IE won't load pages when I update; downloads say I'm not connected to internet.

I've had this problem for awhile and I'm not really sure how to fix it.
My laptop is a Toshiba and is usually connected to our wireless internet (however, I have tried plugging it into our internet with an ethernet cord, and it doesn't fix it). When I try to download things that check for internet connection, it says I'm not connected. I tried downloading the Chrome browser and it won't show any pages, because it says I'm not connected to the internet.
IE is all I can get to work, but I also have another problem with that. I haven't updated my computer since I got it because some update causes me to be unable to use Internet Explorer (it won't load any pages) and I don't know which update is causing it.
If I could fix the internet thing, I would just use Chrome.
Any help would be wonderful.

Welcome to the forum,

Here's something you can try to see if it fixes your IE problem, http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/114310-internet-explorer-reset.html

Also you said you haven't updated your computer since you got it, but you think an update is causing your problem, this is confusing.

Do you have any service packs installed? updates are necessary for a healthy system.

Also here's some info to see if you can fix your connection problems, Network connection problems in Windows

Post back if you have other questions or with any additional info.

Hi AxexZombie,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

Please go to http://www.vistax64.com/network-sharing/284688-network-posting-tips.html (that's a link you can click on) and follow all of the instructions completely and exactly. Some you will just do and they will be done to try to resolve any connection problems. Others will result in you posting screenshots in your next reply which will tell us much about your network connections.

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Next, we will address your problems with IE. There are many possible causes, and the following articles will help in trying to identify and/or resolve them:

Try reviewing the following article:

Tips for solving problems with Internet Explorer
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Tips-for-solving-problems-with-Internet-Explorer

If that doesn't resolve the problem, then try the following two procedures in the order presented:

Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer’s (No Add-ons) Mode [Applies to IE7 & IE8 in all OSS]
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

Does the behavior persist if you Reset IE Advanced settings (RIES)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737

How to optimize Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/936213/?p=1

How to troubleshoot Internet Explorer issues in Windows Vista and in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936215

Hopefully, one of these procedures will resolve your problems with IE. If not, we'll dig deeper into the issue.

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Finally, let's examine your network setup and see if we can find the problem there. If you want, you can just read for now and wait until you've done the first step above and we've seen the screenshots before trying anything - or you can certainly proceed on your own if you identify a potetial cause from the reading. Again, we don't know how you're configured, so it's hard to be specific. I've included several different articles - please select the ones that seem most appropriate (though pretty much all of them can be of help):

Here are procedures for networking Vista with Windows7 that may help: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Windows-7-Understanding-Network-Administration-Configuration.html.

Here's another article on home networking (with several links to related articles which should all be reviewed - as well as the others you find in the related articles) to help you better understand home networking: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Setting-up-a-home-network. Though this is for Vista, much of it applies to Windows7 (though there may be some differences which should be covered in the prior article).

Here's an article on networking different versions of Windows: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Networking-home-computers-running-different-versions-of-Windows.

Here's a tutorial on how to setup a home network (including a wireless one) - check out the additional links for further information that may be of great help: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Setting-up-a-home-network.

Here's an article on troubleshooting wireless network connections (again with helpful links): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-network-connection-problems.

Here's a long guide on wireless internet connections in Vista: http://www.techwarelabs.com/guides/misc_mod/vistaconnection/.

Here's an article on how to setup wireless internet connection in Vista: http://www.clpgh.org/usingthelibrary/technology/wireless/WindowsVista.pdf.

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If you haven't updated the system since you first tried and had a problem so decided to stop updating rather than dealing with the problem, then there's no telling how far behind you are in terms of changes, security updates, revisions, enhancements, features which may have corrected this problem you're having or other problems, and other things important to your system running smoothly and efficiently and safely and with the least amount of difficulty.

I understand your concern about that update, but there's a good chance that since then a new update has come out which fixes that problem if it was a problem experienced by many people - so it may no longer be an issue (though that's no guarantee). If you're concerned, then create a system restore point, do them in small groups, and test things between groups. If all is well, do another group. If not, do a System Restore to before that group of updates and do that group individually, one at a time, to find the one causing the problem and then for the time being hide that update and proceed on. When done, post the KB numbers of the updates causing problems (with the problems they each caused) and we'll try to assist you in getting them installed a different way. But please do the updates and especially the Service Packs (but in order - first update, then Service Pack 1, then update, then Service pack 2, then update until current). That alone may fix your current problems (though again, that's no guarantee - in fact, it's more like a hope but it is possible).

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Nice post Lorien, you obviously like to type more than I do. :D

derekimo said:

Nice post Lorien, you obviously like to type more than I do. :D

Click to expand...

LOL! Thanks! I do like to type (and I'm pretty fast) and I'm an author (so writing comes naturally). I just hope our posts help resolve the problem or at least identify it.

I've attached the image that shows my network information, and it's alright, I'd like to try and fix that first, because that's the most debilitating thing and if I can fix my networking issue, I won't even need IE and I can update.
I really appreciate all the effor you made, but none of those addressed my problem. My internet doesn't randomly shut off and my computer itself says I am completely connected. The only problem is that when I try to download things, it won't let me because it says I'm not connected to the internet. That's the only time it doesn't work.
I've tried clicking "Diagnose and repair" but it says Windows didn't find any problem. Because there doesn't seem to be one. I've never had problems loading pages, or dowloading things (so long as it doesn't 'check for internet connection').
Am I making any sense? I'm trying to be clear. D;

I'm going to try to update, to see if maybe that addresses the networking problem, and try to fix the IE at the same time.

Okay, I updated, and that's all fine, but my internet is still doing what it was doing before.

Hi AlyxZombie,

If NONE of the above worked, try the following:

Try a clean boot http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135. If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem. Follow the procedures in the article. Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it. Once done be sure to reset Vista back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work.

Boot into Safe mode with networking and see if the problem occurs there. Either result helps us narrow down the search for the cause.

Connect to a safe site where you can download (try http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx) and temporarily deactivate your security software. See if you can download. If not, reactivate the security software as that would appear not to be the problem. If so, then replace whatever you are currently using as security software (Use removal tools when appropriate http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/) with Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/, update it, enable it, and run a full scan. Then see if you are able to download.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

If you were suggesting those methods for the Internet Exporer not loading pages when I update, that's been fixed.
But if you were suggesting that for the other problem I'm still dealing with, downloads saying I'm not connected to the internet (instead of downloading things to check if it's changed, I open a Google Chrome page. If it doesn't load, there's still a problem), that won't work because there isn't an internet connection with a clean start up, so I can't check.
I realize this probably isn't a problem that can be fixed, but I have to keep trying because my only other option is to contact Windows and they now charge for help.