Can an ISP block an IP address for participating on E?

[Sarah Morgan]

I'm currently having Internet issues at home, and was curious to know if anyone might have any knowledge about whether someone's Internet service provider can block an ISP from accessing the Internet and email, and what reasons they might have for it.  We have one computer that's able to connect to the Internet through our router, but none of our other computers are able to.  The computer in question is an old one, so I'm wondering if somehow an old IP address was stored in its memory when it was used several years back, which is what's allowing it on the Net.  I'm not sure if a blocked IP is the problem, but it's the only thing I can think of that makes sense, why one computer would be allowed through and others not.  I'm hoping that I'm only overreacting, and that it's nothing as ominous as that, but I thought I'd see if anyone had any input on this.  I'm at a friend's house right now, and I'll be here for a while, if anyone's around who feels like tackling this.

[Autumn Sativus]

Is that computer directly connected to the router via ethernet?

Are the rest of your computers using wireless connections?

It could be that you need to reset your router or tinker with your wireless network if this is the case. Otherwise, I would suggest you contact your service provider.

[Oniya]

When an IP number is blocked, it's blocked by a certain site from connecting to that certain site.  (For example, if Facebook determined that you were a 'problem', they could block you from connecting to Facebook, but not from connecting to MSN.)  You're more likely having a router problem or a problem with your provider on a more software/hardware level, and not a Terms of Service level.

[Sarah Morgan]

My laptop is the only computer that's connected wirelessly to the Internet, using a wireless router.  The other computers are using a wired router, but my wireless router somehow gets the information to connect to the Internet through the wired one.  I'm connected wirelessly to our DSL connection, in other words.  I'm not sure I'm explaining this right, as I'm not that technical-minded when it comes to computer lingo,, but it reassures my mind that the problem most likely isn't IP address and Elliquiy-related.

[Autumn Sativus]

My laptop is the only computer that's connected wirelessly to the Internet, using a wireless router.  The other computers are using a wired router, but my wireless router somehow gets the information to connect to the Internet through the wired one.  I'm connected wirelessly to our DSL connection, in other words.  I'm not sure I'm explaining this right, as I'm not that technical-minded when it comes to computer lingo,, but it reassures my mind that the problem most likely isn't IP address and Elliquiy-related.

So, you have your "Modem" that your ISP provided you with.
You have all of your computers connected through an ethernet cable to the modem?
And an ethernet cable runs to your Router, to provide your laptop with Wireless Connection?

[Sarah Morgan]

I believe that's how it works.  All of the computers are connected by cables that run from the computers themselves to ports on the router that was given to us by our ISP, and my wireless router is then hooked up through my XP computer so that I can access the Net wirelessly from my laptop.  The cable that connected my XP computer to our router is currently plugged into a port on the wireless router, and then another cable hooks into my XP computer from the wireless router, I think.  It's been so long since I've set it up that I can't remember for sure.  That sounds about right though.

[Autumn Sativus]

If one of those is working, there's no reason why the next one wouldn't. You are also directly connected to your Modem, which tells me that it is an issue with your Service Provider or your Modem. Have you tried unplugging everything both from the wall and the ethernet cables? Sometimes if you just disconnect everything and leave it for a few minutes, it magically fixes itself.

[Sarah Morgan]

We haven't tried that yet, and my roommate who at least has a little vision is too worried to do much thinking about the Internet at the moment.  I'm just hoping they haven't blocked us from the Net because of my writing here on E.  With everything else going on, now isn't the time for anyone to find out I'm writing on here.  They wouldn't understand, and would make a huge deal out of it, even though I'm of age.  If it wasn't for the other computer having access to the Net I'd say it was a loose connection somewhere, because our phone that we have hooked up in that room isn't working either, but I'd think that if it was a loose connection, then none of the computers should be able to get connected.  I'll keep everyone posted as to what the actual issue is though, whenever I find out about it myself, and hope it's nothing too major to fix.

[Anjasa]

You're in Tennessee, hon, and there's nothing illegal on this site. They wouldn't block you from connecting to the entire internet because of this. I really wouldn't worry at /all/ about that and just focus on the technical stuff that likely is a problem.

Make sure you clear your cookies and internet history and anything else before letting anyone look at your computer, though, if you're worried about being found out :)

[Sarah Morgan]

I've got my browser set to delete cookies and history whenever I close it, so no worries there.  Thanks for the reassurance, and hopefully you're right about me not being blocked from accessing the Net because of my being on here.  I'll let everyone know what the outcome is, whenever my roommate feels up to calling and checking into it, which could take a while.

[Anjasa]

Considering other people in Tennessee are probably looking at far more interesting pornographic sites than written erotica, I'm sure of it :)