Pinging is a command which tells you if the connection between your computer and a particular domain is working correctly.

In Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. This will give you a window like the one below.

Enter the word ping, followed by a space, then the domain name.

If the results show a series of replies, the connection is working. The time shows you how fast the connection is. If you see a "timed out" error instead of a reply, there is a breakdown somewhere between your computer and the domain. In this case the next step is to perform a traceroute.