What's wrong with my DSL connection?

Factual Questions
1

I cannot connect to the internet.

When I drag my arrow over the connection icons, it says:

-HP Wireless Assistant WLAN: Disabled
-Local area connection: Network cable unplugged
-Wireless network connection: Firewalled

2

Don’t know for sure, but I figure I’d give this a bump for you.

Did you do a restart?
What OS are you running?
What kind of router do you have (if any)?
Who’se your ISP (optional)?
What program do you use to surf with (Mozilla, IE, etc.)?
Can you check your connection at the point at which it enters the home and work your way back from there?

3

Regardless of other issues, this is certainly important:

-Local area connection: Network cable unplugged

This means the wire is unplugged, broken, or the things it is plugged in to are off or broken (network card on your computer/DSL modem).

4

I’m making a lot of assumptions here, but it’s the best I can do with the information you’ve given. When my internet connection goes AWOL, these are the two things I always try:

Steps 1-4 tell you how to get Windows to repair the connection.
Steps 5-6 tell you how to restart the router, provided you have one.

  1. Right click any one of the network icons in the system tray and select ‘Open Network Connections’.
    *The system tray is the area in bottom right of screen, beside the clock. *

This should bring up the Network Connections screen.

  1. Double click on whichever interface you think you use to connect to the internet. It sounds to me like you’re using wireless. It won’t be any of the ones with a big red X next to them. If you’re not sure, just pick any and go onto the next step.

This will bring up the properties for that connection.

  1. Click on the tab that says ‘Support’. If there are a load of numbers in the box which says ‘Connection Status’, you’ve got the right interface. If not, go back to step 2 and try another one. If none of them have any numbers, I can’t help you. :frowning:

  2. Once you’re sure you have the right interface, click ‘Repair’. Windows will do a few things - wait for it to give you a message. If it tells you the connection has been repaired, try using the internet again. If it tells you it couldn’t repair it, or the internet still doesn’t work, proceed to step 5.

  3. This step assumes you connect through a router. If you’re not sure, you might as well give it a go!

Look at the number for Default Gateway. Type this exact number into the address bar in your internet browser, as if you were visiting a web page.

This should load the admin utility for your router. You may have to enter a username and password. You might know what these are. If not, try admin for both, or try not entering anything for either.

  1. If you do manage to get into the settings, you’ll have to explore on your own. As long as you don’t change any settings, you’ll be fine. What you are looking for is a button or option to Restart. Use that, and wait a minute or so, or until it gives you a message of some kind. Try using the internet again!

Instead of steps 5-6, you could just go and disconnect the power from your router, wait a minute and plug it back in - provided you know where it is.

Good luck!