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HOW TO: Use the PING command.

PING

One of the most basic tests for Internet connectivity is the PING command. Ping will ask another computer if it is there and ask for a response. Very simple, it is like saying hello and waiting for a response.

The computer you are connecting to can be described by an Internet Name or by an Internet Address. An Internet name is the familiar format like www.iperform.NET. An Internet address is a series of 4 numbers separated by dots, such as 65.241.4.1.

To use ping, you must be connected to the internet. If you have a dialup connection, you must connect before you can use ping.

The results are easiest to see if you run ping from a command prompt. If you do not know how to open a command prompt, see How to open a command prompt. Instead of the command prompt, in Windows, you can click the start button, then run, then enter the command in the "run" box.

Type ping (one space) (address) then the enter key.
Address can be a name like www.iperform.NET   (e.g. ping www.iperform.NET)
or an address like 65.241.4.1   (e.g. ping 65.241.4.1)
or any valid Internet name
or any valid Internet address

If the command executes correctly, there will normally be 4 attempts to contact the remote system and 4 positive responses. Sometimes the first one does not work but the last 2 or 3 should work. If all 4 attempts are unsuccessful, something is wrong, you are not getting through to the other computer.

If ping is failing to connect to the destination computer, try some other computers like ours (www.iperform.NET or 65.241.4.1).

If ping is failing everywhere that you try, then try ping 127.0.0.1. This address is used for testing your own computer. If you can ping your own computer but can not connect to computers on the Internet, there is probably a problem in your Internet connection. Check with your Internet Service Provider for further help.

If you can not get anywhere, the problem is probably in your computer.

If you can not get to 127.0.0.1, the problem is probably in your computer.

If you can get everywhere except one destination, then the problem is probably that destination. 

If you can get to some places but not to other places, there may be a problem out on the Internet. If that is the case, there is probably nothing that you will be able to do to fix the problem. It may be working a little later. Try again in a hour or so. If the problem persists, call your Internet Service Provider.

For a more complete test of the Internet connection, see: Testing Internet Connectivity.