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
    2015-09-04T00:09:00+00:00

    Thank you so much. These same steps helped me fix the same issue in windows 10 after a countless different unsuccessful attempts.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-05T19:57:18+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 !!!!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-11T21:45:00+00:00

    Here is the solution.

    Find out here

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T06:51:06+00:00

    TY Cody C. it worked for me,by disabling one of the network adapter :)

    Cheers for you!!

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