Member Avatar for gbailar

I have a Vista HP T4400 that has started having trouble with the system tray network icon - at least. When I boot the machine, the icon for network connections in the system tray shows the globe icon indicating local and internet access and the bubble "Local and Internet access" appears when I hover over it. I can access web and email services. After a few minutes - sometimes longer, the icon loses the global and the text shows "Local Only". However, I can still access the internet on my browser and I still get email. It appears that some things (like syncing with Windows Live) aren't working correctly though.

I have rebooted the router (FIOS-based Verizon service) and have rebooted the machine many times checking individual programs. Repair does not detect and issue. Disabling and re-enabling does not change the status. I have turned off IPv6. Still same issue.

Any ideas?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by michgal2k

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This behavior is usually not a flaky browser or email client — it’s how Vista decides what the tray icon shows. The tray reflects what the Network Location Awareness (NLA) / Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) subsystem reports, and NCSI uses a small DNS+HTTP probe to known Microsoft endpoints. If that probe is blocked, redirected, or otherwise fails, the icon flips to “Local Only” even though ordinary web browsing still works. That also explains why background sync (Windows Live, etc.) can misbehave while the browser seems fine.

Quick, focused checks to run (each is fast and reversible):

  • Open a browser to http://www.msftncsi.com/ncsi.txt — a correct response is the plain text line Microsoft NCSI.
  • Test DNS resolution: 
    nslookup dns.msftncsi.com
  • Check whether the NLA service is running and whether a proxy is configured: 
    sc query nlasvc
netsh winhttp show proxy
  • Inspect the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) for any msftncsi entries and temporarily disable third‑party firewall/AV to rule out filtering.

If the probe fails but normal browsing works, the most common causes are DNS rewriting/captive‑portal behavior from the router or ISP, or a proxy/PAC interfering with background probes. Try resetting the network stack and DNS caching, then reboot: 

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

If those steps don’t fix it, try a different DNS (for testing), update the NIC driver, and check the registry value that controls active probing (back up the registry first): 

reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet" /v EnableActiveProbing

If an ISP/router intercept is suspected, follow ’ suggestion and contact Verizon but bring the NCSI test results. Other members like seeing the same symptom should find these targeted checks quicker than broad reboots.

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Member Avatar for OlyComputers

It sounds like a problem with your ISP, call Verizon. Usually I'd talk you through tinkering with the router, but since the router is incorporated into your modem and provided by Verizon for a propriatary service you're better off calling somebody with the manual and a replacement if it's needed. Especially since this could just be a known glitch in their system that they're working on.

Not to get into a debate of the usefulness of Vista here, but it's not even remotely designed for professionals. Most of the trouble to be had with Vista is in trying to do complex configuration that the blinking clock croud would never bother with (why laptops shipped exclusively with vista before desktops). Vista is best for a novice user with no expectations and somebody to fix it for him if something goes wrong.

Member Avatar for michgal2k

Did you ever get this resolved? I am having the same issue - the icon keeps changing from local and interent to local only - I seem to still have internet access but it bugs me. Never used to do it..not sure why it is now.
Thanks

I have a Vista HP T4400 that has started having trouble with the system tray network icon - at least. When I boot the machine, the icon for network connections in the system tray shows the globe icon indicating local and internet access and the bubble "Local and Internet access" appears when I hover over it. I can access web and email services. After a few minutes - sometimes longer, the icon loses the global and the text shows "Local Only". However, I can still access the internet on my browser and I still get email. It appears that some things (like syncing with Windows Live) aren't working correctly though.

I have rebooted the router (FIOS-based Verizon service) and have rebooted the machine many times checking individual programs. Repair does not detect and issue. Disabling and re-enabling does not change the status. I have turned off IPv6. Still same issue.

Any ideas?

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