"Your computer isn’t connected to the Internet ..."

axys · May 30, 2008, 11:12:37

... says my Mac, but it is of course. Over the last couple of weeks I've seen this message a thousand times and its driving me nuts. Click on a web site address, might connect instantly or might time out with the dreaded message. If I refresh, continually, it'll connect, eventually and then its fine. I can be loading several sites at once, one will be fine others will stall. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this at all. Using Mac OS 10.4.11 on an Intel Mac Mini with a Netgear DG834, all of which has worked fine for the last 18 months or so. Any ideas?

Rik · May 30, 2008, 11:18:44

I'm not a Mac person, so can't really give you much advice. Can you access the router interface OK? If so, can you ping from there?

TBH, I'd suggest a quick call to support, they 'speak Mac'.

madasahatter · May 30, 2008, 11:43:37

Quote from: Rik on May 30, 2008, 11:18:44
they 'speak Mac'.

nice way of putting it

lozcart · May 30, 2008, 11:56:59

axys,

Could you confirm if you are connecting to the router by Airport (Wireless) or are you connected by an Ethernet cable.

If you are connected by Airport does the connection strength bar in the top menu show any signal when you are having problems?

axys · May 30, 2008, 12:28:16

The modem is hard wired to my Mini, but the problem also affects my iBook which I connect wirelessly via Airport Express. I can access the modem fine and have rebooted a few times to no avail. Not sure about pinging, someone would have to tell me what to do.

lozcart · May 30, 2008, 12:38:35

If it is happening on both computers then the problem is most likely with the router dropping connection to broadband.

It would be worth giving support a call and see if they have a number of log in attempts for you, if they have then we would need to see why the disconnection are happening.

Sebby · May 30, 2008, 14:55:55

I agree with Rik. Have a word with IDNet support as they are Mac users!

axys · May 30, 2008, 15:40:31

Spoken to James at Support; I'm not dropping the connection at all, have input DNS server addresses manually and applied and am now waiting to see if that fixes it. If not, it's a process of elimination.

Rik · May 30, 2008, 15:43:54

There are several Mac users here, so do feel free to ask for ideas. Unfortunately, I'm purely Windows, so can help you as far as the router, after which I'm in trouble.

axys · May 30, 2008, 16:04:39

Thanks, isn't that what all windows users say anyway!

Rik · May 30, 2008, 16:07:24

I see you've caught the spirit of this place.

lozcart · May 30, 2008, 16:29:15

There are two reason I know why you might get the "Your computer isn't connected to the internet etc etc"

1) The router has dropped internet connection. This now seems unlikely as IDNet are showing no drops.

2) Your computer/s are losing connection to the router.

To try to find out why number two may be happening could you let us know when the error occurs. Is it as soon as you start the machine/wake from sleep or when you launch the browser or is it after you have been surfing for sometime?

Could you also check on both machines that the preferred connection is top of the Network port list. To do this Go to System Preferences>Network, and in the drop down "Show" Menu select Network Port Configurations.
If not already top of the list on you Mac Mini drag Ethernet to the top and on your iBook drag Airport to the top. Click Apply and Save Changes if requested.

Let us know how you get on.

axys · Jun 02, 2008, 08:17:06

Quote from: lozcart on May 30, 2008, 16:29:15

To try to find out why number two may be happening could you let us know when the error occurs. Is it as soon as you start the machine/wake from sleep or when you launch the browser or is it after you have been surfing for sometime?
Could you also check on both machines that the preferred connection is top of the Network port list. To do this Go to System Preferences>Network, and in the drop down "Show" Menu select Network Port Configurations.
If not already top of the list on you Mac Mini drag Ethernet to the top and on your iBook drag Airport to the top. Click Apply and Save Changes if requested.
Let us know how you get on.

The System Preferences were already set as you suggest. Couldn't see a pattern as to when it was happening, my main Mac is in use 12-14 hours a day so doesn't get much of a chance to sleep.

Anyway, since inputting the DNS server addresses manually on Friday, it hasn't happened, so I think its reasonably safe to say that's cured it. Thanks all for comments and help.

Sebby · Jun 02, 2008, 08:52:10

Glad it's sorted.

Rik · Jun 02, 2008, 09:49:22

Even if we have no idea why.

Sebby · Jun 02, 2008, 10:58:00

It's often the way.

Rik · Jun 02, 2008, 11:07:37

In my case, it's always the way.