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Do you get frustrated when you get a message indicating that you can’t get on the Internet?

During the course of a week, I receive many phone calls from my clients about this problem.

While I realize that you are on the Internet if you are reading this blog, there might be instances when you get an error message indicating that you are not able to connect to any sites.  This can be caused by a service outage in your area, your house/apartment, a faulty modem or router, or your computer.

Here are some simple steps to follow if this happens:

– Turn off your computer.

– Disconnect the power cord from your modem. The modem is the box that has a cable attached. (no need to disconnect the cable). If you have a separate router, disconnect the power cord as well. The power cords are usually thin cords and slip out easily.  All the lights on both units will go out.

– Reconnect the modem and wait until the lights stop blinking. (about one minute).

– Reconnect the router.

– Start up the computer and try to connect the the Internet.

If this process doesn’t work, call your service provider (e.g. Time Warner, Verizon, Comcast, etc.). The first thing they will do is try to connect to your modem. They have the ability to determine whether there is a service problem in your area or a defective modem. If  the problem is the modem, they should send you a new one. If not, they will usually send a service representative to your house/home to correct the problem.

In most instances, simply disconnecting and reconnecting the modem and router will resolve the issue, however don’t hesitate to reach out to your service provider for help.