getting a lap top back online

[oldflyingfarmer]

I have a friend that wants me to help him figure out his problem. He was on the internet and his lap top shut down. He uses a USC air card. So he booted back up, went to his software to hook back in. It shows that he is connected and starts counting the seconds that he is on line. He said this was normal. Then he clicks on IE, with Google as his home page, and he gets a message stating that he is working off line and it will not go anywhere from there. He has had this happen before but never had the problem getting back online. I wonder if the message is saved and coming up automatically.
What should my first step be to get him back going? I will see him early in the morning.
Thanks for any help.