Sorry guys, I'm not too tech savvy, haha.
@ownaholic I don't think I have a surge protector. Are they expensive?
Yes, I can connect to the internet on my laptop, and I've tried plugging the modem right into the computer. Still nothing.
@Trotter as I said, I'm not too tech savvy, but I think I have a DSL connection.
I'm plugged into a Linksys router, which is plugged into the modem, which is plugged into the wall. Maybe that's a cable connection then?
I've tried the winsock workaround, and plugging the modem right into the computer. So far only the winsock has worked. It's just a program called Winsockxpfix that I run, then the computer reboots and it works fine. But I had to do this every time I turned my PC off.
Thanks for the help, guys! Much appreciated.
No worries, we all learn somewhere!
A surge protector is basically like an adapter that you plug into your wall's outlet, that turns that single outlet, into multiple outlets. However, they make some with surge protection, and some without. (Almost all modern ones have it) The basic principle behind surge protection, is that sometimes during storms, the power can go out. When the power abruptly goes out, this means that the power lines outside received an excess amount of energy going through the wires (and ultimately through yours), which overloads your computer and other components, ultimately causing them to fail.
This can cause a whole world full of problems for electrical equipment that was plugged in to the outlet which was affected. The idea behind surge protectors, is basically to stabilize the energy being pumped in, and to keep your electronics safe(r).
And the good news is, no, they aren't very expensive. =]
You can find some very cheap ones for around $3-6. Like this one:
Amazon.com: Belkin 6-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector: Electronics
There are more expensive ones with more functions, but those are usually not worth the extra money unless you really need those extra functions.
Also, even if your computer and modem/routers were off during the storm, but were still plugged in to the outlet, then it is still possible for them to be affected.
Bear in mind, surges can affect any kind of electronic device: Computers, Computer Monitors, Speakers, Televisions, Cable Boxes, Modems, Routers, Video Game Systems, etc. So it is usually a good idea to get a surge protector for all of your important electronics. Not to mention, you will receive the added benefit of having more outlets available!
The best protection against surges, however, is by simply unplugging electronics when you aren't using them. By the way, this will also save you a very small amount on your energy bill, because some electronics use energy even when they are off (cell phone chargers are included!). A rough estimate is that if 100,000 people unplugged their xbox's when they weren't using them, we would save as much energy as taking 30,000 cars off the road.
Now, since you can still use the internet on your laptop, and even using an ethernet cable directly to the modem gives you nothing, this means it's a problem with the computer itself. One of the possibilities is that it is a driver issue. In a nutshell, drivers are what computer programs use to operate and communicate efficiently with the computer. If your network card (the thing inside your computer that connects you wirelessly to the internet) got an extra jolt of electricity during the surge, it could mean one of two things: 1) The driver got scrambled. 2) The entire network card is dead.
I'm going to take the high-road and assume the network card is just completely dead. Just to be sure, though, go to the Windows Start Menu > Type in "Device Manager" in the search box > Click on "Device Manager" > Double-Click on "Network Adapters", and tell me everything that is listed there. If there is nothing listed, it means your network adapter has bit the dust. If you see something in the list, double click on it, and look where is says "Device Status". If it is still alive, it should say "This device is working properly". If you see that, it is likely a driver issue. Anything else there (or nothing in the list at all to choose from) = dead network card.
The good news is that you can buy an external (meaning outside-of-the-computer case) network card for around $20 on Newegg, which will connect you to the internet just like your current internal (meaning inside the computer case) network card does.
In fact, this is the very same one I am using for my custom-built computer right now:
Newegg.com - TP-LINK TL-WN722N Wireless Adapter High Gain IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Up to 150Mbps Wireless Data Rates 64/128 bits WEP
WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (TKIP/AES)
All you do is install the drivers by using the CD they give you. (It is very user-friendly and easy to install; just a few clicks and you're done). Then all you have to do is plug your network in to a USB port, then connect to your network, and you're set!
Let me know if you have any more questions!
