Glen writes in with a networking question
Q. When done with a session, I put my computer (older IBM, 1GHz, 128 RAM) on standby. Then I come back later for more work, reactivate, find annoyingly often but not always, that browser (Firefox) 'Cant find server' even though still connected (DSL), all indicators reporting normal, no problem. Must do restart then to get back online. So the browser has lost contact with DNS but won’t admit it! Any hints? Thanks in advance.
A. The first thing you should do when it happens again is to check your IP settings. Open a command prompt by clicking on Start, Run, typing in cmd and clicking Ok. At the prompt type in ipconfig /all and see if you have proper IP address and DNS settings. If your IP address is 0.0.0.0 or 169.254.x.x then your computer has lost its IP settings for some reason. Your default gateway should be the IP address of your DSL router or modem. You didn't specify if you are using a DSL router or wireless so can be a part of the problem depending on if you use one or both of them.
When it happens again instead of restarting the computer go back to the command prompt and type in ipconfig /renew or double click your network connection in the taskbar and go to the support tab and click on Repair and see if that fixes it.
You can also go into Device Manager and check the properties of your network card and click on the Power Management tab and make sure that Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is not checked.
Sometimes firewall software will cause this problem as well. If you have firewall software installed try to disable it, allow the computer to go into standby and then bring it out and see what happens.
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