Router restart

[Tefler]

We have a Linksys router. Fairly frequently, it seems to crash - at least we get 'the page cannot be displayed' type message on both of the computers using the router. The lights, however, are all still on as if the thing were working.
It was suggested that in these circumstances we should turn everything, inlcuding the router, off and start it all up again. However, turning the router back on is quite a task. The other day my partner had to press the 'on' button 99 times and yesterday it was 175 before the relevant lights came on to indicate that all was well again.
How can the 'on' switch of an electrical device not turn the thing on? And what can be done to alleviate the problems of crashing and restarting?

[Ethel]

I have a Linksys router and never use the 'on' button. I simply switch it off at the plug, wait a couple of minutes and switch it back on.

But to your other problem - does this happen on EVERY web page, or just a particular one?

Who is your ISP?

Is everything working as it should if you connect directly to the modem?

Is your setup secure? Could a third party be accessing your router admin pages and changing the settings?

[ACtheTROLL]

I think you need to be a little more patient

it's a multipart process ... in this context your "router" is actually a 'ikkle computer which contains a number of devices.....
so when you restart .... it takes time
if the lights are on ... the wheels are turning .... give it chance ....
especially if you are wireless. (wlan light)
if not - one of the 4? ethernet lights will glow for each pc connected

to further complicate matters ... it then needs to establish a contact with your ISPs equipment at the other end
(the DSL light .... and eventually the Internet one)

and then the ISP equipment sorts out your connection to the net.

and it takes time.

if a component is going to fail .... or a chip is going to "forget" it generally happens when you switch on or off ... so 175 is just asking for an accident)

(this is a bit of a generalisation) ... but if all the lights are correct on the router ... it's working ....
unable to display is likely to be either pc or isp

next time try to talk to the router (type 192.168.1.0 or whatever your's is set to into your browser ... and see what it's got to say

if the lights won't come on .... or problems persist ... get a new router

[Tefler]

Thanks for the replies, Ehel and AC. I have secured the router, so that won't be the problem, I don't think. Unfortunately, turning the router off at the plug simply has the effect of turning it off at the button!

When the connection fails, it's on every webpage as well as other things that don't use the same browser. The ISP is Tiscali.

As for the other advice - what happens when you press the button sometimes is that the lights don't actually light up, they glow dully. Leaving it to do its thing when they're doing that has no effect whatsoever.

Pinging the router when it's in this situtation leads to failure, so I'm assuming it's the router rather than anything else which has the problem.

Any further suggestions?