I think for a lot of people it is the issue with the instructions of the task (At the time of writing: 2.1.2 Packet tracer -Create A Simple Network).
For me/current version of the task guide only instructs to build 3 "devices": PC, Laptop, Cable Modem. Then later it instructs on how to connect them while hand wavingly stating that a Wireless Router and a Cloud/internet would have had to been set up as well. This with no info which icon it is and where to find it. Lastly when all is connected, it instructs to ping cisco server. No such server was ever instructed to set up nor told where such icon could be found thus pinging is not possible ("Ping request could not find host cisco.srv. Please check the name and try again").
I only discovered this all after finding this thread and downloading one fixed package to open in the software. To my surprise the correct setup had even more devices. I, and I bet some others, thought that adding the Internet cloud would be the end point. That it would simulate the function of internet for a user, instead of needing to build the other side as well . While I understand it demonstrate how roughly networks connect to each other via Internet, I don't think a bigger than a Lan network is necessary for the very fist task of the software. This is a beginner course after all and all instructions should be very contained with no room for interpretation.
UPDATE!: I am a big dumb. I no can read. I just klik button nottin happens.
i.e the info to the task states "Use the button on the right to download the .pka activity file.". So I was just too quick to rush in and start doing. In my rush I didn't read the last line that stated, I can download an already made file where I just add the steps in the instructions. All this time I thought that download button was for downloading the instruction PDF file locally (to be fair the button has same text written on it. Maybe it should say "Download .pka"...
