Posted on 07/31/2020 8:27:38 PM PDT by PROCON
After reading all this helpful info, I’m going to buy a 20’ ethernet cable, thanks.
Did someone say, “Get a MAC?” yet :) - cause you should get a MAC.
That’s the best bet - it’s not all that odd for a USB port to go bad - or have a “less than optimal” adapter for connectivity.
On my last computer, my Ethernet port went bad and I got a USB/Ethernet dongle which worked OK - but you would still need the cable for such so the built-in Ethernet port is the best option.
Doesn’t your current Win10 machine have WIFi built-in? Most do these days. If it does, it’s possible it’s just disabled and/or the adapter interferes with it.
I run into this problem, too. After Mozilla updates Firefox, thereafter I discover that the modem or router built-in website balks, and I have to find some other Internet browser that will make the connection.
Ethernet will generally be faster too.
I have a refurbished Dell desktop, no built-in WiFi. Besides the ethernet cable, I also ordered a wifi adapter/dongle with an antenna too, just to experiment.
Network Toolbox Net security (title at the App Store)
Network Toolbox (for iOS) Review (article at PCMag)
NET Toolbox has a tool called Network, by which it will scan almost any network that you designate, and find other network devices.
For example
Let's say that your home LAN subnet is 192.168.0.0, and your modem's and/or router's IP address is 192.168.0.1 - usually the gateway IP.
In NET Toolbox, you could search the IP address range: 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.0.255
Yet you may be curious to find, what other gizmos might be using your LAN gear, and search a broader IP address range: 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.1.255
These searches can take some time.
Don't be surprised to find that some feature of your MODEM, has a different LAN subnet IP address of its own. For example:
Though you have your MODEM's router-side set up to use LAN subnet 192.168.0.0 for your home, and "everything works," the MODEM might also be using a different LAN subnet 192.168.1.0 and IP address 192.168.1.249 --- as an address to which your ISP tech support may connect, during a scheduled in-house visit.
The tech. guy can read several UP and DOWN -stream connection and data flow activities.
In order for you to read that info, at that unique LAN subnet IP address (192.168.1.249 in our example), your computer, sometimes, can be the only connection via Ethernet cable, directly to your modem, thence to the Internet. And - for observation/testing - you would have your computer's LAN settings arranged to use the same diagnostic subnet: 192.168.1.0 (set your computer's IP address, in this case, to 192.168.1.40 or 192.168.1.42 or something like that) --- focused upon reading what the MODEM has to say.
Some ISP's will guide you on doing that, over the phone. So that you can report what you see, while their tech guys fiddle with something at their end of the ISP's gear.
In other words, some modems have TWO default LAN IP subnets. One that you see and adjust for your LAN; and the other for diagnostics.
“I have Spectrum internet service at 100MBPS, it’s really fast and uninterrupted.”
Great, but wait until they try to improve it. If they are any good, you won’t have a lot of problems. If they suck because they are the only game in town as satellite costs the same price as a mustang every year when the contract catches up after the perceived discount, they will come back to cable or turn off the tube all together. With the programming being supplied nowadays, plan “B” might be better.
rwood
Let’s not stray too deeply into the weeds here first (I’m too lazy to read through the thread at the moment). Verify that you’re using a DOCSIS 3.0 or greater modem. I did this sort of break/fix remotely, in-house, and in the field for 20 years. Verify the most common causes and drill down from there. It’s always the little issues that are the most overlooked.
If you don’t want a cable running across your floor, look into a Powerline Ethernet adapter. A Ethernet cable comes out of your router and into a small box that plugs into your regular wall socket. Another box plugs into a wall socket near your computer and another small Ethernet cable goes from that into your PC. It’s more simple than it sounds, but it works from one end of my house to another. The receiver even has WiFi repeated capabilities, so even remote items far from the router get a strong signal.
“For the same reason that some people buy a pick up truck rather than a sedan or sports car. You get more for your money with a Desktop you can easily build and have control over what goes in it. And I like a 23” screen”.
First of all the person said, “I am not tech-savvy” so, it is highly unlikely they will be tearing into the tower and configuring/updating the internals.
Secondly, you can buy a monitor any size you choose and couple it to any laptop.
And, lastly, a laptop is portable so, you are not stuck to a certain desk in a certain room.
However, if he ever wants or needs to change or upgrade components it would be far easier to a mid or full ATX desktop. And the parts would likely be cheaper relative to performance. And laptops typically have a shorter lifespan.
There's no two ways about it. A desktop with similar parts as a laptop works faster and smoother. That's because desktops usually come with full-size parts that are often more powerful than the similar counterparts designed for laptops. It's especially noticeable with processors and a computer's overall speed. Laptops may come with processors that have similar model numbers, but they're rarely as powerful as the desktop counterparts. - https://www.businessinsider.com/laptops-vs-desktops-2018-8#you-get-better-performance-even-if-they-have-the-same-parts-1
More: https://techguided.com/laptop-vs-desktop/; https://store.hp.com/us/en/tech-takes/laptop-vs-desktop-pc but to each his own.
Secondly, you can buy a monitor any size you choose and couple it to any laptop.
Sure, and a real keyboard as well, and keep it plugged in, which means you are using it like a Desktop while paying for a laptop.
And, lastly, a laptop is portable so, you are not stuck to a certain desk in a certain room.
True, and this if possible and warranted, it is best to have both. And used for God and good.
“it is best to have both”.
The person’s absolute max budget is $500.00 and wants to be less than that. He is on such a tight budget he purchased an old system that didn’t even have an internal WiFi adapter. He bought an outboard single-band WiFi adapter which doesn’t work well. Dropping the connection frequently.
This person doesn’t know crap about computers, to the point of even what to look for in a computer. For someone like that the best solution is, applying the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. A decent laptop is the best solution for such people.
Only someone living in a cave doesn’t know the simplistic info BI presents in their article.
If I don't have anymore problems, I won't even use an ethernet cable.
Thanks for all your help!
Great news...
what brand of anti-virus and anti-malware?
I have the Win 10 virus/malware protection, haven’t had any issues.
There is no such thing
Download free versions of Avast and Malwarebytes and do a complete system scan with both
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