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.

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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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-25T17:15:30+00:00

    I'll just have to jump in on this bandwagon of confused W7 users.  I've been running W7 since the original RC was made availabe for MSDN subsribers.  Same thing as above.  Says my computer is not connected to a network.  I'm on a wired 1-gig network as opposed to wireless, but alas...Same dumb problem.  Please let us know if any solution is either found or admitted to.

    Thanks...

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-23T15:36:13+00:00

    Hi Cody,

    Thank you for the reply, but unfortunately, that didn't work.  I upgraded to Windows 7, hoping that would help the problem, but I am still having the same problem. Any other suggestions?  I'll try to change router settings if for some reason that could be it, but I'm not sure what setting to change.

    Thank you,

    benjamins_box

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-08T16:38:48+00:00

    The resolution to your question is here

    http://blogs.technet.com/b/networking/archive/2009/06/19/missing-network-map-under-network-and-sharing-center-in-windows-vista-or-windows-server-2008.aspx 

    also check the permission of nlasvc in the registry path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Nla

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-11-09T15:01:22+00:00

    Also, I can confirm that it is the computer system, not the router settings, that is having the problem, because I have been connected to other networks, and am having the same problem.

    Thanks!

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