I was using Proton VPN and tried connecting to a server, but it stayed stuck for about 10 minutes. Without stopping the connection first, I removed the VPN and deleted its remaining files from my Windows PC. Since then, the computer can connect to my router over both Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but it cannot access the internet. I'm not very experienced with Windows networking, so I'd appreciate a beginner-friendly walkthrough for restoring the connection. My PC uses a NETGEAR A6100 USB Wi-Fi adapter, although the same issue also occurs over Ethernet.
4 Answers
If the command reset does not help, use Windows’ built-in network reset. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset, choose Reset now, and restart when prompted. This removes and reinstalls network adapters, including VPN-related virtual adapters, so you may need to reinstall the NETGEAR A6100 driver and reconnect to Wi-Fi afterward. Only do this after noting your Wi-Fi password and any custom network settings.
You can reset Windows networking from an Administrator Command Prompt. Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each: `netsh winsock reset`, `netsh int ip reset`, `ipconfig /flushdns`, `ipconfig /release`, and `ipconfig /renew`. Restart the PC afterward. If the last command says it cannot renew the address, check whether the problem also happens on another device connected to the same router; if other devices work, the issue is probably limited to this PC.
Check whether Windows is receiving a valid IP address. Open Command Prompt and run `ipconfig`. The active adapter should have an address similar to `192.168.x.x` or `10.x.x.x`, plus a Default Gateway. If the address starts with `169.254`, the PC is not receiving an address from the router. In that case, reboot the router, reconnect the Ethernet cable or USB adapter, and reinstall the NETGEAR driver if necessary. If there is a normal IP address but websites still fail, try `ping 8.8.8.8` and then `ping google.com`; if the first works but the second fails, the remaining problem is probably DNS.
Start with the simple checks: restart the computer and router, then temporarily disconnect the VPN adapter if it still appears. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and make sure no manual proxy is enabled. Also check that Windows is not still showing a VPN connection under the network settings. Removing a VPN while it is active can leave behind a virtual adapter or changed network settings, but it usually does not permanently damage the physical Wi-Fi adapter.
The computer connects to the router, but websites still do not load. I’ll check the proxy and any leftover VPN connection first.
A network reset is more thorough than just reinstalling the VPN because it can remove leftover virtual adapters and restore the default TCP/IP settings.