Here's how we'll tackle the problem:

When you have a problem, start by checking the basic internet connections. You can do this through basic Operating System trouble shooting. We will take you through that step by step process.

Next check if everything is connected properly. It sounds simple, but the slightest change can affect your service. Make sure your network adaptor connections and your Modem and Router are connected as they should be.

Finally, check on the network connection on the PC and its related parameters.

Here's how to do these 3 things, step by step.

If the status for the network adapter is unplugged:

1. Make sure that the network cable is properly connected.

2. If you find that there is no fault with the physical connections, check whether the modem and the router is plugged in and that it is turned on.

3. Try to plug the cable into a different network port in the router if available. If the network connection works fine, then it means that the previous port where the cable was plugged in is faulty.

4. Try to use a different network cable.

5. Try  to connect to a different computer using the same network cable. If the connection works fine then it means that the network adapter is not working. Contact the manufacturer of your computer for further support, or reinstall a new network adapter. If you are unable to connect to the network even in the new computer even after using a new network cable, the network hardware that you are using to connect the network cable to has failed. Contact the manufacturer of the network hardware device for further support.

By performing these steps you can verify whether the problem is with the router, modem or the Internet connection and fix the issue.

If the status for the network adapter is connected, but you are unable to go online:

1. Try getting online once more. Open internet explorer and try to access the following website: www.microsoft.com, and www.msn.com, if you are able to access this websites it means that the Internet connection is working fine. If you are unable to access this websites, perform the following steps.

2. Turn off the modem and unplug the modem that you are using to connect to the network and after one minute plug it back in again and turn it on. It sounds simple, but this reboots the device and usually clears a multitude of problems.

3. If there is a router connected to the modem, turn off the router and unplug the router from the modem and the computer. Wait for about 1 minute before plugging the router back in again and then turn it on.

4. Restart the computer, if there are more than one computer on the network, turn off all the other computers as well. Also, exit all  network applications process that is currently running like; file sharing and peer to peer applications. These will reduce the bandwidth of the network. Try to go online and check if the issue is resolved. If the issue is resolved it may be due to one of the applications that is causing this problem by increasing the use of the network bandwidth or it may because you are trying to connect to too many different computers at the same time.

5. If you are using a static IP address try to use an automatic IP address or vice versa and check if the issue is resolved.

6. If there is a router connected to the modem, turn off the router and unplug the router from the modem and the computer. Wait for about 1 minute before plugging the router back in again and then turn it on.

8. Try to connect the modem to a different computer if available, and try to access the Internet in the new computer. If you are able to go online the issue may be due to the Web browser that you are using. Contact your computer manufacturer for further support.

9. If the issue still persists contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further support.

By performing these steps you can verify whether the problem is with the router, modem or the Internet connection and fix the issue.

If Windows can't connect to other computers on the Home Network:

This happens if the Network discovery is turned off. To turn on network discovery, follow these steps:

1. Click on 'Start' and click 'Control Panel'. In the control panel window click 'Network and Internet', and then click on the 'Network and Sharing Center'.

2. If network discovery is set to Off, click on the arrow button and select 'Turn on network discovery', and click 'Apply'.  If prompted type the administrator password or provide the confirmation.

If Windows can't connect to the Home Network:

1. Check whether the router and modem are turned on. It sounds simple, but you never know.

2. For wired connection, make sure that the Ethernet cable is plugged in properly into the network adapter in the computer.

3. Try using a different network cable to verify if the network cable is defective.

4. Check whether the network cable is connected to the correct port in the router and not to the uplink port.

5. For a wireless network make sure that you have turn on the wireless switch on the computer.

6. Check if there are any problems with the network adapter.

a. Click on 'Start' and click 'Control Panel'. In the control panel window click 'Network and Internet', and then click on the 'Network and Sharing Center'. Now click on 'Manage Network Connections'.

b. Check the status of the network adapter for any error.

7. Open Device Manager and check for any errors in the network adapter.

Caution: The system has to be logged in as an Administrator to perform these steps.

a. Click Start and in the search box type in device manager and press enter. Click on the device manager icon. If prompted type the administrator password or provide the confirmation.

b. Click on the plus sign in the Network Adapters and double click on the adapter.

c. Check the status of the device to see if the device is working properly.

8. Check for the latest updated version of the network adapter drivers from the manufacturer's website.

If Windows gets disconnected from the Home Network periodically:

This happens if the Network Adapter is turned off to save power. To turn off the power-saving option, follow these steps:

1. Click on 'Start' and click 'Control Panel'. In the control panel window click 'Network and Internet', and then click on the 'Network and Sharing Center'. Now click on 'Manage Network Connections'.

2. Right click your correct local area connection and then click 'Properties'. If prompted type the administrator password or provide the confirmation.

3. Click the Networking tab and then select 'Configure'.

4. Click the Power Management tab and uncheck the options for 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' and click 'OK'.

If Windows can't connect to the Workplace Network from Home (or through VPN):

1. Verify if you have entered the correct virtual private network (VPN) server name. Also make sure that you have an Internet connection for the VPN connection to work.

2. For an external modem check if the modem power is turned on.

3. Confirm with your network administrator if you have been provided the correct access to the server.

4. If you are using an active Winsock proxy client make sure that the Winsock proxy client is not enabled.

5. Try to open a website using the IP address of the website. If you are able to access the web site then it may be a Domain Name System (DNS) resolution problem. If so, then you need to get in touch with your network administrator to resolve this issue.

6. Check if you require any specific software to connect to the internet. If so get it installed.

7. Check with your network administrator if there are any problems with the server.

If Windows says the Network Connection is too slow:

1. Check if the Network Adapter driver that is been used is the latest by checking at the manufacturer's site.

2. Check if the TCP AutoTuning is set to Disabled or to Normal.

3. To disable, perform these steps:

a. Click the 'Start' button.

b. In the Search box, type command prompt.

c. In the list of results, right-click 'Command Prompt', and then click 'Run' as administrator.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

d. Type netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled, and then press ENTER.

e. Restart your computer.

4. Check if the capacities of the router and the network adapter compatible. You will need to replace the slower device to get the higher speed.

5. Check if the connection type is wired. To modify the Flow Control setting by following these steps:

a. Click Start and in the search box type in device manager and press enter. Click on the device manager icon. If prompted type the administrator password or provide the confirmation.

b. Right click on the Network Adapter and click 'Properties'.

c. Click on the 'Advanced' tab, and select 'Flow Control'.

d. Under the Value section, select Rx and Tx Enabled (also called as Auto or Rx/Tx Pause) and click 'OK'.

Has that fixed it? If not, give us a call on any time, any day.