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

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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
    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.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-06-17T21:16:24+00:00

    Thank you so much. These same (simple) steps helped me fix the same issue in windows 8.1 after a countless different unsuccessful attempts.

    I've tried more than 40 hours and no solution found ...

    that's very very strange !!

    Actually, Microsoft would know what they themselves destroyed.

    (I suspect any update)

    But if Microsoft itself locked out of the system, and will not admit...

    that's a real shame !!

    (Google finds on this issue hundreds of unresolved requests .. thousands of unnecessary hours of Windows users looking for a solution)

    This is not really customer-friendly !!!!!!

    Your comments apply to about any MS related issue I have ever found.  I can't imagine a company with such awful custiomer service being successful.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-06-17T20:44:41+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

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

    This suggestion apparently doesn't solve the problem.  Hasn't MS come up with a solution in the intervening 8 years?

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