• First, try opening up a different web page, like Google or Yahoo. If they come up, then the problem lies not with you, but with your website. Just wait a little while for them to fix the problem. <br /> • Try unplugging your network cable from your computer and plugging it back in. Make sure that you get a link light on the back of your computer to let you know it’s connected properly. Everyone tells you to check the cables, but even if they’re connected, it could be a loose connection. Actually unplugging it and then plugging it back in could very well make it a solid connection again. <br /> • Reboot everything. First shutdown your computer and unplug the power from your router and your cable or DSL modem. Then wait a few minutes (that’s minutes, not seconds). Power up your cable or DSL modem first. Wait a few more minutes. Then power up your router. Wait a few minutes more. Then turn on your computer. Although it sounds ridiculously over simple, this actually fixes the problem about 75% of the time! <br /> • Try unplugging your computer from the router and plugging it straight to the back of the modem. This will definitively tell you if your router is causing the problem or not. <br /> • If you’ve got two computers hooked up, make sure you try both computers. If the problem is only with one computer, then again you’ve isolated the broken device. <br /> • You should also try running a spyware scan or try using a different browser like Mozilla Firefox. There are a number of malware out there that hijack your browser and won’t let you surf the web even if your Internet connection is okay. <br /> • If you’re feeling confident about your computer skills, then “ipconfig”, “ping”, and “tracert” are a troubleshooter’s best friend. Just do a Google search on how to use them, what to look for, and most importantly, how to interpret the results. If you go through all of this and it still doesn’t work, then yes, it may be time to call in a specialist, but you’ll have made his or her job that much easier. Think how good it would feel to get your Internet connection up and running without having to call one.