Browser is not using the connection

[Guest]

I'm temporarily using a free ISP while on vacation.

I can see the connection icon at lower right, and bytes are being sent and
received.

However, neither Internet Explorer or Firefox believe that there is a
connection. IE says that I am "offline".

Clicking "Refresh" or Shift-Refresh or CTRL-Refresh simply gives a message
saying page not available.

Note that about once or twice per day, I can successfully load pages with no
change to any internet settings.

I would be grateful for any advice

 

[Chuck]

I'm temporarily using a free ISP while on vacation.

I can see the connection icon at lower right, and bytes are being sent and
received.

However, neither Internet Explorer or Firefox believe that there is a
connection. IE says that I am "offline".

Clicking "Refresh" or Shift-Refresh or CTRL-Refresh simply gives a message
saying page not available.

Note that about once or twice per day, I can successfully load pages with no
change to any internet settings.

I would be grateful for any advice

Alan,

What's a "free ISP"? In some WiFi forums, the more nasty WiFi security experts
setup an open WiFi AP, with no security, connected to nothing. Then they laugh
at the sad people who connect to their open AP, and get no service.

Or are you getting "Connected to XXXXXX: Signal Strength Excellent" yet not
actually connecting? Do "ipconfig /all" when you're "offline", then when you're
"online", and compare the results.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/reading-ipconfig-and-diagnosing.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/reading-ipconfig-and-diagnosing.html