Selective Internet

Hi,

I upgraded my laptop to Windows 10 Home on day one, and haven't experienced a single problem.

I'd finally decided that, yes, it's good enough to go on the desktop, except it sort of isn't.

It tells me I have internet access. Diagnostics can't find a problem. I've successfully downloaded updates for my GTX 460 through the GeForce Experience software, and also for fully twenty games through Steam.

But if I try to verify my account, it says I'm not connected to the internet. Browsers say the same. The Windows Store. Disabling and re-enabling the adapter lets me browse the internet (Edge, Chrome, Steam) for maybe thirty seconds, then starts throwing not connected and DNS errors at me. But I'm still sending and receiving packets through Steam, so it is connected without a shadow of a doubt.

I'm actually a relatively accomplished techie--I used to solve problems like this twenty times a day--but I'm utterly stumped. All of my usual avenues (resetting the router, resetting the computer, resetting the adapter, updating the drivers, diagnostics, fiddling with the internet options--setting them manually and automatically) are bringing up nothing.

I do not and did not have any VPN clients installed. The only Cisco software that's touched the computer is Packet Tracer, which was uninstalled when I finished university four years ago.

I don't want to go back to Windows 7 without properly giving 10 a go, but if I can't play Elder Scrolls Online--or do anything, really--I'm not going to have much choice; I've been waiting weeks!

EDIT: It's a wireless connection.

Hi Trapezium,
Welcome to the forums, can you tell us the make and model of your Wi-Fi card, in the mean time try switching the DNS to either Open dns or google dns.

I'm sorry, I could've sworn I specified that it was a wired connection.

My initial post has been edited for clarification.