Internet Connection Problem

Recently my desktop hasn't been connecting to the Internet. I get the message in the picture saying the site can't be reached.

However I'm still connected to the Internet and have a signal.

This all happened after I uninstalled my old antivirus.

Any remedy for this? I am running Windows 8.

 

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT AN IT SPECIALEST AND AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS YOUR COMPUTER.
Does it work hooked to Ethernet? If it works over Ethernet you may need to get the drivers for your wifi card reinstalled. If the computer came with Windows 8 on it then you should have gotten a disc. That disc could very well have the drivers on it. Alternatively back up the hard drive to an external and do a fresh Windows install. Or send it to dell if you still have warranty.

 

I was trying to explain to someone today the difference between having a wifi signal and having internet access. Just because your device can wirelessly connect to the access point does not mean the access point is able to provide internet service/connectivity.

Saying you have a signal means little. Good advice from Roger to connect to the access point via a wire/cat5/ethernet cable and see if that changes anything. If it does not change anything, reset the access point (if you can).

Windows' troubleshooter does a decent job of assessing the situation. Any chance you ran it, and if so, what did it say?

 

you can look at the IP to determine if you actually have internet or not

you can unplug the service provider from your modem/router/gateway and the SSID will still broadcast. like above, it doesn't mean it has internet.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys.
So you don't think something got messed up when I uninstalled my anti virus? I wasn't having problems before that.

 

I work for a well known Internet provider. Yes it can be difficult explaining to someone that doesn't do it often that the wifi bars you see only mean your connected to the network. That said have you went to command prompt and seen if you are getting an IP address? That didn't cross my mind earlier. Resetting the wireless router as JDM said is also always a good place to start. Try that first. Then Ethernet cord. Then drivers.

 

Have you tried unplugging the router/modem for 10 seconds then plugging them back in and then restarting the computer?

I wish my mom would buy a Mac for this very reason. lol I hate getting this call. lmao

 

I usually just restart the computer until it works lol.

No haven't tried the router yet because all my other devices were working.
I'll try that now.

 

For posteritys' sake... When in doubt? Ping it out.

Open a command prompt by clicking on the start button and (on W7, W8, W8.1, W10) typing "cmd.exe" and hitting Enter.
In this box type "ping 8.8.8.8" without the quotes.
If you see a response great if you see anything like "Destination Host Unreachable" or "General Fault" or similar you're having trouble. If this succeeds you have SOME type of internet connection as you're able to hit Google's public DNS (domain name system) server.