Ethernet icon displays red cross but internet working etc

HBgamer

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Dec 29, 2014
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Hi guys, hope you're well. Just a quick one today that I'm hoping someone can assist with.

For the last week or so the ethernet connection icon in my notification tray (Windows 7) shows a red cross. My internet connection is fine and it doesn't show up when I connect the same ethernet cable into another PC tower.

I think I may have changed another setting on my PC at some stage which has caused it. I understand that there are two sides to an ethernet connection - one where the connection is 'true' and allows internet access but then something further I'm unaware of that, if disconnected or disabled, could cause the red cross?

I've tried to use the fixes on the following link but nothing seems to work:
http://superuser.com/questions/661976/windows-7-shows-red-x-on-network-icon-but-im-connected

If anyone has any ideas I would be grateful! It's something that does not limit my day-to-day use but really bugs the cr@p out of me.

Thanks, HB
 
Solution
1. i got this from somewhere else, but in an elevated command prompt, type "netsh winsock reset", then enter, then reboot your pc
2. try going to device manager and seeing if there's a yellow exclamation mark beside your network adapter
3. try doing a fresh installation of your lan drivers

HBgamer

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Dec 29, 2014
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Sorry for the delayed reply - having a bathroom installed which has not been fun.

I have just tried reinstalling network drivers for the mobo but no dice. Red cross still appears.

In terms of settings I may have fiddled with - the only things I can think of were looking into homegroups and subsequently joining one (though I don't use the functionality at all) or a recent issue with a Bluetooth mouse.

Anything else I can try?
 

Thineswar

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Apr 6, 2015
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just to be sure, try control panel > network and internet > internet options > under the connections tab > lan settings
make sure the automatically detect settings is checked.

next, go back, and click network and sharing center > on the left pane, click on change adapter settings > click on your network adapter > properties > internet protocol version 4 > both of the obtain automatically boxes have to be checked
(and do the same with ipv6

 

HBgamer

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Dec 29, 2014
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Thanks again for the further instruction. Just tried the lot and everything was as it should be. The red cross persists!

 

Thineswar

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Apr 6, 2015
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1. i got this from somewhere else, but in an elevated command prompt, type "netsh winsock reset", then enter, then reboot your pc
2. try going to device manager and seeing if there's a yellow exclamation mark beside your network adapter
3. try doing a fresh installation of your lan drivers
 
Solution

HBgamer

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Dec 29, 2014
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1. Done
2. No yellow exclamation
3. Did this last night. Would I need to do again after the winsock reset?

Just for info - I currently have 5 items under network adapters in Device Manager:
1. Bluetooth Device (Personal area network)
2. Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI)
3. Hamachi Network Interface
4. Netgear wireless
5. Qualcomm ethernet

Anything seem out of the ordinary? Should the list be in order of priority i.e. should my ethernet be at the top? I used Hamachi a couple years ago and haven't since so I could get rid of this.


 

HBgamer

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Dec 29, 2014
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Success! The red cross has finally gone!

First off sorry for the delayed reply - I've been away with work.

Sat down to tackle this again about half hour ago and as of a restart just now the red cross no longer appears. I did numerous things not one-by-one so not 100% sure what resolved it:
- Re-installed ethernet driver (after the winsock process)
- Removed Hamachi from my PC altogether
- Merged one of my old internet connections with a new one (I changed the name of it a couple months back)

Either way your pointers got me here so thanks a million. I've chosen what I think is the best answer post and you fully deserve the praise. Take it easy.

HB