Network and Sharing Center shows not connected, but computer is connected to wireless network

Anonymous
2009-11-06T21:59:55+00:00

When I open the Network and Sharing Center, or hold my mouse pointer over the internet connection icon on the bottom right of the taskbar, it shows that I am not connected to a network. However, I know I am connected to the internet. My internet and email are working fine. Also, when I click the option "Connect to a network," the list of available wireless networks come up, and it shows that I'm connected to my home network. How do I make Windows recognize everywhere that I'm connected to the internet, instead of just on the wireless-networks-available list?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-08-23T06:30:04+00:00

Had exactly the same issue running Windows 7 (win7). Connected to the Internet but status showing no connections and a red cross on the network icon. Problem also caused problems connecting to Lync and Office365 as well as VPN, which apparently uses the status to check if connectivity is available.

Found the solution here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpronetworking/thread/df17c593-e78f-4878-97b0-7569307934c5

Apparently some permissions gets wrong in the Registration Database and needs to be fixed using RegEdit. The solution is a step by step and might be solved just by deleting a cache folder using RegEdit and potentially setting some permissions.

Hope it helps.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

56 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-21T01:20:54+00:00

    Hi Benjamins_box,

    You could try disabling any unnecessary network adapters.

    Try the steps below:

    1. Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button ![](http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/4/f/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33.png), clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, clicking Network and Sharing Center, and then clicking Change Adapter Settings.
    2. Right-click the network adapter, and then do one of the following:
    3. To disable the network adapter, click Disable. ![](http://res1.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/1/8/18abb370-ac1e-4b6b-b663-e028a75bf05b/18abb370-ac1e-4b6b-b663-e028a75bf05b.png)

    Cody C

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-07T19:58:24+00:00

    Hi benjamins_box,

    Welcome to Microsoft Answers!

    I would suggest you to restart the following services by booting into safe mode.

    • Network Location Awareness
    • Network List Service

    Boot into Safe Mode

       1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard.

       2. Select the Safe Mode option when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then press ENTER.

       3. Start> Run> type in services.msc> double click on Network Location Awareness> set Startup type to Automatic.

       4. Repeat the same for Network List Service.

       5. Apply> OK Close> Reboot.

    Let me know if this worked

    I would suggest you to go through this link

    Using Network Diagnostics in Windows Vista

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/The-doctor-is-in-Using-Network-Diagnostics-in-Windows-Vista

    Regards,

    Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

    ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-08-03T02:19:55+00:00

    FORGET EVERYTHING THEY SAID BECAUSE AFTER MONTHS I DISCOVERED THIS THAT WORKED FOR ME!!!

    1. Open cmd.exe as administrator.
    2. Type those command lines:

    net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice                                       (press enter)

    net localgroup Administrators /add localservice                                             (press enter)

    1. Reboot

    IMPORTANT NOTE:

    If your PC language is set to English u type "Administrators" like above, but if u are not english u write Administrators in your language like:

    "Administratores" = "Administradores" in portuguese, my PC language.

    This. This is it. Thank you. Fixed my problem, windows was not recognizing that I was connected to the internet. I could use Internet Explorer to get to the web, but nothing else requiring a network connection worked, including Edge. Running Win 10 64 bit. Been looking and trying other solutions for hours with no luck, glad I ran across this comment.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-12-22T17:51:39+00:00

    GOTO Hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows NT\current version\networklist

    and right click on each folder inside it such as NEWNETWORKS and NLA and PERMISSIONS, PROFILES and SIGNATURES then choose permissions after clicking right click

    now when you open the permissions dialoge for each file youll have a list of USERS and a list of permissions so give each user in the list a full control and youll see the problem solved.

    i did that before some minutes and i`m so happy now because i solved it. and i want to help each body to solve it too.

    so this image will help you:

    http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SIM1VV9Z

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments