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General discussion

Internet connection goes down but still shows as live

Jan 9, 2008 11:19PM PST

I posted this question in a different forum and no one has answered for few days now so decided to try it here too. Sorry for the cross-posting.

Here is my problem - periodically, not all the time, just some days, my internet connector goes down. However when I click on it it still shows as connected to to local and internet and Windows does not find any problems with it when I check it. I can receive and send email, my VPN works, but I can't browse the web and cannot use Skype. Starting and restarting the computer and connecting and disconnecting the connection sometimes help, sometimes does not. Few days ago after numerous times doing it, it finally worked, but again, I am not sure if this was the fix or something else was going on. Could this be a problem with my computer or is it the ISP? I have a Vista machine with Windows defender sometimes on and the bulky, clumsy McAffee antivirus that came with the computer. I have adsl with a wifi set up in my house. This also occasionally happens with a different ISP I have, dial up with a SIM card over a cell phone network.

Does anyone know what could be going on?

System:
Dell XPS M1330
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.50 GHz
RAM 20 G

Discussion is locked

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"my VPN works, but I can't browse the web and cannot use Sky
Jan 10, 2008 12:39AM PST

"my VPN works, but I can't browse the web and cannot use Skype."

Bingo, there's the answer in your supplied clue. You should not be able to do anything more than what you can do on the network you VPN to. That's why it's secure be it's supposed to be just like you taking your machine to that network and you get only the access they allow.

Remember that CONE OF SILENCE?

Bob

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yes but...
Jan 10, 2008 4:39AM PST

Sorry, not sure about the cone of silence, I'm not from the US...but, I use VPN only to access the server at work and have a different internet connection which needs to be running in order my VPN to work. Does that make sense? So to repeat - I have email, which is hosted on the email provider's server, VPN access to the shared server at work for documents and such and NO internet browsing and VOIP. And normally all of these work together. In fact, Skype is the primary channel to communicate with my US office. I work from home, which is in Europe and my job is in the US. So now what??


I just found out about the cone Happy)))

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That's how a VPN is supposed to be.
Jan 10, 2008 6:12AM PST

When you VPN into my office it's "just like" you plugged into our office network. If we lock out the internet, you can't get there.

I'm not going to write at length how VPN works but your issue is not a real bug or something that is broke. More discussion might help but it should be as it is...

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thanks again but....
Jan 10, 2008 10:09PM PST

But what do I do when this happens again?? I miss meetings if I can't connect with Skype. Your answer is really not very helpful.... My boss too will not take this as a good answer and will want a fix for it, rightfully so.

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It takes two.
Jan 10, 2008 10:55PM PST

I know the answer. I use two machines. One VPNs to the office and the other is not and can do all things that I allow on my network.

-> Call my answer useless but you are beating your head against "What is a VPN?" and how it works. It will do you no good to complain to me how VPN works since it does what it does without respect for what you want to do (and break it's security.)

Bob