Desktop Just Stopped Being Able To Access Internet....

Hubby's desktop won't connect to the internet suddenly. He gets a "site cannot be reached" error. Tried all of the common remedies, restarting, unplugging and replugging all cable from computer, running diagnostic. Have not had any other recent issues. He connects via a a "power line" connection thru an outlet b/c we have an old house and the router is in another room and where his computer sits, it cannot reach the wifi service. Any suggestions, other things to try.

 

You need to try another outlet and probably another adapter to. And if me, I would temporarily run a long Ethernet cable to your router just to see if he can get out that way. This will test to ensure the computer itself is fine.

And for the record, I have had mixed results with power line adapters, particularly in older homes - including my own 60 year old home. I have to assume (well, guess) this is due to the old wiring - not the wires themselves but the connections in the outlets and service panel, and perhaps the aging breakers too.

 

What do the lights look like on the powerline adapters? Post the brand and model so I can find a manual.
Sometimes they lose connection to each other and have to be repaired. Have you done this? (I've been using a powerline adapter for my husband's basement computer for more than 10 years. Our home was built in 1955.)

 

Hi, thanks for the replies. So he did have an extra adapter and tried it and still not good. He has been connecting this way for more than 2 years I think. The lights at first have one red one indicating that something isn't connected but then all three turn green and still no connection. I will suggest the long ethernet to see if he gets internet that way. BTW, house is about 120 yrs old, we can get wifi in the downstairs (router is in 3rd of 4 captive bedrooms) but he can't get it on the 2nd floor 2 rooms away - such are old houses...but had new service installed about years ago....

 

If connected directly to the router and no internet, then the NIC card isn't working.

 

Ok, so figured it out, somehow, someway, it got connected to a different Fios connection, which is also ours but it public and is not secure???? Was able to change it and now at least can connect to the internet. However, there seem to be some other glitches. Can you recommend a good freeware virus (is there one) and any other spyware/malware that we should have and be running. Thanks.

 

Which OS are you running?

 

Windows 10 Home

 

Use Windows Defender (part of Win10) and Malwarebytes Free.
https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/malwarebytes_anti_malware.html

 

So I only see "Windows Defender Firewall" is the antivirus part of this?

 

Here's how to find the antivirus.
https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/w/windefen.htm

 

Will def take a look, thanks again.