Software Updater- Not connected to the internet

Question

I have recently downgraded from a Cable modem to a wi-fi using Globetroter Connect and the AT&T 3G network. Now when I run Software update - I get a message that I am not connected to the internet - even tho I am running Netscape in the background. (I have tried both running netscape and not runing netscape so that's not the issue) I have browsed through old posts on this topic and can't seem to find help.
thanks in advance
Robby

Answer 1

If other OS X internet dependent items do not work of don't work well
now that you've changed some system settings (or should have) in
order to use a new internet provider and other hardware, you may
have to change system settings. A non-Apple browser can use its
own settings and find an internet connection in your Mac. Other
parts of the system may not find the internet directly if a change
was made to your computer's settings or the hardware attached.
In some cases, a Mac owner may find Safari won't work; FireFox
will; and to the same web pages, the results will differ. Or other
internet dependent items such as certain live widgets can't find
the internet if they rely on other system settings not set correctly.
So, this means there much be some location setting, or some
old proxy, or perhaps a firewall setting or other block; maybe
even one part of the Network settings is correct in general
while another is not. Even improper DNS or other numbers
may be a partial reason for something halfway working.
If you get different results or none at all from native Mac OS X
internet dependent applications or utilities, then the settings
or location, or other network, or system pref setting, etc are in
need of review and some changes need to be tried.
Have you tried other user accounts to see if the system's own
reliance on the internet settings in System Preferences Network
and other basics still work (or don't) thereby narrowing the issue?
The kind of problem you've cited has other parallel causes under
different topics online; I have read about, but not experienced them.
Good luck & happy computing!