For some reason my LAN settings won't stay. I click on them to automatically detect settings, but it doesn't stay checked. I can't decide if I should contact my new IP or Dell, or MSN for the Windows. I don't think it should be Dell. They have nothing to do with the programs on my puter, so it's either the IP or Windows.
any help would be appreciated.

what isp do you have? what version of windows are you running? have you tried setting it up manually,a nd not selecting autodetect? are you running a router to multiple comps?

I would call your internet provider's tech support. They should be able to help.

You just got satellite right?

I'd call the ISP.

Is it preventing you from accessing the internet?

Are you going through a router?

I can get on the net. it's just that when I click on a page it loads blank and it says that it's done, so I have to refresh the page to get it to load correctly. pain in the butt to have to do that all the time.
the router.... ...it that this thingy sitting here on my desk with little green lights on it? ( honestly, no buu$hit, I' not sure ) I'm gonna say yes I go thru a router to the dish on the house. My recieving light is solid, my transmit light is blinking and my LAN light is on and flashing( but it does that when theres "traffic" on the Ethernet)so it's not flashing all the time just when theres traffic.
This isn't causing any major problems, but it's just annoying and a pain to have to keep ckecking the darn thing!! and having to refresh pages all the time. ugh. always something.
thanks people. will have to call the IP. yay thats always fun.

the thing with the blinkie lights is your modem, i think. i was asking if you had more than one computer hooked up to your satellite... there would be ANOTHER thingie with blinky lights, so i'm guessing that's a "no"? have you tried going to your network connections and clicking "repair"? sometimes that will fix it...

start menu. view network connections. right click. repair.

repair just releases and renews the IP lease, doesn't it?

yeah but it sounds like that might be whats up with her comp. also, if repair doesnt work, it will tell you why. ( cable unplugged, ip conflict, weak connection, etc)

I still think she's got a virus issue.

WVD, did you ever do the "return pc to factory condition" routine?

yep. did that after the Fatal Error fiasco with Peoplepc. That was over a month ago. I've only been back online for a week. have a new virus and spyware program. but I think I will do a deep scan just to make sure.