Unidentified network using two adapters

Question

I am seeking help with my network using a win7 host having two adapters. One connected to router and DSL modem for internet - setup is ICS. The other connected to a local network with a bunch of different Win systems (XP to 8.1) - this network shows at the host as "unidentified network", thus I can't change it to "home/work". All systems can access the internet but system to system communication doesn't work unless I modify "public" to allow all. Please advise how to correct the "unidentified network" status.

Answer 1

I am seeking help with my network using a win7 host having two adapters. One connected to router and DSL modem for internet - setup is ICS. The other connected to a local network with a bunch of different Win systems (XP to 8.1) - this network shows at the host as "unidentified network", thus I can't change it to "home/work". All systems can access the internet but system to system communication doesn't work unless I modify "public" to allow all. Please advise how to correct the "unidentified network" status.

    Using a manually assigned IP address can cause this to happen.  A possible workaround (if your Windows 7 host is running Professional or Ultimate editions) is to change the Unknown Network mode to "Work" instead of "Public".  To do this:

1. Press [Windows]+[R], type "secpol.msc", and press [Enter].
2. Navigate to Network List Manager Policies.
3. In the right-hand pane, double-click Unidentified Networks.
4. Set Location type to Private (this correlates to "Work").
5. Set User permissions to User can change location.

    Please note that this will make Windows default to enabling file sharing on unidentified networks, so you probably don't want to do this on a laptop that could be connecting to various public networks.  However, this should be fine for a desktop computer that isn't going anywhere and is hardwired to only one network.  Windows should continue to prompt for (and remember) network type for wireless networks.

Answer 2

What security issue are you referring to?

Please provide more information for us to assist you further.

Answer 3

This seems to work but I am concerned that this patch creates a security issue!

Answer 4

I followed your methods 1-4 (some I did already earlier) but to no avail. Please note I have no problem connecting to the internet at any system on the local area connection (unidentified network). Method 3 is destructive to my environment because it removes the assigned IP address at the local area connection adapter, which is assigned by ICS!  The host system is Win 7 SP1 Prof.

Answer 5

Hi George,

I understand the inconvenience you are experiencing, let us work together to troubleshoot the issue.

Just a few questions to get a clear picture of the issue.

1. What is the make and model of the computer?
2. Is the computer connected to a domain?

Follow the methods below and check if it works.

Method 1: Using the Network troubleshooter in Windows 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Using-the-Network-troubleshooter-in-Windows-7 

Method 2: To check the Internet Access in Safe mode with Networking

a. Use F8 while restarting the computer.

b. Under Windows Advanced Boot Options, select Safe mode with Networking and hit Enter.

c. Once you login into Safe mode, check if you’ve Internet Access and also see if you find unidentified network in Network and sharing center.

Method 3: Reset the network adaptor settings. Then follow the steps below.

To reset the TCP/IP stack go to this article and either click on "Fix it for me" or follow the instructions to fix it yourself:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357

Method 4: Disable the IP Helper service:

1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter "services.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter
2. Scroll down to the IP Helper service, right click on it and select Properties
3. In the dropdown box that says "Automatic" or "Manual", set it to Disabled and then click on "Apply"
4. Then click on "Stop" to stop the service from running in the current session
5. Click OK to exit the dialog

Disable IPv6:

Try uninstalling IPv6 on all interfaces, removing any IPv6 virtual adapters, and resetting the TCP/IP stack. To remove IPv6, go into the properties for each network adapter and either uncheck the box next to the protocol "Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP/IPv6), that will disable it, or select it and click uninstall, which will remove it off the computer. Then go into device manager and remove any 4to6 adapters, WUN miniport adapters, or tunnel adapters.

NOTE: You should do this for each network connection.

Hope this helps. Get back to us for further assistance on Windows.