# Tech help - Internet apps don't always see the internet

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-help-internet-apps-dont-always-see-the-internet/475608>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 4, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-help-internet-apps-dont-always-see-the-internet/475608 "2008-12-04T01:49:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-help-internet-apps-dont-always-see-the-internet/475608/1 "2008-12-04T01:49:19Z")

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I have a few apps that work online for most of their functions, but not for others. I can play games online through Steam, but not shop. Something similar is going on with Itunes, COD4, Windows Gadgets, and now GTA4 (which is where I am drawing the line!). Strongly suspecting my modem, but it doesn’t quite fit.

It seems like I’m stuck any time a browser is embedded in some other app… any ideas there? Any chance it has something to do my cable modem? Some of these problems began when I moved across town last year. I’m pretty sure it’s not a firewall problem, as the only thing I’ve got is the Vista Firewall; it is set to allow all of these programs, and nothing changes with it disabled.

Mozilla, torrent software, ventrillo, world of goo - happy as can be.

Steam - weirdest one … can browse servers and play online, but no connection to the Store since I moved.

Windows Gadget for weather update - started saying “no connection” after I moved, but since a few months ago it works 2/3 of the time.

COD4 - online play before move, none now.

Itunes - sometimes loads front page of store, then times out. mostly just times out. used to be fine.

GTA4 - ugh. this|| close to a pit thread. Long long install, including Vista service pack 1 last night (I know I know). Lots of updating with the internet, etc. Go sign up for games for windows live \*and \*rockstar games society. Make sure you log on to everything correctly and in the right order (while doing the secret magic dance!) and waiting for the slow slow loading process _every time_ you start the game … and the front page Main Menu splash screen of the game is pretty much a 404 error page. “You are not connected to the internets!” wtf! How must I prove it?! The game has a menu bar at the bottom which allows single player to work, but 90% of the screen is a big fat error message. In game, when I try to access multiplayer, I get a menu populated by only me. Part of me wants to go to Rockstar for help about it … but I know I have something fishy going on already. And I know The Dope is way smarter than them anyway.

So what is it? Seems like my modem works … here I am online every day. Is there something in windows that I can do? Something special about embedded browsers? missing an update to whatever? Or should I just start with begging Comcast for a modem swap (ugh!)?

Thanks!