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General discussion

can't browse web or e-mail

Jan 7, 2008 10:17AM PST

I have an ibook G4. I connect using a d-link wireless connection. The connection is strong as all the bars are showing. When connecting to the web it says server not found. When retrieving e-mail it says server can't connect to port 25. I tried pinging www.excite.com and it didn't work. This started a week ago.

Discussion is locked

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Ah port 25
Jan 7, 2008 12:31PM PST

A little info on your OS, web browser, and email client would be appreciated. Here's some info from my experiences, which may be very similar to yours (I have been unable to send email through port 25 on my D-Link router either):
I take it that you may be using Mail for your email. If you have DSL from AT&T, then this may be why. My laptop will not send email through port 25 on my internet connection, but you can try port 587.
Follow the instructions in here... they're a bit outdated but it worked for me in Tiger and in Leopard when I have had to reset all my preferences.
Have you tried using network diagnostics in Safari? Or are you using a different browser? Also, what type of security does you connection have, assuming you use WEP or WPA? I'm curious as to why your connection may be failing even though it's connected to the router. You know, lately my connection quits when AirPort is connected and the wireless signal is strong, but the internet on my wired PC works. I switched my security to WPA2, which has always worked better for me, and have not had a problem. I wonder if it's just D-Link issues since my MBP's replaced AirPort card runs extremely fast until it drops it... but not anymore. My MBP registers my connection as four bars when I'm just in the next room, but that's with security on. Unprotected signals are blazing fast and always have five bars... go figure.

Anyway, see if this info helps you out.
-BMF

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some more info
Jan 7, 2008 6:59PM PST

Sorry for the lack of info. The OS is OS10.1, browser safari, mail for e-mail. ISP is time-warner. We have a windows notebook on the network that runs fine. The mac is connected wirelessly to the router using airport that's in the mac notebook. The security is wep. This setup worked fine until a week ago. This is my mother's mac I'm trying to fix. I'm more familiar with windows so if you could keep info simple and detailed I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

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Problem
Jan 7, 2008 8:50PM PST

It is a little disconcerting that you are unable to connect to the Internet, disregarding the mail for a moment as I think that the Port 25 thing is a red herring.

If you cannot connect to the internet, via your ISP, then you will also not be able to retrieve mail as your machine cannot "see" your ISP.

Even though your have a very old, and often unstable, version of OS X, you should still be able to connect to the Internet.
Try connecting the iBook to the router with a length of Cat 5 ethernet cable. If it connects to the internet and to the mail server without a problem, then your problem lies with the wireless section of your network. If it fails to connect, then the problem lies within your iBook and its settings.

Let us know how you get on


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You said you have an iBook G4?
Jan 8, 2008 6:39AM PST

So how's it running 10.1? The G3s may have had that but the G4s came later I believe. Click on the Apple on the top bar on the Mac and click "About This Mac". It will tell you the specifics. That may help us out some.

-BMF

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Good Call, but
Jan 8, 2008 9:15AM PST

They may well be right, unfortunately.

Had a call last week from a client who had decided to take the advice of Bubba, who "knows all about computers"
Turns out that Bubba had a copy of 10.1 that was "better" than the OS that the machine came with.

"Format is good for Winders, so format that puppy and install this"

Guess who did not have a back-up?
Guess who wants me to "find my stuff"?
Guess who paid Bubba for his services?

So, it's possible; even though we all wish it was not so.

Happy

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Just a thought
Jan 9, 2008 6:16AM PST

though I wonder how he managed to secure a copy of a much older version of OS X given that it must have been what, maybe two years older? Bad estimate I think. Why would anyone want to move backwards in the OS line anyway? I see your point but really, the older versions were not very stable and do not support much in today's standard. Panther would be much better in my opinion. Oh well.

Still, I suggest to you, Larry, that you should check out the machine. List the specs so we know a little more about what we're working with. It may be in the end that you have a faulty AirPort card. Been there and done that.

-BMF

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got it working
Jan 9, 2008 7:09AM PST

I got it working. I'll explain the setup and what I did. My mother lives next door to us in a side by side house where we share a wall. The router is on our side on top of a cabinet on the first floor along the shared wall. I put a dlink repeater on her side in a room on the second floor that has the shared wall. The mac notebook is in a room on the second floor on the far side of the house from the shared wall. This setup worked until a week ago. I brought the mac notebook to our house in the room where the router is. The wireless connection to the internet worked perfectly. When I put it back in her room on the far side of the house it didn't work. I moved the repeater from the room with the shared wall right next to the notebook and it connected to the internet. As long as this setup works we can leave it like this, but could this be a sign the repeater is about to die and I should buy a new one?

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IMO, Yes,
Jan 9, 2008 9:40AM PST

No wonder you couldn't get on the Internet, the signal got lost! I know I did trying to follow the maze!

Happy

Good that you are back on-line


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