Diagnose Network Connection Issues By Interpreting The Windows XP/Vista/7 Notification Area Network Icon

The Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 (Windows XP/Vista/7) notification area Network icon provides network status and diagnostic information through icon overlays and icon mouseover infotips. This Web page describes how to diagnose network connection issues by interpreting the Windows XP/Vista/7 notification area Network icon.

By default, the Windows 7 notification area Network icon is fully enabled and the Windows XP/Vista notification area Network icon is not fully enabled.

2.1.  Fully Enable The Windows XP Notification Area Network Icon

By default, the Windows XP notification area Network icon is shown when the network has limited or no connectively, and is not shown when the network is connected. To show the Windows XP notification area Network icon when the network is connected:

1. Click Start | Control Panel | Network and Internet Connections | Network Connections.
2. Right click the Local Area Connection corresponding to your network adapter (not 1394 Connection, if present) and select Properties.
3. Check Show icon in notification area when connected.
   
4. Click OK.

2.2.  Fully Enable The Windows Vista Notification Area Network Icon

Unlike Windows 7, the Windows XP/Vista notification area Network icon animates (i.e., the icon's monitors light up) when network activity occurs (i.e., the computer is sending/receiving network data). By default, the Windows Vista notification area Network icon activity animation is turned off. To turn on the Windows Vista notification area Network icon activity animation:

• Right click the notification area Network icon and select Turn on activity animation.
  

3.1.  The Windows XP Notification Area Network Icon: Local Area Connection - A Network Cable Is Unplugged

This Network icon appears when the cabling between the computer and the network device is faulty or the network device is powered off:

3.2.  The Windows XP Notification Area Network Icon: Local Area Connection - Status: Limited Or No Connectivity

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device and is unable to obtain an IP address. With a routerless (i.e., direct) network connection, this occurs when the modem needs to be powered off/on or reset, the connection between the modem and the Internet is faulty, or the Internet is down. With a router, this occurs when the router needs to be powered off/on or reset:

3.3.  The Windows XP Notification Area Network Icon: Local Area Connection - Status: Connected

When the computer is sending/receiving network data the Network icon lights up:

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device and obtains an IP address:

4.1.  The Windows Vista Notification Area Network Icon: Not Connected - You Are Currently Not Connected To Any Networks

This Network icon appears when the cabling between the computer and the network device is faulty or the network device is powered off:

4.2.  The Windows Vista Notification Area Network Icon: Currently Connected To: Unidentified Network - Access: Limited Connectivity

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device and is unable to obtain an IP address. With a routerless (i.e., direct) network connection, this occurs when the modem needs to be powered off/on or reset, the connection between the modem and the Internet is faulty, or the Internet is down. With a router, this occurs when the router needs to be powered off/on or reset:

4.3.  The Windows Vista Notification Area Network Icon: Currently Connected To: Network - Access: Local Only

When the computer is sending/receiving network data the Network icon lights up:

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device, obtains an IP address, and is unable to connect to the Internet. This only occurs with a router and when something on the WAN (i.e., public) side of the router is not functioning, including when the cabling is faulty, the modem is powered off, the modem needs to be powered off/on or reset, or the Internet is down:

4.4.  The Windows Vista Notification Area Network Icon: Currently Connected To: Network - Access: Local And Internet

When the computer is sending/receiving network data the Network icon lights up:

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device, obtains an IP address, and connects to the Internet:

5.1.  The Windows 7 Notification Area Network Icon: Not Connected - No Connections Are Available

This Network icon appears when the cabling between the computer and the network device is faulty or the network device is powered off:

5.2.  The Windows 7 Notification Area Network Icon: Unidentified Network - No Network Access

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device and is unable to obtain an IP address. With a routerless (i.e., direct) network connection, this occurs when the modem needs to be powered off/on or reset, the connection between the modem and the Internet is faulty, or the Internet is down. With a router, this occurs when the router needs to be powered off/on or reset:

5.3.  The Windows 7 Notification Area Network Icon: Network - No Internet Access

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device, obtains an IP address, and is unable to connect to the Internet. This only occurs with a router and when something on the WAN (i.e., public) side of the router is not functioning, including when the cabling is faulty, the modem is powered off, the modem needs to be powered off/on or reset, or the Internet is down:

5.4.  The Windows 7 Notification Area Network Icon: Network - Internet Access

This Network icon appears when the computer finds a network device, obtains an IP address, and connects to the Internet: