How to Fix Internet Connections

Level of difficulty: Easy

Internet accessibility is so in demand these days that a slow connection or complete inability to connect to the Internet poses a great problem to a user. There are several causes of this problem and also several solutions a user may choose to employ.

Materials Needed:
- a computer with Windows OS installed
- a modem or router
Step 1
The first thing you can try is the Internet repair tool that comes with your Windows OS. Look for the icon that looks like two linked monitors at the bottom of the screen where you can find the clock. Right-click on the icon and select 'repair' from the menu. 'Repair' comes after choosing 'diagnose' on higher versions of Windows. Windows will then begin to try and repair itself. Try accessing the Internet once it is done.
Step 2
It is possible that an application firewall that comes with your anti-virus software may experience glitches that modify the way the software secures your system and may prevent you from accessing the Internet. Common indications of this problem are sudden changes in the speed of connection, inability to load websites or access these sites’ links and buttons. Disabling the firewall may tell you if this is the cause of your Internet problems. Right-click on the icon of your firewall application. This can usually be seen near where the clock is displayed. A menu will appear. Select 'Stop all Internet activity' and then try to reconnect to the Internet. Check if the connection improves. Re-launch the firewall program and try browsing the Internet again. If the connection degrades every time the program is launched, this may mean that your firewall is malfunctioning and you may need to uninstall and then reinstall the anti-virus program.
Step 3
Another reason for poor Internet connection may be malfunctioning hardware. Shut down your computer, your modem, or router. Wait for 30 seconds and turn everything back on. Try to see if you can now experience improved connectivity.
Step 4
You might be experiencing a problem with the IP address if the above-mentioned methods do not improve your connection. There is a program called 'ipconfig' to help you solve this problem. Click on 'start' in the lower-left corner of your window. Select 'run'. A window will open. Type 'cmd' in the field. Click 'OK'. A command window will open. Type 'ipconfig /flushdns' and press enter. Type 'ipconfig /release' and press enter again. Close the command window. Try accessing the Internet again.
Step 5
If these methods still do not work, it is time to seek for professional help. Contact your Internet Service Provider for technical support.