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
    2011-01-30T10:27:27+00:00

    On a wired network, reinstalling helped me too.

    I'd like to add that on my new clean installation I'm avoiding all kinds of system cleaner and registry cleaner software, and the only problem I'm occasionally having is related to some disappearing tray icons which may not even be Windows' fault. I'm starting to think that those cleaners actually make the installation "dirtier".

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-01-30T05:04:37+00:00

    To finish off my story for those reading this in hope of an answer.  I ended up reinstalling Win7 over the top of previous install.  (can't remember the name MS give that type of installation).  Well, it's been a while since I've ever had to do that type of thing, and I have to say times have changed or something.  It turned out to be reasonably painless operation, since it was exact match to previous installation (Win7 64bit) all my programs were still intact, didn't have to reinstall anything, (except maybe some windows updates).  Just as it was before I went down that path.  Best of all, the series of little issues I was having were all gone, including this one!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-09T10:38:30+00:00

    Hi all helpers,

    I would like to add my description of this problem to the list.

    In a nutshell my pc (win7 pro 64bit) isn't loading the NLA service (nlasvc.dll).  It's not listed under services.msc, it's not in the services to be loaded during windows boot, it doesn't show up when in safe mode with networking.  Although, the file does exist in the right directory. 

    The event viewer shows an error (id=7003) event saying "The Network List Service service depends the following service: nlasvc. This service might not be installed."   It seems to be the main error, there are others, but they seem to be as a result of this first one.

    I've also had a very occasional disk error (event id 11)  "The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk3\DR3 "  (btw:  How do I tell which HDD that is?)

    I just noticed this other event to do with failed drivers during boot (event id 7026):

    The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:discacheMpFilterspldrsptdWanarpv6

    Apart from that, I also get the missing or "unknown" network in the Network and Sharing Center along with "The dependancy service does not exist or has been marked for deletion."

    For the record, I only have one network adaptor (already tried uninstalling and reinstalling).  Red cross n' all, but with perfectly good internet access.

    Part 2: How it happened.

    A few days ago I turned the computer on and I had a driver freeze or something, short stuttering sound, blue screen and auto restart. 

    On restarting, I got this error and an error that went something like - "ATI driver not functioning or not installed so Catalyst CC shutting down."   Which was sort of strange in the same way - in actual fact the display driverwas working!  

    I solved the display driver error by uninstalling everything to do with CCC and the display driver and reinstalling a fresh one.  However, this NLA problem remains.

    In trying to sort this out, I discovered a handful of java trojans that had been lurking on my system, cleaned those.  Also did a chkdsk for c:  which I didn't see end, but I assume fixed any issues found.  I've done a sfc scan which gave the 'all clear' there (?? Though I have my doubts about that!)

    Next I looked at the registry, there seems to be the permissions ie "special permissions" granted for Nla, but the entry itself is pretty empty, with a couple of things in Nla -> cache -> intranet (2 things here)    my other computers I assume? 

    It would help if I knew what a healthy entry looked like?  (earlier I had done a registry clean also).

    I have not tried dismounting and replacing nlasvc.dll just yet.  I suppose I'll try that next, but if that file was corrupt I would imagine the service would exist, but fail to start (as I've seen others report that problem).  However, I'm running out of things to try before reinstalling windows, so writing this and trying that are all I can think of now.

    Does any of that help trigger new thoughts on this problem?  Anyone?

    Thanks...

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-10-08T21:41:46+00:00

    I have been asking the same questions.  I have this thread open:

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7network/thread/ee250dfa-0a15-416a-9423-72a083665d13

    and still have had no luck.  I am pretty upset at this point, because nothing works.  I even added another nic to see if it were the problem and it was the same result.  I can't use this computer due to this issue.

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