Step 1. Use Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services tools
You may try Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services as a first step to diagnose and repair common network connectivity problems in Internet Explorer. You should run both troubleshooters to determine if your problem is resolved.
If these Automated Troubleshooters fix your problems, you are finished with this article. If the troubleshooters do not solve your connectivity problems proceed to Step 2.
Step2. Use the Network Diagnostic tool
The Network Diagnostics tool that is part of Windows Vista is designed to test the network connection for errors. The Network Diagnostics tool can also be used to determine whether network-related programs are working correctly. To use this tool to troubleshoot network connectivity problems, follow these steps:
Open Internet Explorer, and try to access the Web page that causes network connectivity problems.
On the page that displays an Internet Explorer error message, click the Diagnose Connection Problems link.
The Network Diagnostics tool will run. When the tool has finished running, it will report one of the following results:
It was unable to find a problem.
It has detected a problem. Additionally, the tool will provide guidance on the next steps to take to troubleshoot the problem.
If you cannot resolve the problem by using the Network Diagnostics tool, you must manually troubleshoot the problem. To do this, go to the “Manually troubleshoot the problem” section.
Step3. Manually troubleshoot the problem
Method 1: Test other known good sites
Start Internet Explorer, and then enter one of the following addresses in the Address bar at the top of the browser window:
If you do not experience network connectivity problems when you type one of these addresses in the Address bar, we recommend that you contact the owner of the Web site where you see the problem. The site may be temporarily offline or experiencing other issues of its own.
However, if you continue to experience network connectivity problems when you type one of these addresses in the Address bar, there may be a conflict with other software that is installed on the system. In this case, go to the method 2.
Method 2: Verify the network connection
Make sure that the cables that connect the computer to the Internet or your home network are secured firmly. Additionally, make sure that the network devices that your computer uses are turned on and working correctly. Then, follow these steps to verify network connectivity, as appropriate for your situation.
Step 1: Verify external DSL modem, cable modem or dial-up modem connectivity
If you use an external modem, check the following:
Verify that the cable that connects the modem to the wall is connected securely. The cable will most likely connect to either a telephone jack or to a cable outlet.
Verify that the cable that connects the computer to the modem is attached securely at both ends and that the connector on each end of the cable has clicked into position if it is a network cable. A network cable will resemble a telephone cable, although it may be thicker, and the connector on each end will be larger.
If the cable that connects the external modem to the computer is a USB cable, you must perform some additional checks. A USB cable will have different connectors on each end of the cable. One end will be flat and rectangular, and the other end will have a square connector with angles on two of the corners. To verify a USB connection, try the following:
If the modem is attached to the computer by using a USB hub, try to bypass the USB hub. You can bypass the USB hub by plugging the cable from the device directly into one of the USB ports on the computer.
If the modem is plugged into one of the ports on the front of your desktop computer, try plugging the USB cable into one of the ports on the back of the computer instead. Some computers do not provide sufficient power to the front USB ports. This may create problems with the connection to the modem.
Step 2: Verify the internal modem device connections
If the modem that is used to connect to the Internet is inside the computer, there should be only one cable coming out of the modem device. Verify that the cable that connects the modem to the wall outlet is connected securely at each end. The cable will most likely connect to either a telephone jack or a cable outlet.
Step 3: Verify the home network connectivity
If the computer connects to the Internet through a home network, we recommend that you check the items in the following list, as appropriate for your situation.
Wireless connection
If the computer uses a wireless connection to the home network, we recommend that you read the following articles on the “Windows Vista Help and How-to Web” site:
To troubleshoot problems that are related to detecting wireless networks, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/7805207d-b0b9-4159-b36f-ab81a1f376c21033.mspx
To troubleshoot problems that are related to low wireless signal quality, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/fbb50492-3623-450d-8fd5-92cc74fab0ae1033.mspx
Wired connection
If the computer uses a wired connection (This connection is also known as an Ethernet connection.), we recommend that you read the “I can’t connect to my home network” section in the following article that is titled “Troubleshoot network and Internet connection problems”:
If you want additional guidance about specific network configurations, hardware configurations, or network configurations, we recommend that you contact the vendor of the network hardware that you are using.
Note: You may have to contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to verify connectivity.