Fixing Your Outdated Machine

If you run a business, then you probably rely heavily on the Internet to get things done. As such, when it goes down for no apparent reason, everything often comes to a screeching halt. Hopefully, you have a good IT services company that you can call on to get things up and running, but that takes time, and you probably want your internet back on fast. Fortunately, there are some troubleshooting tips you can try on your own while you're waiting for your IT technician to arrive or before you give him a call.

Troubleshooting Tip #1: Check Your Router

More often than not, when your internet stops working suddenly, your router is to blame. Locate your router and take a look at it. If you see red lights instead of green or no lights at all, there may be a problem with the router. You can try unplugging it and plugging it in again, as well as turning it off and turning it on again. 

If everything powers up and starts working as it normally does, you're good to go! If it still doesn't work, you may want to try another troubleshooting tip or wait for your technician to diagnose the problem. 

Troubleshooting Tip #2: Try a Different Channel

You may not realize it, but when you're on the Internet, your router is connected to a specific "channel." Sometimes, when the Internet goes out, it is because the router is on the wrong channel and is experiencing interference.

Just as you can change the channel on a fuzzy television reception, however, you can also change the channel on a bad Internet connection, and it may just fix your problem. You can usually change the channel via a channel button on your router-management device. 

Try your luck with each available channel to see if you can get things working again.

Troubleshooting Tip #3: Check Your Network Settings

Finally, if other people can get online, but you can't, then there's likely a problem with your computer's network settings. Go into your wireless network manager on your computer and ensure that you have Wi-Fi enabled, that you don't have "Airplane Mode" turned on, and that you have entered your network password correctly. If these things are not the problem, right click on your Wi-Fi symbol to run Network Diagnostics, which may fix the problem.

Unfortunately, if none of these troubleshooting tips end up working for you, then it may be time to let a pro handle it. Often, though, you can take care of the problem yourself or at least work out a good temporary fix so you can keep working until professional help arrives.