Restarting home network equipment in a specific order can resolve many problems, including IP address conflicts. Check physical connections, wireless signal strength, and firewall settings. Setting up networks from scratch can also help.
Many home network problems can be resolved by turning the equipment off and on again. This has become something of a cliche among IT support personnel, but it actually has a great deal of truth to it. The best way to do this is to shut down and even unplug your computers and all network equipment. You should then turn them back on, every 30 seconds, in the following order: cable modem (if you have one), router, computer using a wireless connection, and finally computer using a wired connection.
One of the main home network problems that can be solved with this method is an IP address conflict. This is a result of how a router assigns identification numbers to each computer on the network so that it can handle and route data appropriately, particularly to and from the Internet. As computers connect and disconnect over time, an error can occur that leaves two different machines using the same IP address. This can effectively block communication to one machine as the router automatically sends all data to the other machine regardless of the intended destination.
It’s also worth checking physical connections with a network. Loose outlets and frayed cables can cause problems communicating with a wired network. Wireless home network problems can stem from a machine that is too far away from the router to pick up a signal. If you experience intermittent problems, check to see if a cordless phone or microwave oven could be causing the interference. You can also try changing the settings on your router to use a different wireless channel, which may prevent signal strength from being degraded when neighbors are using their own wireless networks.
You may find that a firewall is causing problems on your home network. If you’re using an additional firewall other than the one that came with your operating system, check if it might cause a conflict and if you need to change the operating system settings. Also check that you have correctly chosen all the setting options on the third party firewall that covers the networks.
If you’re having problems with your home network that can’t be fixed by any other method, try setting up networks from scratch through your operating system. This can help overcome any problems caused by changes to your machines since you first set up your network. When using this technique, don’t be afraid to perform each step meticulously and carefully, no matter how simple or obvious.
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