Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum. I'm not very 'techie' but reasonably pc literate. I just hope I've missed something obvious with this problem.....
Background: I'm running 3 laptops each with XP Service Pack 3. They all have similar programmes and settings. Each connects to internet by wireless router - broadband (8 meg though 2.5/3 meg typical). Both Toshibas work fine, and I'm typing this on one right now. But the Sony has given up with the internet altogether. It won't log on, or download updates or ....connect to my email....Skype doesn't log on.... nothing. This happened 3 days ago without my making changes to settings. But the Sony was always a bit 'flakey' connecting in the past. after a reboot, it tended to work again.
I use Zonealarm. So shut that down, and then also windows firewall. No difference, so guess Zonealarm is OK. I've checked and double checked internet options and they seem correct to me. Obviously the wireless modem is working (WPA2 used), and the Sony does log on to the modem correctly, with an excellent signal. I've tried a boot in safe mode with networking. Still no connection to internet.
I wonder whether MTU settings can change by themselves? or maybe they weren't quite right before (previous 'Flakey' connection !!), and Orange (
yes I know....But when I threatened to leave them, they tempted me to stay with free connection for 6 months and then £9.99 for the next 6, and increased monthly download total to 10 GB - good enough for me.)have changed something at their end ? I'm reluctant to start tampering with settings which might lead me away from - hopefully- a more likely cause.
BTW I use firefox, but IE7 won't connect either. the IE7 connection diagnostic tool tells me that the ports 80, 443 and 21 (ie http, https, and ftp ports) will not connect to internet, it suggests a firewall problem....But I think I've discounted the firewall. I also use Norton and Ad aware.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Thanks.
Robbo