Why couldn't I find a network?

[Skynet928]

I was having some trouble with my network and while it is resolved, at least for now, I want to know what was going on. A second opinion of sorts.

I don't know why this was happening but for some reason, I had this issue where I was not able to connect to the internet. I was showing a connection to my router but I was not able to connect to the internet. I called up my ISP and told them about the problem. Nothing was connecting. My Galaxy tab 2.7, ZTE Source, My hardwired Windows 7 desktop, nor my wireless windows 7 laptop.

I did a hard reset on my router and it didn't help, then every once in a while I was able to connect, but overall, couldn't really connect to the internet. I changed out the router to another one and changed out the cables, nothing worked. I even connected the computer to the modem directly to bypass the router and it recognized that there was a connection to the device but no internet connectivity. The only thing I remember from there to the next morning was I put the modem from a carpeted floor to a hard floor and the next day, without touching a thing the next day everything started working. No settings were changed, no more changes, nothing. All my devices and my desktop connected without any issues. My laptop on the other hand, still didn't want to connect. The only thing I noticed odd was that there was something called microsoft virtual wifi mini port. I found how to disable it with a cmd command. It disappeared but I still couldn't connect to the internet.

At this point, since everything but my laptop was working, I decided to hardwire the laptop and it didn't connect, I tried to connect to my phone's 4G and it didn't work so I simply reset my dns tables, and network adapter settings, and still nothing. I finally gave up, shut down my laptop and packed it up for a few hours. I get to another network at a friends and it instantly connects. Not sure why.

Anyone have ideas as to what happened?

 

[ronintexas]

It sounds like yesterday you had issues with your ISP - that is why nothing would connect. Sometimes unplugging your cable modem for 2-3 minutes and then plugging it in (power connection) does a hard reset of the modem and brings things back online.

As for the laptop - is this something new with the internet - and if so, has anything changed (new programs installed, configuration changes, etc...)

 

[Skynet928]

The only other thing that I forgot to mention is that the ISP was showing the modem was online on their end so I am not sure if that helps but as for the laptop, it isn't new to the network since I was using it just fine the week before but the only thing that I remember I changed was the new program that I installed, softether on both my desktop and my laptop. I was trying to connect to a vpn server and I know that it created a new adapter but I uninstalled the new adapter and left my original one intact and it still didn't connect. It was only after the shutdown of my computer for a few hours that my laptop connected right back up. I have not had a chance to reconnect it to my network but it works on another network.

 

[ronintexas]

Who is your ISP? Do they allow VPN connections (some block them)?

 

[Skynet928]

Time Warner and I don't think so since I have been able to connect with other VPN software with them.

The only other thing I can think of is that the modem got too hot? I mean, i had it on a shaggy carpet then I moved it to a hard surface and magically it worked over a period of hours

 

[ronintexas]

I have Time Warner Cable as well - and have no issues with VPN. What modem do you have and router? I had a router that the config corrupted and I had to do a factory reset - and then everything was working perfectly....not sure if you can do the same with the modem or not....

 

[Skynet928]

Modem, I would have to look at it again but it's some generic modem but I have a TP Link wrg941N I think. I switched it with a Netgear, not sure the model, and same thing but I have it currently hooked up to the TP LINK and it seems to be working. Just haven't had a chance to test it since it started working.