Network connections folder empty.
For some unknown reason all the connection icons in the Network Connections folder are missing. My connections are all working except for the modem connection to my mobile phone. All the drivers are working and I've tried everything in this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825826No luck though. Running Windows Vista on a Dell XPS 1330 laptop.
February 22nd, 2008 12:03pm

Hi pean, Before we go further, I would like to know what version of Windows Vista is being used on the computer. Is the computer joined domain? In addition, lets check the following items: 1. Verify that the following services are started: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Network Connections (this service depends on RPC service) Plug and Play COM+ Event System (this service depends on RPC service) Remote Access Connection Manager (this service depends on Telephony service) Telephony (this service depends on RPC service and on PnP service) 2. Verify the default DCOM communication properties:3.1. Click Start, type dcomcnfg in the Start Search box, and press Enter.3.2. Expand Componet Services\Computers, right-click My Computer and select Properties.3.3. In the Default Distributed COM Communication Properties section of Default Properties tab, make sure that: Default Authentication Level is set to Connect Default Impersonation Level is set to Identify If the above settings are correct but the issue persists, please perform the following steps for troubleshooting: 1. Use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and replace the file. To do this, follow these steps:1.1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.1.2. Type the command: sfc /scannow and press Enter.1.3. Once completed, restart the machine and check the result. 2. If the issue persists, lets re-register the network DLL files:2.1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.2.2. Type the following lines, and then press ENTER after you type each line. Click OK when the RegSvr32 dialog box appears for each command. regsvr32 netshell.dll regsvr32 netcfgx.dll regsvr32 netman.dll 2.3. After that, restart the machine to check the result. Hope it helps. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support
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February 26th, 2008 12:47pm

As of this morning, I am having this same problem, but last night everything was fine.When I click 'Network' from my desktop to access my other computers, the folder is just completely blank, not even the column on the left appears.When I open 'Network and Sharing' the folder just hangs with the 'waiting' icon on the mouse and I have to close it via task manager.I have tried all of the above, all services are running, I've checked DCOM, tried the SFC, gone through the dll's, rebooted, and nothing works, same issue.Though I am connected to the internet fine via my wireless, the internet works fine...Regards,Eric
February 26th, 2008 10:24pm

(I found this thread from a search on Google)Upon reading other posts about this same subject, it was either Yahoo or AIM (which I both installed earlier this morning before trying to access my network) that caused the malfunction.System restore back to an earlier point fixed everything.Thank God I decided to leave it on in Vista cause I always turn it off in XP. wheeeeeeeeeeCrappy ***.
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February 26th, 2008 11:05pm

Joson Zhou - MSFT wrote: In addition, lets check the following items: 1. Verify that the following services are started: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Network Connections (this service depends on RPC service) Plug and Play COM+ Event System (this service depends on RPC service) Remote Access Connection Manager (this service depends on Telephony service) Telephony (this service depends on RPC service and on PnP service) ALL SERVICES STARTED 2. Verify the default DCOM communication properties:3.1. Click Start, type dcomcnfg in the Start Search box, and press Enter.3.2. Expand Componet Services\Computers, right-click My Computer and select Properties.3.3. In the Default Distributed COM Communication Properties section of Default Properties tab, make sure that: Default Authentication Level is set to Connect Default Impersonation Level is set to Identify BOTH OPTIONS ARE SET TO WHAT YOU HAVE STATED HERE - FOR OTHERS THAT MAY ALSO BE FOLLOWING THIS THREAD MAY FIND IT EASIER TO OPEN THE RUN OPTION (WINDOWS KEY and R together) AND ENTER comexp.msc DOUBLE CLICK COMPUTERS AND THEN SELECT PROPERTIES. - If the above settings are correct but the issue persists, please perform the following steps for troubleshooting: 1. Use the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and replace the file. To do this, follow these steps:1.1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.1.2. Type the command: sfc /scannow and press Enter.1.3. Once completed, restart the machine and check the result. RAN THE SYSTEM FILE CHECKED TOOL AND IT FOUND NO VIOLATION IN THE INTEGRITY CHECK 2. If the issue persists, lets re-register the network DLL files:2.1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.2.2. Type the following lines, and then press ENTER after you type each line. Click OK when the RegSvr32 dialog box appears for each command. regsvr32 netshell.dll regsvr32 netcfgx.dll regsvr32 netman.dll 2.3. After that, restart the machine to check the result. UNREGISTERED THE DLL'S MENTIONED AND THEN REREGISTERED THEM. The version of Vista that I am using is Business, and is not part of a domain. Service pack v.688 is also installed.I have ony experienced this I beleive after installing VMWARE or could simply be a coincendence.After following what you have stated above the connections and still not displaying and is simply blank, although the connections work fine.
March 7th, 2008 2:59pm

Joson, I had the same problem on XP 5.1 home edition and was ready to pull my hair out when I found your solution. Itworked like a charm and I can't thank you enough. Robin
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April 19th, 2008 5:32pm

If anyone has any ideas I would be eternally grateful. I have a Windows 2003 Server, I install AD everything works great, replication happens life is good. I restart the box - and I lose my network icons. Device Manager says they are there and working fine- I have tried everything in article 825826 - The one line that makes me think this is the wrong article is that article states "Despite these issues, networking continues to function correctly..." It doesn't I lose all network connectivity. The only step that repeatedly fails is step #9 - I can NEVER get Network Connections or the COM+ Event System started. RPC does start. We have rebuilt the server from ground up once already - If anyone has any suggestions. My sincerest thanks in advance.
April 25th, 2008 6:11am

Had similar issue on a client's computer. Turned out, somehow in System Configuration on the Services tab all items were unchecked. Should be all items checked. Choose “Enable all” then Apply. Restart the system and all was well J. To access System Configuration: From “RUN” line or Command Prompt, Type msconfig then Enter.
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January 12th, 2011 4:48am

After four days of troubleshooting, reinstalling network adapter drivers, following microsoft articles, regedits, ect and still not able to get the network adapter icons to show in the network connections window so that I could access the adapter properties to setup a static IP, I finally tried using the clean boot method described here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135. I found that the Windows Management Instrumentation service was the cause. If I check this service in msconfig my network adapter icons disappear from the network connections window in Network and Sharing Center and my network adapter icon in the system tray changes from the normal wireless icon to the icon for the ethernet adapter with a red X on it. I could still connect wirelessly or through the ethernet adapter and browse the Net. When I unchecked the Windows Management Instrumentation in msconfig everything came right back to the way it should be. Hope this helps save somebody else alot of time trying to solve this problem.
April 17th, 2011 10:57am

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