The problem is this:  I am connected to the wireless network and the
signal quality is allegedly "excellent" but Internet explorer (and
firefox, I tried them both) doesn't know its connected.  It even
sometimes asks me if I want to work offline. When I go into network
connections it says I am connected.  I've tried hitting repair,
checked whether it needs a password etc everything seems fine I just
need to somehow tell internet explorer where to look.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 11 Nov 2006 20:26 PST

joffi...

If you've changed the nature of your connection recently, you
may need to make a change in Internet Explorer. Go to Tools ->
Internet Options -> Connections -> LAN Settings and see if
Automatically Detect Settings is selected.

Let me know if this helps...

sublime1-ga

Your computer can connect to a wireless device even if the device
itself does not have an internet connection.  Unplug the network cable
from the wireless device and plug it into your computer, and make sure
it actually works.