This document pertains to HP Notebook PCs with Windows Vista.
Simple reasons for a loss of connection problem
When a notebook PC fails to connect to the network, or loses an existing connection, an error message such as, Cannot find Server
usually displays in the web browser. Possible causes include:
The cable connection is loose or damaged
The router or modem fails
The device driver is missing or corrupted
The internet service provider (ISP) service or network fails
Use one of the following methods to diagnose and repair common, simple physical connection problems on a wired or wireless network.
Check network cabling
On most PCs, there are two light emitting diodes (LEDs) next to the physical connection where the ethernet cable plugs into the back of the PC. The LEDs glow or blink to indicate the current status of the network device.
To verify the physical connection of the PC to the internet, follow the steps below.
Look at the connector where the ethernet cable attaches to the PC. If the green ethernet LED is glowing steadily and the yellow LED is blinking, the network card is connected properly to the network. Go to
Check router and modem
.
If the LEDs at the ethernet connection are not glowing, check the connection of the PC to the network as follows.
Unplug and re-plug the ethernet cable to establish a good connection.
Connect the PC to the network using a different ethernet cable.
Connect the PC to a different network plug.
Connect the ethernet cable directly from the PC to the modem to bypass all of the network wiring and the router.
If available, connect another PC to the network connector to determine if the network is working.
If the LEDs do not glow under any of these conditions, or if you do not have access to the router and modem, contact the System Administrator to verify that the system is operating and to reset the modem and the router, if necessary.
Check router and modem operation
The network connection LEDs only glow and blink when there is a physical connection between the PC and network router. If LEDs are not glowing after checking the network cables and connections, perform one or more of the following steps, and then test the connection.
If the computer is on a network where you have access to the router and modem, and the browser displays a Cannot find server
error message, reset the router and the modem by turning the power off and back on, and then restart the PC.
Verify that the router is operating by checking the condition of the LEDs.
In general, a router has a steady green LED to indicate a connection between the router and the computer, and a blinking LED to indicate the transfer of data through the system. See the manufacturer's documentation for a specific description.
If the LEDs on the router indicate that there is no connection to the modem or that no data is being transferred, bypass the router by connecting the ethernet cable from the PC directly to the modem.
If the PC can now contact the network, the router is defective and needs to be replaced.
Verify that the modem is operating by checking the condition of the LEDs.
If the LEDs on the modem indicate that there is no connection to the ISP or that no data is being transferred, go to
Contact ISP Support
.
Verify the status of the network
If the modem, the router, and the PC have been reset, and the glowing LEDs indicate a good physical connection, but the PC cannot connect to the internet or to a network resource, follow the steps below to verify that the network device is enabled and to reinstall the network drivers, if necessary:
Click Start
, type Network and Sharing
, into the search field, and then select Network and Sharing Center
from the list.
Select Manage network connections
in the left panel of the Network and Sharing Center window. The Network connections window appears.
If the status of your Local Area Connection is disabled
, right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Enable
.
If this fails to resolve your connectivity problem, reinstall the ethernet driver.
Reinstall ethernet driver
If no network connection icon is displayed in the System Tray near the clock on your task bar, the software driver is either missing or corrupt. A Windows Device not Found
error message may also display. You will need to reinstall the latest ethernet driver. Be sure that you have the latest BIOS for your computer installed prior to installing an updated ethernet driver.
Contact ISP support
Occasionally, the modem provided by the internet service provider will need to be replaced. Another common cause is that the ISP network or servers are not functioning correctly. For instance, if your PC got a specific, static IP address when the PC was turned on and the ISP had to restart their equipment, they would be sending information to your PC at a new address, and that will cause your connection to fail. In this case, simply restarting your modem, router, and PC will correct the problem.
You should contact your ISP technical support number for the following conditions:
Can not connect to ISP modem (ethernet lights on the notebook PC are not blinking when connected to the ISP modem)
ISP modem LEDs are not blinking
Method 1, 2 or 3 did not correct the problem
The following links are to the most popular internet service providers (in English):
