Strange Wireless Problem, Please Help

You need to troubleshoot this when it is not working.  Everything points to an inability to resolve website names to IP addresss.  When it is not working, first check your router status page in the router setup for dns server listings.  If they exist then the router is getting the dns server addresses from the cable modem(Assuming cable here since you didn't say who your ISP is).  At this point, check your dns server ip adresses on your laptop(ipconfig /all) to see if those same addresses are configured when you get your address from the router via DCHP.  If they are the same, then try to ping one or both of them.  If you cannot ping them you won't be able to resolve names.  Then it is a connectivity or router problem but that would be more complicated troubleshooting and I don't think that is your problem.  If you don't have the addresses on you laptop and you are configured to automatically get dns servers from dhcp then there is something wrong with your router or at the time you connected the router didn't have the info.  function f2 to toggle your laptops wireless off and on again will download the new setting in that case, then try again. Having the dns server in the ipconfig instead of 192.168.1.1 is the key.  If it is 192.168.1.1 then your router did not have the right dns servers when it gave you the ip address and associated info.  Once we figure out where it is breaking it will be easier to solve.

 

BTW, I am assuming you are not using any virtual private network software to connect to work securely.  That would change the troubleshooting dramatically.