Lost Internet Connections on Windows 7 SP1 PC

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Help! Today I have this message on my connection icon: “Not connected. No connections are available.”

Troubleshoot found nothing. The connection is fine on our laptop.

Background

1. Windows did huge auto update last night; it took much longer than usual for the “please don’t turn off computer” to disappear; it finally did and I shut down.
2. This morning, the computer would not get past the Welcome screen.
3. Forced shutdown; restarted in Safe Mode; tried System Restore to return to 2 days ago when all was fine.
4. System Restore did not work, apparently, but at least the PC finally booted up properly and everything was back in order (phew) … except the internet connection.
5. I removed 2 programs via Control Panel: one new one and one that updated yesterday, just in case they were the culprits, but issue isn’t resolved.
6. Opened Network and Sharing Center; tried “Connect to a Network”; then, “Set Up a New Connection or Network” but could not get past the “no connections are available” message.

I’m hesitant to restart in case I can’t get back to where I am now (programs all fine just no Internet).

Any ideas you can suggest for me? I’m stumped. Sorry to make this so long, but wanted you to have all the background.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Linda

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Follow the image attached and do a comparison (I have a stripped down W7 using close to the bare minimum for my setup), Internet Control Panel > Connection > LAN settings, active Networking Device (date of driver + do you have Rollback driver available?) and Network -related Services. Let us know how yours compares?

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Thanks for getting back to me Satrow. Tried to follow your attachment. Took images of all I’d found … realized they were on the PC and so I can’t send them to the laptop to get them to you. Duh.

LAN looked like yours except “Automatically detect settngs” is checked on mine.

As for Drivers, here’s what I had:

ACPIx64-based PC

• Provider Microsoft
• Date: 6.21. 2006
• Version 6.1.7600.16385

802.11n Wireless LAN Card

• Provider MediaTek, Inc
• Date 11.25.2014
• Version 5.0.52.0

I had 6 screenshots of Services, but don’t know what I should look for and I can’t send the images to you.

Didn’t find Active Networking Device and am not sure re. Rollback driver. In Devices, I found only Network Adapters where the LAN info above was.

Hope this helps. Sorry I’m not really sure how to compare as you requested,

Linda

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IreneLinda wrote:

LAN looked like yours except “Automatically detect settings” is checked on mine.

Uncheck it that for testing – but I doubt it’s the main cause …

IreneLinda wrote:

802.11n Wireless LAN Card

Provider MediaTek, Inc
Date 11.25.2014
Version 5.0.52.0

Assuming that’s the default networking connection, on the same tab (see my example), the Rollback button would be active, not greyed out as mine is, if a recent (troublesome) driver update happened – your driver date suggests that’s not the case here.

IreneLinda wrote:

I had 6 screenshots of Services, but don’t know what I should look for and I can’t send the images to you.

Just focus on the Services in my screenshot for now, compare them against yours – do you have any missing?

What happens if you boot to Safe Mode with networking? If it doesn’t connect, can you run the offered troubleshooter and post the details from the result of that?

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[IreneLinda]

Okay, I’ve unchecked the automatic setting in the LAN tab. I’ll compare all my services to your list and let you know when I find out. Am I looking for something in particular?

I think I opened safe mode with networking the first time I tried it, and got a C prompt which I didn’t know what to do with. Wanted to check with you to see if this made sense before I tried it again.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by IreneLinda.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by IreneLinda.

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We’re really only looking for a missing network-related Service there but all of mine should be running or set for automatic (if you’re in Safe Mode non-networking. If you started W7 and got a Command prompt, that would have been from Safe Mode with Command prompt, not with Networking. If you’re not connecting with an ethernet cable, that wireless network device is almost certain to be the correct device.

The Windows Networking Troubleshooter should be available once you get into Safe Mode with networking (running it will auto check the Automatically Detect again but don’t fret over that, it’s the details from the Troubleshooter diags that might point the way to the next stage).

Do you have an ethernet cable you could use to connect with to test?

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[IreneLinda]

Thanks, Satrow.

I’m currently in windows properly, I.E., not safe mode. Just checked your services and I have all of them except: MpsSvc, Dnscache.

UPDATE: checked and all yours are running except WPDBusEnum, which is stopped

Unfortunately, I don’t have an N ethernet cable available

Should I restart in safe mode with networking now? Just nervous about losing everything as it happened before. Sounds as if I should so I can try that troubleshooter?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by IreneLinda.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by IreneLinda. Reason: added update

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P.S. forgot … Rollback Driver is available but looks as if we won’t need it given what you said.  Ore The?

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[satrow]

IreneLinda wrote:

MpsSvc, Dnscache

Windows Firewall, should ordinarily be set to Auto and be running, unless you have a 3rd party firewall (even then, situations can occur where a newly updated or installed software is silently blocked by the Windows firewall). Dnscache, again should ordinarily be Auto and running (though there are situations/software alternatives where it’s better Disabled – on my #2 PC it’s Disabled but I’ve been testing the new Malwarebytes firewall on #1, which requires Dnscache on – and it runs alongside the Windows firewall).

Turn both on and Start them, you can use the Task Manager right-click to do this, unless they’re Disabled, in which case click the Services button there and use that to set them to auto and then Start them. If you get a failure message, use Services to check which Dependencies are failing to start.

WPDBusEnum is for some USB portable storage devices, unless you have one inserted it won’t start.

Ignore Rollback unless it’s flagged as disabled/failed to start, you can use normal Windows mode to start the network troubleshooter from a right-click on the Notification are icon near the clock:

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by satrow.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by satrow.

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Have you tried removing your wireless network adapter in device manager and rebooting allowing windows to reinstall the drivers?

As far as system restore failing, make sure to turn off (not disable temporarily) any a/v or anti-malware software before doing system restore.

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Satrow, I ran Troubleshoot from the icon once more but it “couldn’t identify the problem”.

I do have Malwarebytes. Checked all 3 again “live”. I mistakenly used my jpegs to check earlier and they’re different. Grrr. So all are there and running. I found Widows firewall in the Services button below the others. It’s set to auto.

What’s next? Anonymous has a couple of simple things to try. Should I?

I sure appreciate your patience – and time- in providing me so much detailed info!

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I do have Malwarebytes

Which is a different beast to their firewall:

So Windows firewall is both Auto and Started now?

Yes, you can try uninstalling the wireless driver.

Not sure about the SR suggestion, SR only saves/restores a basic subset of System files/folders. Turning off all AV/AM (or 3rd party firewalls) often isn’t enough to prevent them from passively blocking, they would need to be fully uninstalled and then their specific uninstaller software/routines would also need to be run to ensure they don’t interfere (standard routine for troubleshooting Blue Screen crashes, esp. those where links to networking can be seen).

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Malwarebytes will definitely prevent system restore from working. Turn off all protections in MBAM (I also turn off startup) and system restore should work. Then you can re-enable.

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IreneLinda

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So Windows firewall is both Auto and Started now?

Yes it is.

If I uninstall the driver, however, how will I reinstall it if I have no Internet connection?

Re.  System Restore,  my hope using it would be to remove all the Microsoft updates that occurred and I’m suspecting caused all this.

If you agree I’m tempted to turn off malware bytes and give system restore a try. Would I also have to disable the windows firewall to do this? If it should work, it would sure be a simple solution!! SR has helped in the past, albeit, the long ago past.

I am  also open to whatever your next step would be if we don’t try the system restore option.

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Windows has a store of the current, and older, drivers that it should auto reinstall from, there’s also the Rollback option.

You can try SR by all means, leave the Windows firewall enabled.

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I’m anonymous above. Sorry didn’t log in to post. I have found SR will not work with MBAM or some/most A/V programs enabled because they block you (or malware) from changing critical files on startup.

Is this a laptop or desktop? Could you have inadvertently hit the wireless switch to off(either mechanical or keystroke)?

Windows should re-install your driver if you remove it. If not, can you download from your mfr website to a thumbdrive on another machine?

Also possible you could have some file corruption. Could try a chkdsk and sfc /scannow. Since it occurred after the updates I’d likely try SR first. Hopefully you have a good restore point.

Good luck!

2 users thanked author for this post.

PKCano, satrow

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One other thing I’d suggest, although not sure you’ll need it, but good practice. Backup any important files while you have access just in case everything goes belly-up!

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IreneLinda

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Thanks Satrow and  cyberSAR (nice to meet you, “Anonymous”) . Here’s my plan:

•  Turn off Malwarebytes
• Go back to my December 10 restore point, which is the last day everything was working perfectly.
• Report back results before uninstalling driver or trying chkdsk.

Thank you both so much for your help and your suggestions…not to mention your support! Back soon with results.

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satrow

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Update:  doing a full Macrium  back up as well as ensuring my business files are on a new USB drive. So I’ll be a bit of time before I can try the system restore and report back. Just wanted to let you know the reason for the delay!

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cyberSAR wrote:

Is this a laptop or desktop? Could you have inadvertently hit the wireless switch to off(either mechanical or keystroke)?

Sorry for butting in, but….
I wonder if you checked this? It happened to someone here just a couple of days ago. They didn’t even know there was a switch to turn off WiFi on the side of the machine.

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satrow

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Wow and hooray! I have Internet connection.

Not quite sure how it happened, since system restore kept saying it had not completed successfully.  Last time I did a system restore I noticed that windows had updated today which was weird since apparently I didn’t have an Internet connection. When I noticed that, I checked the  wi-Fi icon and saw that I was connected!

Could the recent windows updates have corrected the problem?

It’s puzzling, but I guess it doesn’t matter since all is working well now and I can get back to business.

PKCano  happy to have you champion. Don’t think I touched any manual Wi-Fi button (not sure where it is) But appreciate you doublechecking.

A bit frustrating not to know how it got fixed. Guess I’ll just put it down to another “joy of technology“ moment.

Any suggestions on what happened are welcome but there is absolutely no need for you to do anything further..

Thank you so much for all of the time you have given me to help me get this fixed. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have my business computer operating again. Most of all I am so happy not to have to try and function on this blasted laptop any further!

In appreciation and happiness,

Linda

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Myst

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Great news, well done!

Whatever the cause/fix, it’d probably take too long to dig it out, check the security is functioning correctly instead 😉

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Glad you’re back up! I would run a chkdsk after the system stabilizes and sfc.

2 users thanked author for this post.

satrow, PKCano

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Thanks again. I agree, Satrow, who cares about the ‘why’, just be glad it’s fixed. I will run chkdsk and sfc next week, cyberSAR, and post back with results.

For now, I’m just going to enjoy being able to post and send this on my PC and not on the blasted tablet!!

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An afterthought (always hate to leave an issue without a solution some other Lounger can use).

Since I neglected to check the connection icon at each step, I was wondering if my pre-backup cleaning might have fixed the connection? I ran CCleaner on files and registry and am suspecting the connection might have come back after that. Not sure, but it seems Windows Update had done some downloading (for which it needed to be connected) because I had much later Restore Points listed when I tried to do it.

Guess my only question is: does this make sense as a solution or is it just a coincidence?

As Satrow said, it doesn’t really matter, just wondered if this could be a step someone else could try if the issue occurs.

Aside from that, I’m still happily connected and greatly relieved!

Linda

 

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Who knows??? Computers are weird and wonderful things at times. I have had situation a couple times when SR reported it failed, yet it did replace many files and seemed to have completed properly as the underlying issue was solved and settings were restored. If I were you, since you have a good image backup, I’d consider deleting your restore points (they can get corrupted) and creating a known good one along with a thorough chkdsk and sfc. Can’t get it out of my mind that you had some corruption.

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That the system did actually restore despite saying it didn’t makes perfect sense. It explains how the system started working again. Will also perform the checks you suggested (hopefully Wednesday) and post back. Like you, I suspect some type of corruption.

Had not realized restore points could be corrupted so will delete the existing ones. Not sure how to create a good one, but will create a new thread if I can’t figure it out on Wednesday.

Thanks again,

Linda

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Create a Restore Point:

Start\right click on the right on Computer or This PC choose Properties
You can also get to this Control Panel\System
On the upper left click on “System Protection.”
At the bottom of the popup box click on “Create'”

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PKCano, in reply to #2020370 re. restore point creation.

Used your second method just now and it worked beautifully. I first checked out the option to delete all restore points, but its warning made my far too nervous so I left them along and just created the new one!

Linda

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Hey, PKCano, thanks so much! I’ll just refer to your instructions once I’ve deleted my old restore points.

Linda

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P.S. Weird thing happening with chkdsk: decided to try chkdsk tonight before shutting down. Chose “run as administrator” and it started, but disappeared as I was checking other open programs. Started it again; it got to about 26% completion and disappeared again.

Any idea what I’m doing wrong?

Linda

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You have to run “chkdsk /f” in an elevated Command Prompt.
It will tell you it can’t run, do you want it to run on reboot/restart.
Answer “Yes”
Reboot.

On reboot, it should run before Windows loads in a black screen with white texxt.

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Not sure how you are running it. On Win 7 Open My Computer, Right-click the C drive, Properties, Tools, Check Now. When the box pops up select both options. It should ask if you want to run on restart. Click yes and reboot. Note that the thorough scan can take a few hours.

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I had been running it via the prompt in the Windows icon dropdown. I tried again this way and it seemed to finish, but closed too fast for me to read its results! So I tried cyberSAR’s method and will see how that turns out.

Will post results once it’s completed.

As a “by the way” … I have HardDisk Sentinel Pro installed and it checks my HD every day and tells me it’s “perfect”. Is this sufficient?

Thanks again for all your suggestions and help!!

Linda

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Re. HDS Pro, it relies mainly on the drives self-reporting mechanism, S.M.A.R.T., though it can be used to trigger a drive’s short and extended self tests but they’re not fully comparable with running tests using the native Windows tools, which also include specific (System File Checking, SFC) data integrity/validity tests.

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I understand, Satrow. I’m currently running the check following the instructions in your linked document. I’ll post back the results once it’s completed its scan …

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It completed perfectly and it looks as if all is well (see attached image). Agree?

Thanks again for your instructions and explanation of why the Windows check is better for this than HDSentinel.

Linda

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SFC only covers a select number of important Windows System files and their current data locations, a relatively small area of the average drive. Given that the SMART checks are clean and the drive is given a ‘perfect’ rating by HDS, the drive should be fine – but be aware that SMART cannot cover/predict all forms of errors which can cause a drive to cease working – some drives ‘die’ without ever being flagged as anything other than ‘perfect’ by SMART.

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cyberSAR

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How did your chkdsk come out? Any bad sectors?

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