Why can't I open a website? Why can't I send or receive Email? Why is my Internet connection so slow? Everybody has experienced the frustration at one time or another, of being unable to connect to the Internet, or of being locked out of email, unable to send or receive messages.

What are the symptoms? Sometimes you get an error message, sometimes you don't. Here are some typical symptoms that our customers report:

• I keep getting "page not found" errors or "404" errors.
• My Internet Explorer loads a web page or part of a web page then gives me an error that says "a scripting error has occurred on this page"
• Internet Explorer locks up or closes itself as soon as I open it.
• When I try to go on the Internet I get a message that says "a critical error has occurred" and asks me if I want to send it to Microsoft.
• My email sends but doesn't receive (or receives but doesn't send)
• My email doesn't come in for a long time, then comes in all at once.
• I get an error message when I try to send and receive mail.
• I get new email messages, but they disappear from my Inbox before I can read them.
• Help! I'm getting buried in SPAM!!!

What can be done about it? Except for the last two symptoms, lost messages and spam problems, before trying anything else, you should try the common practice of resetting your Internet connection (also called "bouncing the connection"). You are probably already familiar with this, but if not, here's how it works:

• Shut down all of your Internet-connected computers
• Unplug power from your network equipment such as router, wireless router, and Cable, DSL, or FIOS modem (note that sometimes these are separate devices, but sometimes they are a single integrated unit)
• Wait a few minutes
• Plug in power to your Cable, DSL, or FIOS modem first and wait a couple minutes for the lights to stop flashing
• Plug in power to your router or wireless router (if separate) and again wait until the lights stop flashing
• restart your Internet connected computers and check for Internet or Email access

If you are unsuccessful at restoring your connection in this fashion, or if you find that some computers connect, but others don't, resist the urge to begin tinkering with your router or computer networking settings. Many users who attempt to solve more extensive problems without understanding the real causes end up with a lot more work and greater expense when a professional geek is finally called in because the geek now needs to solve the original problem plus determine and restore any incorrect or lost configuration settings.

How can Geek Housecalls help? Next time you find yourself dreading a half-hour wait on hold in the tech support queue of your Cable or Phone company just to get some kid who tells you to reset your router and try again even when you've already tried that, and then dismisses you with "call back if its still not working..." (sound too familiar?) consider Geek Housecalls instead.

Your geek has the knowledge and experience to not only identify the source of problems, but can usually solve them during the service call. Your geek will even get on the phone with your cable or phone company if needed, to shortcut the diagnosis process and push them towards speedier resolution of problems that originate on their end. Our customers appreciate the fact that bringing in a geek from Geek Housecalls eliminates finger-pointing between Internet providers, PC manufacturers and network equipment makers because we work with all parties involved to find the solution to your problems, meaning you only need to deal with your geek and your geek deals with everyone else. Now that's a reason to smile!