the "Chrome is thinking" circle thing at the top of the tab. 

Any ideas, DTF?  I really want a decent connection, but if I can't figure this out, I'm just wasting my money.

[Genowyn]

Press CTRL+R and then type in cmd, press enter.

In the command prompt window, type in ipconfig /all, press enter, and tell me what your default gateway and IPv4 address.

Then type ping www.google.com, press enter, and tell me what you get.

[Phantasmatron]

default gateway is 192.168.1.1

IPv4 address is 192.168.1.65

When I pinged google the request timed out.  Twice.  But then it says it sent 4 packets, 1 was received and 3 were lost.

[Genowyn]

Alright, in that case it's definitely not your browser. I need to go out now so I will just leave a few things to try here:

First of all, if you haven't already, reboot the PC, restart the router and the modem.

Second, try pinging Google's IP. See if your results are any different.

If they are not different, trying pinging the default gateway. See if the results are any better.

If the results of pinging the gateway are the same as pinging outside, it means the issue is with your connection to the router. Otherwise, try bypassing the router and connecting straight to the modem (if they are separate) and try the same thing. If you get better results connected straight to the modem, that means the issue is on your ISP's end, so call them. Otherwise, it's got to do with the connection between the PC/Router and the modem.

Based on what results you get hopefully someone else will be able to help you, otherwise I will take a look when I get home 

[Phantasmatron]

Thanks for the help so far.  Calling my ISP and speaking with some random dude on the opposite end of the world was pissing me off, especially since the extent of their advice is either "is it plugged in?" and "I'll send a technician."

When I pinged the gateway, it told me three times that the destination host was unreachable.  But then it said that all four packets were received.  I have no idea what that means.

The modem and router are the same thing, so connecting straight to the modem isn't really an option.  There's an ethernet cable from the router to the computer, which I thought was intended to allow a wired connection, but when I tried to set one up, it didn't work.  I don't know if that's because I did it wrong or because it has the same problem as the wireless connection.

Any further advice would be much appreciated. 

[Genowyn]

Can you try pinging the gateway again and then show me just the readout? You can copy it by right clicking in the cmd window, then selecting mark. Drag your mouse to select an area containing the read out and press enter. Then, paste that information here.

[Phantasmatron]

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.65: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.1.65: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.1.65: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.1.65: Destination host unreachable.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

[Genowyn]

That is a verrrry strange readout. It says host unreachcable, then says recieved four? No way that should happen...

What happens if you try plugging an ethernet cable in?

[Phantasmatron]

Ethernet cable's connected from the router to the tower.  It's been that way the whole time.

[Genowyn]

Well basically your problem is in one of three places:

The ethernet card, the ethernet cable, or the modem.

Do you have another ethernet cable, or another computer?

[Phantasmatron]

Hmmm.

The other computer is older, but still no luck connecting to the internet.  Well...it says it's connected, but God help you if you actually wanted to view a webpage or something ridiculous like that.

The ethernet cable and modem are both brand new, shipped to me by my ISP a few weeks ago.  I don't have a replacement for either one.

So I'm pretty much boned, then, right?

[Genowyn]

There are a few more steps you can take, for one it may help to try reinstalling your NIC. Make sure you don't do it if you can't reinstall the drivers.

[Phantasmatron]

Would that even help?  I can connect to other networks just fine, so I wouldn't have thought the problem would be my adapter.

[Genowyn]

If you're sure you can connect to other networks no problem, then the issue is either with the ethernet cable or the modem. Try using another cable, and if that doesn't change anything, contact your ISP and get them to replace your modem.

[Phantasmatron]

Okay.  Thanks for your help,  Genowyn!  Maybe I'll get this all sorted out soon.