Resources

Troubleshooting Internet Connection Issues

Internet Explorer Cannot Display the Webpage

If you are able to check your email and play games online, then you are connecting to the Internet and the problem might be with the specific pages that you are trying to navigate. If your error message says that Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage, but you are able to open multiple pages in MSN, then the other site you are trying to access might be offline temporarily for maintenance, or the site might be suffering performance issues.

Reboot your Power Supply

It is also possible that your network is having issues that are interfering with your Internet access. The first thing to try is a power cycle that means turning off and unplugging your computer modem and router, if you use one. Give the system at least 30 seconds to relax, then plug everything back in and reboot your computer. Often this is all it takes to restore a troubled Internet connection.

Using Windows Network Diagnostic Tools

If this doesn’t resolve your issues, then you can use the Windows Network Diagnostic tool to troubleshoot your connection. Open your Internet Explorer browser window and navigate to a page that shows the error message. On the error message page select Diagnose Connection Problems. The utility will run a scan and then provide a report and options to resolve it.

Delete Internet Browsing History

Sometimes Internet browsing issues are caused by a buildup of web pages that are saved offline and deleting your Internet browsing history will remove any corrupt or flawed pages. Before you proceed you should realize that deleting this saved online content will remove saved user names and passwords so you should make note of this information if possible.

First, open Internet Explorer, select the Tools tab, then Delete Browsing History. Next, select Temporary Internet Files, select Delete Files, and then press OK. Under the History tab, choose Delete History, then OK. Lastly, select Form Data, then Delete Forms, then OK. Now close and quit Internet Explorer and reopen it and try your search again.

Run an Updated Antivirus Scan

If your browsing problems are more sporadic, and if the error message says that Internet Explorer can’t find the server, you might be experiencing interference from a virus or spyware program that is attempting to redirect your searches. You should first update your security software by visiting the manufacturer’s website and looking for recent releases, then run a full system scan until it comes up clean.

Contact your Internet Service Provider

If none of these solutions work, and if you are still receiving an error message that the server can’t be found, you might consider calling your Internet Service Provider and asking if there are any ongoing or recent service interruptions in your area that might explain your browsing issues.

Time Warner Roadrunner

Time Warner Cable’s high-speed Internet access is also known as “Roadrunner.” Named after the beloved Roadrunner who always managed to outwit Wile E. Coyote, this cable Internet access is indeed fast. In addition, AOL and Time Warner merged back at the beginning of the decade. It took awhile for all of the kinks to be worked out, but now the merger is old news.

Roadrunner and AOL

You’re smart to question why you’re paying for both Roadrunner and AOL. If you’re still paying for an AOL Internet access plan, doing so is redundant. In fact, according to Time Warner Cable’s Frequently Asked Questions page, AOL’s “Bring Your Own Access” is now free to everyone, including Time Warner’s high-speed online customers.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Time Warner has gone through and compared Roadrunner and AOL Internet access customer lists to ensure that no duplication exists.

AOL Plans

AOL currently has several membership plans with various payment terms. First, take a look at your AOL plan and determine whether it’s worth keeping or not. For example, if you have the Broadband Essentials plan, which includes ten hours of backup dial-up access, live technical support, and McAfee Virus Scan Plus, this plan may be worth keeping if you desire these features. For example, if your Roadrunner Internet access is unreliable or you travel frequently, you might like the peace of mind of having a backup dial-up account.

The Free AOL plan provides you with all of the AOL basics which you’ll access using your Roadrunner account. Free AOL does not include live technical support or Internet access. That’s why Time Warner refers to it as “bring your own access.” Since you already have Roadrunner Internet access, it makes sense to do away your AOL bill once and for all.

If you want to keep your AOL e-mail and seven AOL screen names as well as use the familiar AOL software and features and do not need the features offered by any of the AOL Internet access plans, switch from a paid AOL account to Free AOL. You’ll have just one monthly bill from Time Warner yet be able to use AOL’s software, e-mail, and general features.    

How To Set a Home Page in Internet Explorer

About Cached Internet Files

If your Internet browser used to open directly to your home page, but now it gets stuck on a blank page, chances are that you need to clear your cached files. When you are browsing online, your computer saves data from web pages so that it doesn’t have to reload the pages unless the page has been recently updated. This feature is intended to save time and resources but can also lead to problems if the saved data is corrupt. File corruptions can occur if there is a power or Internet connection interruption while the page is being saved. Your web browser also stores user names and passwords, which will also be removed if you clear the Internet files, so make sure you record them before you proceed.

Clear Your Temporary Files

To clear the Internet files, you should first quit both Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer. Next, open your Start Menu, then Control Panel, and then double click Internet Options. Under the tab called General, you can find Temporary Internet Files, and then Delete Files. A box will open and ask if you want to delete your offline content, click the box. Click OK, then OK again and restart your browser.

Set a Home Page in Internet Explorer 7

If your web browser has never opened to your home page, or if you want to change your home page, here are the steps to follow for Internet Explorer 7:

1. Open Internet Explorer and go to the page that you want to set as your home page
2. On the top, right hand side of the page there is an icon that looks like a house, which is the home icon. Whenever you are browsing you can return to your home page by clicking this icon
3. Beside the icon there is an arrow, click it to open the drop down menu
4. Select Add or Change Home Page
5. Now a window will open and ask if you want to set this as your home page, select Yes

Set Multiple Home Page Tabs

With Internet Explorer you can also save additional web pages as multiple home pages. To do this, open another page that you want to set as a home page tab and then follow the instructions above but click the second option that offers to add the page to your home page tabs.

Internet Explorer Errors

Clear Temporary Internet Files

If you are having the same problem every time you launch Internet Explorer, the problem might be limited to your home page. You can troubleshoot issues that your browser might have regarding loading web pages by clearing your Temporary Internet Files and Cookies.

• Quit Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer

• Click the Start button, then Control Panel
• Click twice on Internet Options
• Select the General tab, find Temporary Internet Files, then Delete Files
• Check the box to Delete all Offline Content and click OK
• Click OK again and reboot your computer

Run Virus, Spyware and Adware Scans

If this doesn’t clear up your problem, you should consider running a virus check. First of all, update your antivirus security by visiting the manufacturer’s website. Updates are usually on the home page or on the customer support or help page. You should also run Spyware and Adware scans, if you aren’t already. There are malware programs that aren’t detected by some virus scans that can redirect Internet browsing that can really help to improve your online security. You should run the scans until they come back clean. It might also be a good time to run a registry scan to clear out any old bits of data that are slowing down your system.

Disable Smart Tags

If there is a chance that you originally installed a beta version of Windows XP that you later updated, then you should disable the Smart Tags. First open Internet Explorer, then select Tools, then Internet Options, then the Advanced tab and clear the listing beside Enable Smart Tags. You should also visit Windows Update and make sure that all your software is up to date.

Remove Add-ons or Use System Restore

If you have recently downloaded any add-ons or other applications that you think might be interfering with Internet Explorer, it could be that the two programs are not well integrated. You can remove the program to see if the error clears up, or you can use System Restore to revert your computer to settings that pre-date the frequent IE crashes.

• Click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools
• Click System Restore and then follow the wizard to choose a restore date

Install the Latest Version of Internet Explorer

If none of these options resolve your errors, you can also visit the Microsoft website and install the latest version of IE. Since Internet Explorer is such an integral part of Windows it isn’t possible to remove or uninstall it, but downloading the latest version will over-write the potentially damaged program that is failing on your computer.

Troubleshooting Firefox Installation

Firefox System Requirements

If you have never had Firefox installed on your computer before, you will need to make sure that your computer meets the system requirements. You can run Firefox on Windows versions 2000, XP, 2003, and Vista with a minimum Pentium 233 MHz processor, 64 MB of RAM and 52 MB of space on your hard drive. If you run a Mac, you need Mac OS X version 10.4 or later and an Intel x86, PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor and 128 MB of RAM and at least 200 MB of space on your hard drive. If your system doesn’t meet these specifications, there is a system requirements update available from Mozilla.

Remove Previous Installation Attempt

First of all, you should remove your Firefox installation using Windows Add/Remove. Click Start, then Control Panel, then All Programs and remove all the Firefox listings. It is possible that this download version is flawed, or that there is some kind of corruption interfering with your installation.

Reinstall Firefox

When you are ready to install Firefox, follow this link to the Firefox download page. The download page will read your computer and determine the platform and the specifics of your system to figure out which version to recommend and present it right on the first screen you see. If you see a User Account Control popup window, press Continue to run the program. On the Welcome screen click Next, then Next to install a standard application. Now the files should download to your computer until the option to complete is presented and you can click Finish.

Check for Firefox Updates

I’m not sure where you are accessing Options from, I am running Firefox version 3.0.5 on Mac OS X and I have no Options option in any drop down menu or in System Preferences. I suppose it is possible that you are trying to install an older version of Firefox? Under the Help tab in the toolbar, select Check for Updates to make sure that you aren’t missing any important updates.

Clear Cached Files

If you are accessing the toolbar, then technically Firefox is opening but isn’t loading any pages. If this is the case, you can try to clear the problem by removing your stored Internet files in the Firefox cache. On the toolbar, select the Firefox drop down tab, then Preferences, then Advanced and then Network. Under the section marked Cache, click clear now and then close the window and restart Firefox.

Troubleshooting Java

Uninstall Old Java Installations

Java errors and problems with automatic Java updates are not uncommon complaints. For this reason the easiest way to begin troubleshooting your Java issue is to remove all the Java programs that are on your system so that you can download and install a clean version. Java isn’t always good about running multiple versions, so it is important that you remove all the old files and folders. First, use Add/Remove by opening the Start Menu, clicking Control Panel and then Add and Remove Programs (in Windows Vista, Add and Remove Programs is now called Programs and Features). Find all the Java listings and press Remove and then reboot your computer.

Run a Registry Scan

Next, you should run a registry scan to remove all the left behind bits of code that are clogging up your registry and slowing down your system, as well as any Java code that might be interfering with your program. Over time and with regular use, computers store bits of data on the registry to aid the loading and reloading of pages but that can accumulate on the registry. Registry scans are a good addition to any regular computer maintenance routine. Filetonic recommends an inexpensive utility called RegCure.

Download and Install a New Version of Java

Now, you should get a new copy of the full Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 11 download and follow all the instructions to install it.

Java Error Message

If you are getting an error message that reads “Java Not Found or Not Working” while playing games on Pogo, there could be a problem with your antivirus program compatibility, especially if you are running Norton. Some antivirus programs think that Pogo games are Adware, and so refuse them access. If this is your issue, you can configure your security program to allow Pogo games, which might bring other risks.

Delete Temporary Internet Files

It is also possible that you have a flawed file saved in your Temporary Internet Files. Your computer saves versions of web pages so that it can quickly reopen pages that you are re-visiting unless they have been updated. If there is an interruption while the computer is saving the page, it can result in an error that interferes with the normal browsing. Before you remove your stored Internet cache you should realize that it will also remove all of your saved passwords and user names so you might want to make copies of this information.

To delete the Temporary Internet Files, first close any open windows and quit Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.

• Click Start, then choose Control Panel, then click twice on Internet Options
• Select the tab called General, then Temporary Internet Files, then Delete Files
• When you are offered to delete all offline content, check the corresponding box and then click OK
• Click OK again and then reboot your computer.