* If you open your browser (Firefox, Safari, Opera, Mozilla, internet Explorer) and try to log into a page that you have looked at before (use the bookmarks, or the History menu), and you get a message saying "Can't find" or "Server can't be found" then probably your internet connection isn't working.
* Check all the connections.
* Check that your modem/router is powered up.
* Reboot it (Turn it off for a minute, then on again).
* Reboot the computer (Restart it).
* Telephone your internet provider.
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Answer
Try opening your Windows Browser, if it won't open, then you have one of two problems, one you aren't connected to the Internet and secondly one of your settings for Windows Explorer could be wrong. If that fails try sending an email from Outlook Express. For anyone using dial up you can hear the computer connecting to the net, but not with DSL. With DSL if it's hooked up properly you will connect to the net faster than you can snap your fingers.
There are numerous ways to know your internet speed.
If your computer has a modem connected to it via a Network Interface Card. Which is connection to your land line, providing you have a plan with an Internet Service Provider then yes you should be able to connect to the internet.
Go to start> right click My Computor> Properties> Hardware Tab> Device Manager> Network Adapters. (Thats how to find if you have a Network Interface Card)
I had a nasty comment all ready to go about how if you wrote this question you must have been on the internet, but then I realized you could be talking about when you are not using a web browser yet still connected.
1. Connected via a cable
If you are connected to the internet with a cable there should be a cable coming from your computer that should have cat 5 or cat 5e printed along the length of the cable somewhere. Another hint is if you open your web browser and it either connects or doesn't. Yet another hint is alot of computers will have a light on them somewhere to indicate if they are connected or not, you should consult your computers manual to find out exactly where this light is.
2. Connected wirelessly
This is most likely if you are using a laptop these days. 90% of the time there is a light somewhere on the outside of the computer that will be on when you are connected and off when you are not. The end of the story is each computer is different and you should consult the manual that came with your computer.
If none of this makes sense then an easy test is if you open your web browser and it shows a web page then you are connected, if it shows an error page then you are not.