Is there a program to tell you if you have an internet connection or not

Hi,

Just like to ask if anyone knows of a simple program that checks and shows on the desktop if your PC has access to the internet or not.

Having the 'spinning earth symbol' on the network icon on the task bar is dead-ringer but my grandparents can't see very well....

They are having a hard time figuring out why their emails wont send, when it really the ISP's problem.



I already did a search for:

"internet connectivity gadget/widget/program" and nothing came up.

 

Just have them open a page in firefox.

If there is connectivity, they should readily be able to tell.

Also, if they're using windows 7, see the magnifier page:

Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier)

Hope this helps.

 

@danp224

thanks; but even that is hard for them to do... hehe.

@rns1016

its a wired connection sad to say... but thanks.

 

Start > Run > cmd > ping Google

Or you could write a simple batch file that would ping google and echo that it worked or failed

 

just load a weather gadget in their sidebar--if it tells the temp, its on.

 

I second this. Nothing simpler than using what Windows already has in it. If the packets get a reply, then you're dandy. If they don't, then you have a problem. This is far better than using a web browser or gadget because those can be affected by malware infections, incorrect settings, etc... Far better to go Start>Run>cmd>google.com.

 

Yes; this is definitely a no-brainer. Majority of us can do this but people in their 70s; can't...

This is how bad it is: I just re-arranged some desktop icons to tidy things up and my grandparent had a super hard time finding 'Word' after wards...

Even the smallest change that we wont notice; they will.


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Yes; thanks for the side bar gadget trick... I'd consider that.

 

Well, that depends on the person. I've been surprised by a few people. Sadly, my own grandparents aren't in that group, heh. Another thought could be to make a link on their desktop to a website such as "http://whatismyipaddress.com/" and name it "Is my internet working?" Then they can just double-click it and look for the map.