"No Internet Access" but internet is working normal

BartZorn · 20 May 2021

Hello,

I have the following set of observations:

- On my laptop, internet is working normal, but:
- The network icon in the systray says "No Internet access" and it is the round icon, not the wifi icon.
- Another laptop on the same network shows the normal wifi icon with "Internet access".
- My Huawei B315 modem normally shows a magenta light, meaning normal 4G access. Now it is green, but on the status page nothing out of the ordinary is showing. This could be just a led failure, but in combination with what happens on my laptop I would like to know more.

What I would like to know is how Windows determines if it has Internet access or not.

Can anybody shed some light?

TIA,

Bart

Windows 10 Pro 20H2 build 19042.985

dalchina · 20 May 2021

Try left clicking the Wifi icon in the tray, click Disconnect, click Connect Automatically.

People have asked your question previously, but a long time ago: e.g.
wireless networking - How does Windows know whether it has internet access or if a Wi-Fi connection requires in-browser authentication? - Super User
networking - How does Windows 10 determine it has access to Internet? - Super User

You might be lucky and find a more recent answer.

BartZorn · 20 May 2021

Thanks.

I tried that, but it made no difference.

Bart

dalchina · 20 May 2021

Please confirm you have no so-called privacy tools or firewall rules in use that could be responsible.

- Another laptop on the same network shows the normal wifi icon with "Internet access".
- My Huawei B315 modem normally shows a magenta light, meaning normal 4G access. Now it is green, but on the status page nothing out of the ordinary is showing.

The first suggests it's not related to your router..

What report do you receive when you rt click the Wifi icon, click Troubleshooter - including any detailed results?

This may provide a solution:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...7-df3bbd28f260

BartZorn · 20 May 2021

I found the first part of the problem.

Because sometimes an unsolicited msn.com page pops up, I found in another article the suggestion to turn off
EnableActiveProbing in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet.

Apparently, this has this change in the icon as a side effect. I have now re enabled it and the problem is gone. I don't know the effect on the unwanted msn.com popups, I will have to wait and see.

The changed color of the indicator on my modem probably has nothing to do with it, it is just a coincidence.

The only suggestion of the network trouble shooter was a total network reset. I am glad I did not do that!

Thanks!

Bart

dalchina · 20 May 2021

Good- something like that was at the bottom of the page I posted:

I have four windows 10 computers at home, and they all had this problem. They did not all break at the same time -- it looks like each one broke the last time the network connection was changed, for example from wired to wireless, or to a different wi-fi.

I fixed all of the broken computers with this registry change (only the changed values are shown).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet

This is just a workaround. More research is needed to find out what really caused the problem -- malware? defender? firewall? ISP? Something is preventing the computers from accessing www.msftconnecttest.com.

BartZorn · 20 May 2021

Yes, that was what made me think of the registry change I made.

Thanks again!

Bart