Win7 Startup 1st thing in the Morning won't connect to Internet

[Rickalo]

I have a client who indicated they have one of their 4 office pcs that, when starting up for the 1st time in the morning, will not connect to the internet. They say, they have to restart it again, and then it will connect, and subsequent restarts throughout the day work fine...

I am scheduled to check out this PC next week, so I wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions on what might be causing this, and/or what I should investigate?

This is a general use PC, which is only used a few times during the day (by multiple persons), and typically only for viewing web sites and checking email. With the exception of possibly one employee, users do not know much about PCs and I don't believe anyone has altered the PC settings. Up until about a month ago, this PC had worked flawlessly..

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.

 

[fireberd]

Check if they are also powering off their internet modem at night. I've seen cases where everything is powered off at night, in the morning they power the PC and Modem on at the same time, but the PC boots up faster than the modem connects and synch's with the ISP end. Thus there is no connection because the modem was not "ready". Subsequent PC boots are OK because the Modem is now ready for operation.

Generally, its best to leave the modem on at all times. But, if they want to power it off, they need to power it on first and wait until its "ready" and then power on the PC(s).

 

[Rickalo]

Thanks for the reply.. I will double check, but am pretty sure they do not power off computer systems, as they have systems they must keep running for their technicians who handle customer calls for security systems (this is an alarm system installation company).

 

[fireberd]

OK. But check what is being powered off, may be some communications device is also powered off.

 

[Rickalo]

For sure.. will check that.

... what is puzzling, is that the other office computers work fine on their 1st startup of the day.

 

[fireberd]

Could be they are starting this one up first and then the others after the first is up.

 

[Rickalo]

That's a possibility... I will definitely check that out...

 

[DavidE]

You could also try re-booting the modem (and router).

 

[Rickalo]

We have tried that.. I sent a note to the office to try the following:

• leave PC on overnight and see what happens
• Confirm none of the internet related systems are shut off (Modem, router, hub) each night
• Turn on another office PC 1st in the morning, see if it connect to internet, and see how the problem PC works when it is turned on

Just trying to eliminate some probables before visiting next week.

 

[DavidE]

I'd look at Event Viewer to see if there are any errors.

 

[Rickalo]

will do!

 

[fireberd]

Just curious on what the findings were.

 

[Rickalo]

I am scheduled to visit the office this week... probably tomorrow or Wednesday (March 15th or 16th).