Cannot connect to a network

johnhb · 03 Apr 2016

Windows 10 Home. When I select Network from the menu I get a message across the top saying" This computer is not connected to a network. Click here to connect" When I click "connect to a network' nothing happens.
When I go to the Network and Sharing center under "View Your active networks" there is "You are currently not connected to any network".
The computer is set for workgroup Ouroffice which is the same group for the other computer and laptops.
From this computer I can currently see itself, the other pc, one laptop and the network storage called Stora. I can even access these devices despite the active network showing as not connected.
This computer is connect to the router (DLink DWR115) via an Ethernet cable as is the Stora. The other pc, 2 laptops, three printers and the WD Live TV are wireless connected. I cannot get this pc to connect to a network because when I go to the Network & Internet window, select Ethernet and click on the Ethernet adapter symbol all I get is the properties and a copy button. No option to join a network etc.
The current profile is Guest(Public). The discover networks is ticked, the share files is ticked, use no password is ticked.
I have tried every trouble shooter I could find.

Hope someone out there can help me, because Microsoft just tired to blame my router (which has the latest drivers).

Night Hawk · 03 Apr 2016

Hello johnhb Welcome to the Ten Forums!

Is this something that just happened lately or did you just upgrade to 10? While in the Network & Sharing Center you have a few options immediately available you can try. First under the Change you network settings skipping past the Set up a new connection or network option you can go right to the Troubleshoot problems and open that up.

Troubleshooting connection to the internet is first at bat there with the runners up for the Shared Folders(skip), HomeGroup you may or may not already have while I got prompted here just now to join one that doesn't exist due to multiple desktops on the same router as well as several VMs all connecting remotely to each other!

The primary Network Adapter and then a look at the Incoming Connections would be a thought as well. The Run as Admin and Automatic repair options are found on that one as well as for the Network Adapter and Internet Connections.

Dropping back in the main window and over to the left column note the Change adapter settings option. That will see a new window open up seaparately and indicate any problems with a red X under the icon for each adapter item. The first will be the primary Ethernet or WiFi in use. Ethernet 2 or WiFi 2 next going left to right for the VPN type adapter seen for remote connections and virtual networking. Here two more VMware adapter items are seen below the first two. Once you click on the primary seen on the top left a smaller popup type window will then appear showing the connection status you will want to take notice of.

Cannot connect to a network-connection-status-network-sharing-center-adapter-settings.jpg

If you are only seeing a small amount on one side and nothing on the other you can close that up or move it aside to go to the menu bar and hit the Disable this network device option for about a 1/2minute and then simply reclick the enable to help refresh things.

The popup itself you will notice also sees the Diagnose button there too which will then scan and produce the automatic repair in the Advanced link on the left that will appear when finished. There are the automatic repair options.

For a manual refresh this will take opening up an elevated command prompt to insure adequate permissions and for that you simply right click on the Start button to select the Command prompt(admin) item from the right click menu. At the dos like commaned prompt you will be releasing both the IPv4 and IPv6 network configurations in order to see them refreshed with the following commands. First to see both released you type in and press enter for each separately to watch.

For the IPv4 most commonly in use type "ipconfig /release" hitting enter and then type the renew command "ipconfig /renew" For the IPv6 you then type in the same but with one digit extra added onto the end of the two commands. "ipconfig /release6" and "ipconfig /renew6" being pointed at the IPv6. This can see things restored quickly as well while another option is to look in the Device Manager under Network adapters to see if you have any unknown extras?