No Internet Access NOT True But Outlook 365 stops working

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Anyone having this issue since last week?  On some Windows 7 computers (all have Symantec Endpoint), Outlook 365 stops working, can’t connect, computer says “no Internet access” BUT there is Internet as browsers work (can connect OWA).

Googled it, only the Windows Update/SEP SHA-2 issue of last week comes up, but my temporary fix was to go to Device Manager, uninstall the NIC (but keep drivers), then scan for hardware changes which puts NIC back.  After that, “no Internet access” is gone & Outlook works.  But on some of the computers it happens again on next reboot or restart.

All the computers are Dell Optiplex but different models/years – but all Win7 & while they get the “No Internet Access” in the System Tray only the ones with Outlook 365 can’t connect for email, one with Outlook 2013 keeps getting email but still has the “no access” warning.

Very confusing..

Thanks.

 

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WSBillWCH,

I have had a bunch of these come up.  The short term solution I’ve tried is going into Services.msc and restarting the Network Location Service (needs to restart the Network List service as well).  After the service restarts, the Internet status/Office suite works fine, until next reboot.  I’ve tried delayed start on the service and that didn’t work either.

I haven’t found any event IDs that identify any errors.  I know this is from one of the patches on the 14th/15th only affecting Windows 7.

Uninstalling the updates only re-installs them on next reboot.  They are persistent.

-Smithers

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WSBillWCH,

I learned that it is attributed to the SonicWALL Content Filter blocking the msftncsi.com domain.  I’m testing it now.

-Smithers

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This is the 3rd explanation I’ve had – from different places – of the problem and all point to last week’s updates but are otherwise non-specific.  And why only some of the W7 machines and not others (also W7 & Optiplex etc…).  Very strange and frustrating.  One person found a Microsoft URL that their SonicWall was blocking, but why were only some of his machines affected.  Curiouser & curiouser…    Thanks.

Bill

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Wonder if it could be an ipv6 issue. We had a bunch of win10 machines with no internet notices yet still connected. Disabled ipv6 and rebooted the router and no more issues.

Just a thought.

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So far I only know of it affecting W7 machines – in two offices with mix of W7 & W10 – so the ipv6 issue seems less likely.

Bill

 

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I had the same issue… randomly thru Windows 7 PCs but all behind SonicWall with content filtering enabled.

Adding msftncsi.com/*.txt to the whitelist in content filtering took care of it.

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Are you using Express VPN? Version 7.2.2.8912 (since updated) caused that issue with Outlook 2016 (365) while not affecting internet access.

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I have Webroot DNS running and one computer get the yellow question mark and outlook thinks it is not online.  But only one computer out of 30.

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We need a lot more information about your set up to be able to advise. One machine out of 30 isn’t a lot to go on.

Are the machines updated regularly?
Are they all running the same version of Windows?
What sort of network, AD, peer to peer?
Internet gateway via router / firewall etc.
Did the machine ever work?
As much info as possible please.

cheers, Paul

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