I was using my PC yesterday afternoon when suddenly, I lost internet access—no Google, no games, nothing. I tried resetting my Linksys router by turning it off and on, but it didn't help. The router's purple light suggests it doesn't recognize my PC. I attempted to reset my network connection, but that didn't change anything. My PC indicated a "can't reach DNS server" error for Ethernet, and although it claims to be connected to Wi-Fi, that isn't working either. A friend suggested flushing the DNS, which was successful, but there was still no improvement after restarting my PC. When I ran 'ipconfig /release', it said the media state was disconnected for everything, which I don't quite understand. Also, when I pinged 8.8.8.8, I got a general failure four times. Interestingly, when I run 'netsh interface show interface', it claims that I'm connected to both Ethernet and Wi-Fi. I've checked and I don't have any antivirus or VPNs installed, so I'm completely puzzled about the cause and how to fix this. Any suggestions would be appreciated, or I might have to reset my entire PC.
5 Answers
Is your Wi-Fi working on your phone? It sounds more like a problem with the PC itself rather than the network, especially if other devices still connect fine.
Can you do this for me? Restart your computer, then open CMD and type 'ipconfig' to find your gateway and DNS. Share those with us. After that, try pinging the gateway (like 'ping 192.168.1.1') and then ping both google.com and 8.8.8.8.
How do I find the gateway and DNS? I tried pinging those last night, and got a general failure message for both.
It could be that your Wi-Fi dongle is faulty; it's happened to me with cheaper ones. If you're using a wired connection, testing the cable and checking your drivers might help. You could also try tethering your home internet using your phone via USB if you have an Android device. Alternatively, try connecting through Wi-Fi to see if you get further issues there.
But if the Ethernet is showing a DNS issue, it might not just be a driver problem. It’s more likely a configuration issue if it connects to Wi-Fi but still can’t reach the internet.
I don't think it's the dongle since neither Ethernet nor Wi-Fi is working. I was connected via Ethernet and checked the drivers—they're up to date.
If the issue is with your entire PC, then there's a chance it could be a hack or malware. Just keep an eye on your security and run a scan whenever you get internet back.
If you're using Ethernet, test the cable and your network card. In the Network and Sharing Center, try disabling and re-enabling your network interface. Enter 'ipconfig' in CMD and ensure the IP address you see isn't 127.0.0.1. If you can still connect via Wi-Fi, your router is likely okay. Just double-check the physical connections and the cable for any visible damage.
Yes, my phone's Wi-Fi is working, and other devices are fine—it’s just my PC that's having issues.