Windows XP: Tool To Help Fix Network Connection Problems

Microsoft has created a network diagnostic tool that can help you fix network connection problems with your cable or DSL broadband connection. After you install the tool, it can be run from within Internet Explorer.

When it runs its tests, it uses the MICROSOFT.COM sites, and will report back what it finds. This tool can perform the following tests:

• IP configuration
  
• Default gateway
• Winsock
  
• DNS
  
• Firewall
• Internet connectivity validation

To use the tool, open Internet Explorer and select 'Diagnose Connection Problems' from the Tools menu. You can also run it from the Run... command, type "%WINDIR%\NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC\XPNETDIAG.EXE", and then press the OK button.

This tool is not designed to be sophisticated and return detailed results that might be expected by someone who knows something about TCP/IP. If you want more detailed results use some of the MS-DOS command line tools.