Computing

How to sort out home computer network problems

It is common to have problems arising with a home computer network just when you least need it. The client computer/s connected to the computer network sometimes (frequently in some cases) displays an error page when you open the internet browser because it is unable to retrieve pages on the web.

There are two important solutions that can solve the problem before the need to call on the expensive help line or even a network expert to deal with the issue.

Often the client computer displays the wrong IP address when you look at the status of the network connection by opening up the control panel and clicking on the network connection. This is probably because the router that is connected to the modem is issuing the wrong address to the client computer or computers (if you have more than two computers on your network).

Rebooting the modem

A simple way to get around this problem, but one that is often overlooked, is to take the power supply to the modem out for half a minute or so either by disconnecting the cable at the back of the router or to take the modem plug out from the power supply. Reconnect the modem to the power supply and restart the computer. Once the computer has restarted, make sure you can log on the internet from the host computer and then check that you could do the same from a client computer. Yes. Its easy as that!

Identical name

A second possible solution is to ensure that you connect the client computer to the network through the network set up wizard on the client computer and tick the box that states 'This computer connects to the internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network'. The next step is to choose the same Work Group name as the host computer. This in theory will mean all the computers on the network running as one, thus allowing you to share files and other media, and of course, the connection itself.