Network connection problems

 Troubleshooting Internet connection problems can be a challenge because there are so many possible causes. First, try these steps:

• Open Network Diagnostics by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area, and then clicking Diagnose and repair.
• Make sure that all wires are connected (for example, make sure your modem is connected to a working phone jack or cable connection, either directly or through a router).
• Reset your modem and router. Remove the power cord from the modem and/or router, wait at least 10 seconds, and then plug the modem and/or router back in.
• Check your router. Because of the new networking features in Windows Vista, some older network routers are not fully compatible with Windows Vista and can cause problems.

If these steps don't solve the problem, look for a specific problem in the following list.

To troubleshoot a network connection problem, try these steps first:

1. Open Network Diagnostics by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area, and then clicking Diagnose and repair.
2. Make sure that all cables are properly connected.
3. If you're trying to connect to another computer, make sure that computer is on and that you have enabled file and printer sharing on your network. For more information, see Networking home computers running different versions of Windows.
4. If the problem began after you installed new software, check your connection settings to see if they have been changed.

   To check connection settings

If these steps don't solve the problem, look for a specific problem in the following table.

Problem	Possible solutions
Can’t connect to other computers or share files and printers on a home network	Make sure network discovery is turned on. To turn on network discovery Make sure you have shared the files or printers. To share files and printers If password protected sharing is enabled, you have two options. Go to the website of your router manufacturer to download and install the latest firmware for your router.