Need help from Computer Gurus

[swogden]

i have a Dell XP computer (2002 or so) that I use to connect to the internet and access PTC sites.  I have used Wireless Adapters (Cisco AE 2500) in the past to make the connection, but while that worked last year, it no longer works today.  My computer recognizes that I have a wireless adapter and says I am connected -- but when I try to access the internet, the computer can not connect (I have a  continuous circling (the drain) waiting for my sites to load.

Bought a new wireless adapter (Netgear) with the same result - the connection was recognized, but without the ability to access any sites on the internet.

Bought an ethernet cable and  plugged that in -- the local Area connection is recognized -- but I  still can not access any sites on the Internet.

Spent an hour talking to tech support at my ISP trying different things with no luck -  ran out of ideas.   We're both stumped.

So I'm appealing to the computer gurus here for help.   Any thoughts on why this is happening and what I can do to resolve it?

[oldbuddy]

It sounds like a DNS problem. Try opening a Command Prompt and ping a known IP address of a page online, such as Google.com at 172.217.3.174

If that works, type that address directly into your browser address bar.

Try flushing your DNS cache https://www.google.com/#q=flush+dns+cache

If your ISP can't help you, you are in big trouble.

[kathleenkleinhans]

Sorry, I have no idea....

[ktheodos]

Sorry...don't know...looks like old buddy might have some good thoughts though!

[southernhorizons]

Can you get another computer or a smartphone, and try the same connections to see if it works? that would tell you whether it's the computer itself, or the internet.

[countrygirl12]

I love you people ask questions and you get a bunch of "I don't knows" for replies. lol

[swogden]

Thanks, oldbuddy. Pinging google was one of the things that my ISP had me try -- and the google site did ping back, but when I entered Google into the address bar, I didn't get a connection.

I usually use CCleaner to clear my cache/temps.  Did that; no change.  Tried to flush my DNS via the google address you gave me, but also no success.  Since it was a web address, it just never got through.

Looks like I'm in big trouble accessing the web on that computer and have resigned myself to using it for non-internet activities.

Thanks. also, southern horizons.  I do have another (newer) laptop that works fine with my ISP connection.  I had hoped the problem was with the wifi adapter, but when I couldn't get access with a new wifi adapter or the ethernet cable, I concluded the  problem is within my desk top.

Lol, countrygirl,  but we all know that we get credit for each post made -- whether it addresses the issue at hand or not.