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
    2012-02-21T06:25:29+00:00

    I have been having this problem since last year and this is one of the few microsoft forums that addresses this issue.  Then I found the link that has been listed above -

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

    and, with some tweaking, my problem was solved. No more red X when I'm in fact connected and I can access my VPN.  If you don't want to navigate through the thread, try this:

    Click Start

    Type Run

    Type Regedit

    Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

    Expand Software

    Expand Microsoft

    Expand Windows NT

    Expand Current Version

    Right Click Network List

    Right Click Permissions

    For all users except CREATOR OWNER ensure that you have Full Control and Read ticked for all other accounts.

    Then click on Advanced (next to For special permissions and...), highlight Administrators or Users and put a check mark next to "Replace all child object permissions, etc" (it will affect all of the users), click apply and okay.

    Next, under Network List, expand Nla, rightclick on cache, choose Rename and change it to cache.old.  Click okay.

    Then, Click Start, run, type "services.msc" without quotes, double click on Network List Service and Network Location Awareness, change startup type for both to Automatic, 

    click okay and then reboot.  

    Good luck

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  2. 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

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-19T23:38:25+00:00

    restart service "Network Connection".

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-09-17T06:01:15+00:00

    hi guys,

    i had the same problem, but my computer was working fine before, what I did to fix this problem, was to go back to a system restore point just before one update my computer downloaded from windows update site and all the networks I had in the Network and Sharing Center came back too and of course the vpn worked as well , I don't know what was the update!!! but that really helped me

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