W7 and the dreaded "Unidentified Network" problem

[BathroomFeeling]

When my brand new system came home, I installed W7 Ultimate x64 on it, patched it up, and it worked great for the next two weeks. Then one day it decided to stop my internets! Basic things I did were of no help. Luckily I still had my old XP junk system, and the fix sounded simple enough. Destroy "Bonjour". Switched systems, tried it, but no dice. Switched again, looked again, ad nauseum.

What followed were four hellish days of trying to get the damn thing fixed. I tried all manner of fixes posted far and wide across cyberspace. Did the "netsh" thing, and the "route delete" and "ipconfig" thing. Did the auto troubleshooting thing, did the manual disable/enable of adapter thing. Did the uninstall/reinstall of my LAN card. Did the manual settings of IP/DNS/Gateway/etc... addresses. Did the disable IPv6 thing (both untick, and full regedit disable). Looked for Bonjour and its associated files "mDNSresponder.exe" & "mdnsNSP.dll" in both of the the Program Files folders. Did the "DhcpConnEnableBcastFlagToggle" & "DisabledComponents" thing. Did the "gpedit.msc----->Unidentified Network" thing. Looked for any mention of "##" and "bonjour" in my msconfig and task-manager. Removed all unnecessary startup programs. Even uninstalled my AV and disabled Windows firewall. Nothing.

I had one hair left, and I picked it and stroked it for luck for my next task. I backed-up what little I did in those two weeks, and destroyed W7 (yes, even the hidden partition) for a fresh and clean install. Two partitions this time. It should work, I mean no data was going to be retained anywhere. It's going to be like 2011.. two weeks ago! I grabbed the latest drivers off the interwebs, basic stuff mind you, no bloaty Asus junk or other useless crap. Install W7, install mobo drivers, install lan driver, test. That's it. So what happened?

Still no internets.

I wanted to chuck the whole new computer out my window! When I calmed down, I thought it probably was the Intel Gigabit LAN on my mobo that was acting up. So I used my the Realtek LAN card from my old system to see if that would work. No. No it didn't, same problem.

It's not the cable wire, because I'm talking to you right now. It's not the LAN, because I checked with an alternate. I don't have any other networks in my house. I don't use a router (direct cable to LAN connection). It's not the system, everything was working file until that Tuesday (I even had Bonjour & other junk working for a week!). It's not my ISP, they tested the signal, and it's all good. It's not my eyes, I have 20/20 vision. It's not my mind, I still have my marbles. It's not reality itself... well maybe it is, could be I'm just imagining my problem and hoping for my subconscious to help me through your potential answers, and I'm really on some hospital bed somewhere in a deep coma. So it's either Windows7 or the fabric of the universe.

Please help this broken man with his broken system. I don't like using this slow-ass loud-as-banshee system!

 

[theevilsharpie]

Ignore the network location that Windows reports; it's notoriously inaccurate, and a properly configured and functioning connection will work regardless of what the Network and Sharing center says.

 

[BathroomFeeling]

You're right, Windows says I have internet access with Unidentified Network (sometimes the exclamation mark & "X" appears and disappears), yet I cannot do anything related to online activities. Do you have any suggestions for a proper configuration?

Perhaps I should post screenshots of the issue at hand. Be right back.

 

[superccs]

Is your date set correctly?

 

[BathroomFeeling]

Yes it is. By the way I also left out going into safe mode with networking, yea it doesn't work either.

Anyway here are the story details. In lossless PNG format:

So here's my XP ipconfig+route info, works perfectly well the moment it's plugged in:

And here's what I see the moment I enter W7:

Here I am attempting to use MS Troubleshoot (w/o auto repair). Notice the connection details:

The moment I try to do anything with the connection, the status changes temporarily, showing the exclaimation mark & "X" icons:

Troubleshoot says that my "Default Gateway" isn't available (probably referring to IPv6):

And here's my W7 ipconfig+route info:

 

[Nothinman]

I'm guessing it's unidentified because you have no primary DNS suffix...

 

[bobdole369]

I don't use a router (direct cable to LAN connection).

phone CTI nets (or whoever resells their service to you) aka - call your ISP. Tell them you changed computers so they can authorize your new PC's MAC address.

Alternately use a router that allows MAC clone and supply your working PC's address.

 

[bobdole369]

I'm guessing it's unidentified because you have no primary DNS suffix...

It's "unidentified" because win7 can't reach the internet because the ISP is MAC blocking?

 

[Nothinman]

It's "unidentified" because win7 can't reach the internet because the ISP is MAC blocking?

Ah, I misread the sentence where he said Win7 said he had Internet access.

I don't use a router (direct cable to LAN connection).

Stop that. Besides being a lot less secure than using a router, you would have avoided issues like this had you already had a router between you and the modem.

 

[BathroomFeeling]

I dunno, I mean my systems been barebacking it for over 10 years without problems. Then again this was my first system change since then...

Woooo! Okay thankyoo fellas, but a few questions.

1. If a MAC addy authorization is required for my new system to access the interwebz, how was it able to do it for two weeks problem free prior? Did my ISP change something?

2. If I phone them and tell them to authorize my systems MAC addy, will I be able to use this old XP system? Or is this a goner?

3. Got any suggestions for router? I see an el-cheapo Asus for $20, and a D-link for $6000. I'm guessing something in-between, or will Asus be enough?

 

[Nothinman]

Depending on your ISP and modem, you can just power it off for 5-15min and it'll forget the last MAC and let a new machine on.

 

[BathroomFeeling]

But... I has no modem. Thank you guys, I will smile all night tonight until tomorrow morning when I rush out my door at full speed to get myself a router. Google told me what I need to do, I will let you know how it works out.

 

[bobdole369]

I dunno, I mean my systems been barebacking it for over 10 years without problems. Then again this was my first system change since then...

That don't mean the last one that you got wet in wasn't full of disease.

1. If a MAC addy authorization is required for my new system to access the interwebz, how was it able to do it for two weeks problem free prior? Did my ISP change something?

No clue. Only the ISP can answer that. You should have already been on the phone with them.

If I phone them and tell them to authorize my systems MAC addy, will I be able to use this old XP system? Or is this a goner?

If that is what it is - yes absolutely.

Lots of routers out there. Need more info.

 

[BathroomFeeling]

Woooo it worked! ISP chick checked my connection with new PC connected (but switched off), couldn't find anything wrong. Phoned me saying sorry & suggested I "get a new system" or "bring it to a computer shop". Adorable, as she fixed it through MAC re-authorization probably by following whatever standard procedure they have.

Thank you so much hey!!!!1one! Don't worry, I'm going to eventually get protection (probably a $20 D-Link, no need wifi), I'd just like to go riding around town a hundred MPH for now! Viruses be damned!

 

[remyat]

Don't forget to clone your MAC when you get your new router (inside router's config). GL

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

are you using a wireless connection?

http://besthubris.com/computers-internet/wireless-network-drop-connection-windows-7-error/

 

[BathroomFeeling]

Don't forget to clone your MAC when you get your new router (inside router's config). GL

Thanks hey, I'll definitely do that when I get one.

 

[PurdueRy]

Don't forget to clone your MAC when you get your new router (inside router's config). GL

Since I've never really understood the point of MAC address cloning I'll ask the obvious question of why? Is this just so he doesn't have to call up his ISP again and get the routers mac address changed over on his account?

 

[Nothinman]

Since I've never really understood the point of MAC address cloning I'll ask the obvious question of why? Is this just so he doesn't have to call up his ISP again and get the routers mac address changed over on his account?

Yep.

 

[JackMDS]

Why it worked for so long and it not working now.

In principle it is like One is saying i smoked for 20 years and I was OK .

Now I got lung cancer. So it is Not from the smoking because I smoked for 20 years and it was OK.

Get rid of the BonJouCancer, and get a Router.

Then configure a none new Network and go on with "clean" life. :thumbsup:

Hopefully you will forget about the BathroomFeeling too.

 

[tom.etc]

Perhaps you have HPET enabled? switching it off ended my 6 hour stress-fest when i realized i was a bit over-clocked on my M3N78-VM. might have been enough to warp a finicky timer past understanding layer 2 segments.

 

[tom.etc]

what gets fun is when you grab an arp table out of your old router and try to register your new NIC as their MAC addy