Wireless Connectivity Problems

Greetings. I have an Asus laptop, and a Samsung Galaxy Book (pad), that developed wireless connectivity problems with my router at the same time. I suspect it is either a problem with the recent Windows 10 update, either corrupted files, or possibly with my router wifi. I ran the full scan MG protocol and uploaded the logs, TimW saw no malware so he suggested I post the problem here.


The specific problem is, I can get a wireless connection on both machines, and I can bring up google, and can search on google and see search results, but that is it. After clicking on any google search results, none of the sites come up. They either time out or can not be reached. This happens on Chrome and Microsoft Edge on the Samsung Pad. As well as on the Asus machine, in Firefox, Windows Internet Explorer and Chrome.


I also can not get any web sites to load if I manually type in a web address into any browser. On either machine.


I also use a Chromecast device – First generation - to stream from tv.youtube.com and use both of the above machines to stream via Chromecast to my flat screen TV, and to set up or manage the Chromecast device. This connectivity problem began while I was streaming a video via Chromecast, and all of the sudden the cast to the flat screen TV dis connected, and now I can’t re set up the Chromecast device because of the wifi problem. The strange thing, is that I can also bring up tv.youtube.com and see a video stream on the Galaxy book. But the only two sites that I can bring up on these two machines are google.com, and tv.youtube.com - it makes no sense that I can bring up those two sites, but none other. Can't do any more chromecasts either.


I have used MAC filtering on the router for years and never had a problem. The router I am using is an ATT U-verse, relatively new, less than a year old I think.


Other than that, both the Asus and Samsung Pad work OK, I just can’t get a wireless connect.


Any suggestions or advice appreciated.

Just wanted to add - I do have a wireless printer and it is able to connect and print OK via the router. I can also stream via the router through my Blue Ray device which streams movies to my flat screen TV, which is also via a wireless connection between router and blue ray device, so I suspect the router is OK, and that it is a software issue with the laptop and galaxy book, since this happened at the same time, shortly after a windows update. My main desktop machine is via ethernet cable and no problems there.

 

As an update to this problem, I have tried to ping from command prompt. I can ping google and youtube OK, but when I ping other sites, they time out. I also tried resetting the DNS to google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), that did work either. I did an install of firefox browser onto the Samsumg pad, that did not work. I did a ipconfig /flushdns.

We also have a work/company laptop here for work, only use it for the company, and that one can visit other sites AOK via our wireless network - just tried it this morning. So it is definitely not a problem with our wireless router/modem. Just the other two above - the older laptop and the Galaxy book. Both of these PC's worked fine for months, and this connectivity problem happened all at once, on both machines. Crazy.

 

I would try updating the wifi driver, as Windows update is sometimes choosy with older drivers, . Older pc's are hit more and as you have experienced it can make life difficult.
I have had very good results using Driver booster (free version)

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_booster_beta.html

 

That's great thanks baklogic....is that a bit risky to do on a machine that can't connect to the net? Or does Driver Booster run as a stand alone - no net connection needed?

 

It will need to go on the net,
Try Settings, update and security, scroll down to troubleshoot.

 

OK I ran troubleshooter and got back the message: "Your broadband modem is experiencing connectivity issues". But I already tried the suggestion of unplugging/rebooting the modem - several times and it did not solve the problem. Also, the other machines indicated above work fine on the wireless connection, so I don't believe it is the modem.

Another message from troubleshooter stated: "The network gateway is accessible, but Windows couldn't receive traffic from the internet..."

 

OK an update - when I ran the troubleshooter, I had the DNS for the network adapter set to the google DNS - 8.8.8.8 And I got back the above message. This was only for the IPV4 I did this.

So I just set the network adapter back to the default setting "Obtain DNS Server address automatically", and ran the troubleshooter again, and this time I got back the message: "Troubleshooting could not identify the problem"

 

Download Driver Booster on another machine and put the installer on a flash drive. Then plug it into the problem machine.

 

OK so this time I rebooted, ran the troubleshooter again, and troubleshooter found a problem and suggested networking reset. So I reset the network, it rebooted, same problem. I have a network connection, just can only bring up google and tv.youtube.com. Facebook does come up, bur very very slow.

 

...and now I just ran Troubleshooter again, and it came up: "Troubleshooting can't identify the problem".

OK I will try the Driver Booster suggestion...

 

OK I downloaded Driver booster setup to a USB drive, and ran the install from the usb connected to the galaxy book, it hangs on install and then a screen comes up with a message: "SmartScreen can't be reached right now...Check your internet connection. Windows Defender SmartScreen is unreachable and can't help you decide if this app is OK to run."

 

OK wait I clicked run and now it's installing I think...

 

OK it installed and ran a scan, I got the messge: "Scan failed! Failed to connect to driver booster scan server. Please click OK to detect and repair the network failure." So I clicked OK, and it is attempting to "Fix network failure". I think it is hung though, because the "detecting" screen has been up for over 5 minutes...no results yet...

 

OK so now i got a message back: "Oops! Repair failed. Unknown Error detected. Please Contact us for help."

 

Just tried to sign up for the forum at Iobit to get some help for their Driver Booster. Their sign up process for their forum makes no sense - I get a message back that states: "The string you entered for the image verification did not match what was displayed." So their software will not allow me to sign up for the fourm. There is nothing I see on that sign up page, that has anything to do with image verification. There is text that states: "Image verification", but no image to verify.

 

Can anyone see an image to verify on their sign up page? I can't... http://forums.iobit.com/register?urlpath

 

This is a really weird problem. I have never in my life been able to load just a few web sites into browsers, and nothing else. It makes no sense. Only google, youtube, and Facebook and I just found I can bring up wikipedia. But that's it. None of my news web sites, can't bring up hp.com, or asus.com, can't bring up pbs.com.

 

No it doesn't. Suggest you take it up with the MG malware experts.

 

Yes - I did that Earthling in this post. TimW claims he saw no malware in the logs I uploaded yesterday...

https://forums.majorgeeks.com/threa...taneous-wireless-connectivity-problem.318714/

 

Read this.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/windows_smartscreen_can’t_be_reached_right_now.html


If it doesn't help, run Tweaking.com - Windows Repair.

Installer:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_windows_repair.html

Portable:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_windows_repair_portable.html

Take your time and follow the instructions carefully.
It's recommended to run the program in "Safe Mode With Networking". Restart and run the program a second time.

 

Thanks much Eldon, I'll go over the links for the next day and see if I can get to the bottom of this

 

OK I am going through the list and making notes. On the Samsung Book, Smartscreen is set to on in Edge and IE. I can not find in Google Chrome settings where to turn on and Off Smartscreen however.


Also, when I go into Windows Settings>General Privacy Options, I also do not see an option to turn Smartscreen on or off.


So then I went through steps 1 – 4 at the http://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/windows_smartscreen_can’t_be_reached_right_now.html link. So far, no luck. Step 4 by the way I did a few days ago as I indicated.


I did try scanning with Driver Booster again after I made sure smartscreen was on in Explorer and after rebooting a few times. No luck there - DB could not connect with their server, nor could repair network device errors.

So now I am on the Tweaking.com instructions - I was able to get it installed OK, and now have a question. Interestingly, I WAS able to install it via their non portable app - a window came up that said Smartscreen could not be found, so I clicked run anyway, and it installed, so this is the first time I have been able to download since the problem started. I think it was able to connect to their server since it checked the MD5's Checksums # marks?


So for the question - On the power reset, for the galaxy book, which is a Pad and no removable battery, is the "Power reset" that Tweaking.com wants run, as effective on a device with permanent batteries, as compared to removable batts? I am in process of just leaving the PC on and running down the battery, unfortunately it is now fully charged so I will have to wait a while. I am assuming my best option is to just run the battery dead, and then try to turn on the Pad with the power unplugged. I believe even when dead, there is still about a 3% charge on the battery in the Galaxy Book - that is when it shuts down...

 

Fair probability that your problems are connected to Chromecast. I would disconnect Chromecast completely and remove Home if you use it. Reboot and see if you still have these problems with Firefox or other non-Chrome browsers.

 

Remove "home"? Not sure what you mean...

If this is what you mean y Google Home - I don't have that...

https://store.google.com/us/product/google_home?hl=en-US

I use Google Chromecast - but that stopped working. I was using this deice - stopped working late last week...count not connect with it, streams stopped, and now I can't load web sites other than Google and the other few I posted in the original thread... I have not used Chromecast on either of the two machines in question. I DO use Google chromecase on my main PC but that is hard wired into the router - no problems with that one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#/media/File:Chromecast_dongle.jpg

 

What I'm suggesting is that you physically disconnect Chromecast and any remove apps associated with it. I understood Google Home to be one such, though not essential - see HERE. Then reboot your systems without Chromecast and see if the problems remain.

 

I am going to stick with the protocol Eldon above suggested first. Have you heard of any recent issues or bug reports from Google that Chromecast is now causing connectivity problems with wireless connections? I was using it for a year and had no problems with it. Is there a recent reported bug issue with Chromecast Earthling?

 

Yes - Chromecast has been physically dis connected. For days now. This device has not been used for days: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#/media/File:Chromecast_dongle.jpg

I may have mis spoke - I meant for a few days now I have been watching tv.youtube.com on my main PC that is hard wired to the router with RJ45 - not the above wireless Chromecast device. SOrry for that confusion. I get the two mixed up sometime LOL.

 

https://support.google.com/chromecast/troubleshooter/2995236?hl=en

 

I could remove Google chrome. I don't see any Chromecast on the add/remove software list though....

 

I opened up Google Chrome, went to "More tools>Extensions", and could not find the "Chromecast" or "Cast" extension.

I wanted to try to remove it, and it's not there. But the "Cast" option is still showing in the drop down menu in Google Chrome. So I am wondering if I un install Google Chrome, will the "Cast" plug in still remain?

 

Baklogic, there is nothing on that Google Troubleshooting list that pertains to not being able to download any websites (except google.com) via a wireless connection. I am using Windows 10 not Android, so I don't see how they could help me, since I have the same problem with other web browsers.

 

The search for obscure problems such as your browser restrictions can often be narrowed by removing peripheral equipment and associated software. As you can only go to Google sites both Chrome and Chromecast must be under suspicion but I can't possibly answer detailed questions such as that asked in #30.

 

Anyway before I get way off topic on this, does anyone have any insight into that question above related to Tweaking.com? About the power reset? I want to finish up that list first before I try other stuff...

Note that in the original post I said: "I also can not get any web sites to load if I manually type in a web address into any browser." Other than google.com, and Youtube that is...

 

OK well anyway, I just found out that Casting is now built into Chrome and can not be removed. https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6398952?hl=en&vid=0-1095680340127-1527010945641

So I went ahead and un installed Google Chrome, rebooted, and I still have the same problem. SO...back to where I was in the Tweaking.com question while I am draining my battery...

 

There is one new twist now. Since I have removed Google Chrome, I can not bring up Google.com any more on Firefox or edge. Only youtube.com via firefox and edge. Weird. Does this make sense to anyone?

Firefox message states for google.com: "Can't connect securely to this page". This might be because the site uses outdated or unsafe TLS security settings..." even though address has https://

 

...well, I just ran the tweaking.com app, and it did not solve the problem. I was not able to do a power reset though, since the battery is not removable. Not sure that had anything to do with it.

 

So...when I run Settings>Troubleshoot>Internet Connections, Windows 10 states "your computer appears to be correctly configured, but the device or resource www.website.com) is not responding". It does this for amazon.com, microsoft.com, every site except youtube and Wikipedia.

 

What is different about Google, Youtube and wikipedia and facebook, as far as network connectivity is concerned, comparing these three, to just about every other web site out there?

Why would I be able to only connect to those three web sites, and no other?

 

I can't bring up nytimes.com, or washingtonpost.com, or cnn.com, or msnbc.com, or microsoft.com, or hp.com, etc etc etc, on any browser - firefox, chrome, edge, IE...

Is there something about google, youtube and wikipedia net connectibaility that can explain the problem?

Or, why would a network adapter only allow me to connect to those three sites? When it had been working fine days ago?

Does this make any sense to anyone? has anyone else had a similar problem?

I've been surfing the net forever 20 years, never seen anything like it.

 

This might mean something. I remember seeing error messages in a browser indicating that the web site might not have TLS capability - for sites I can not connect to.

When I just brought up Facebook, I was able to connect, and in the lower left bar I saw a quick message that said something like "performing a TLS handshake", and then Facebook came up.

Does that make any sense to anyone?

I never remember seeing TLS errors in browsers before...

 

I think it’s Malware, or a hack, that neither AdwCleaner, or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or RogueKiller or HitmanPro or MGtools can detect.


Because I ran them all, posted the logs, nothing was found, and the graphics card can stream wirelessly from youtube, and the wireless router is working, as is the RJ45 streaming and surfing, and a separate PC with wireless (we have several PC’s in the home) works AOK. It is just those two older PC's. I ran Tweaking.com - Windows Repair.


There is no other logical explanation for it.


Maybe it is a new malware variant that none of the above is aware of yet?

 

Well, I did a complete factory reset on the Galaxy. Re installed windows 10. Windows 10 shows that I have a very strong wireless connection, and I can not bring up one web site. Makes no sense I have a connection and can't surf.

I am about to throw this laptop and galaxy book in the trash and never use a wireless connection again because apparently wireless networking break easily is in secure, and the only safe way to surf these days is by RJ 45.

 

Either that, or ATT Uverse did something to their system that makes it much harder to use a wireless connection in their PACE routers. Maybe they did it because of the increased competition from tv.google.com chromecast.

 

A few things to try, do one at a time and reboot in between, make notes on changes:

(Check your time/date settings are correct.)

Reset the DNS on the router to Google/OpenDNS (8.8.8.8/208.67.222.222) and point the devices to pick up DNS from the router, not auto/ISP.

Set the IE/Internet Control panel to defaults (we may need to tweak these again later, the defaults are Enterprise-based)).

Check the router again for anomalies like spaces in the SSID name.



It looks like using Chrome results in that browser bypassing the 'normal' Internet routing and that results in DNS caching in Windows allowing Google/YT to connect via other browsers until the cache expires. We need to ensure that Windows and the router are working together.

Anything you require assistance with, please supply screenshots so that we can compare with working systems, the more details we get (not strings of posts) the quicker we can get a handle on what's happening.

 

Hi there - well I just wanted to make an update on this issue for history sake if anyone else has the problem. By the way satrow - one of the first things I did was reset DNS on the router to Google/OpenDNS 8.8.8.8. Did not solve the problem.

So anyway I got so frustrated, I capitulated and called ATT. They did a line test remotely and I believe found no problems with their/my line and said the only way they could help was to send a technician out. So I scheduled a tech. About 15 minutes after I got off the phone, the wireless connection started to function again, and I did nothing extra in the way of troubleshooting after I scheduled the tech. So I ran it for 24 hours, everything worked fine. As I mentioned, I am using the Chromecast 1st generation device to stream movies. So everything worked OK for a day. I called ATT back and asked if doing a line test would have fixed the problem and he said Nooooo. So anyway I cancelled the service call since everything was up and running again.

Then about an hour ago, the Chromecast device stopped streaming to my TV again - this is what I use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#/media/File:Chromecast_plugged_into_TV.jpg I did a factory reset again - on the Chromecast device, and google chrome can not find the device and set it up again - as before. Luckily this time, although the chromecast device is off line again, it has not screwed up my wireless connection this time, so at least I can connect wireless to my router with my laptop and pad

So I did a little research. SOmeone earlier told me that Google Home causes problems like this, but I don't have google home, just the above chromecast device, so I figured the chromecast was not causing the problem.

But THEN, I found THIS article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinm...ecast-is-disrupting-your-router/#589ff980789e

Interesting - the article states that the SECOND generation chromecast devices are crashing routers AND wireless connectivity to routers. SO I am assuming if their LATER model chrome cast devices are crashing wireless routers, then it stands to reason that their FIRST generation Chromecast devices are ALSO crashing routers.

The only question, is that according to the article, Google is claiming that the problem happens on android devices like smart phones and android pads I assume.

However, could this problem cited in the forbes article - with Chromecast devices crashing wireless routers also affect PC's running Windows and using the Chromecast devices?

 

Found something else. Google actually has a COMPATABILITY list for routers that work with their Chromecast devices. My ATT supplied router is not on this list: https://support.google.com/chromecast/table/3477832?hl=en-GB



This really ticks me off because ALL wireless devices should be compatible with all wireless routers. This is what industry standards are for. This is the first I am hearing about this - I wasted four days of my life trying to troubleshoot a beta product that never should have been released.


One question though - does it make sense, that the Chromecast device caused my wireless portion of my router to crash and go off line for four days - Even if during that time, the Chromecast device was not plugged in and not powered on during troubleshooting?


The only idea I can come up with, is that ATT throttled my connection for a temporary period – or blocked my WIFI for a few days, since the problem seems to be related to – according to the article - excessive discovery packets - the Chromecast sends out in order to maintain a connection.


What do you folks think?

 

Thank you for your detailed feedback.
I do not use Chromecast therefor I cannot offer any further comment.