Internet Connection has some amazing ability...

[Jakamo5]

I run a Dell Inspiron 6000, Windows XP Home. I've always had an icon in the lower right called either "Local Area Network Connection - 100 Mbps" or Wireless Network Connection - 54 Mbps" depending on if I'm on ethernet or wireless. I don't keep both on.

Just recently, there randomly appeared a second icon in the lower right in combination with either of the either two. It's called "Internet Connection", sometimes is 100 Mbps and sometimes 10 Mbps. I've tried to get rid of it by using the setup network connection wizard and telling it that I connect through a network hub, blah blah, and basically telling it that my computer is NOT a gateway to the internet directly. This never works, never gets rid of the icon.

I can right click and disable the icon, both in control panel, and in the lower right taskbar. However, if I do this, the entire network, I'm talking about everyone's computers on the network, lose internet access. Upon further investigation, I've found that disabling the "Internet Connection" releases DHCP on the network. I then have to go into the network, 192.168.1.1 and renew the DHCP, or else no one can have internet access on the network.

Basically, I was sitting in class at college once... and I disabled the "internet connection" in the lower right, and half the building lost internet access. Mind you, I didn't have the router password.... yes, i had the WEP password to access the internet, but not the password to get into the router as an admin. So when they called tech support I had to raise my hand to tell them how to fix it, then they began asking me how i knew, and I said 'sorry my computer disabled it' and they took it as that i hacked in or something and disabled the internet, and i got in big trouble actually because they didn't believe my story.

Anyway, any help as to how to fix this would be greatly appreciated. Even if you don't know how to fix it, can you explain why my computer has the ability to disable a password protected network so easily?

[Lead3]

Go to the Control Panel, select Network Connections. Right click on the Internet Connection icon and select properties. Uncheck the box marked "Show icon in notification area when connected".

[Jakamo5]

Well that doesn't really answer my question, it just tells me how to ignore it easier. Is this something that I should be ignoring? Is it normal? How do I get rid of it (I'm not talking about hiding it)? How come it has never been there before?

[johnwill]

The fact that you disabling that connection had no bearing on what happened to the network. That's the router with uPnP enabled showing up.

[Jakamo5]

I don't understand.. you say that me disabling the connection has no bearing on what happens to the network. That's not true, because disabling the connection causes everyone on the network to lose the ability to access the internet. Specifically, it "releases DHCP".

And also, the router with plug and play enabled - this has occurred on three different routers already.... and it just started happening. I haven't changed/enables/disabled anything on the routers before the icon suddenly appears once i'm connected. It appears alongside the "Local Area Network Connection" icon, or the wireless connection icon if i'm wireless. I can disable the local area network connection or the wireless network connection just fine, and this results in only my computer losing internet, but if I disable the "Internet Connection" Icon, the whole network loses internet as I've said. So yes, disabling the connect DOES have bearing on what happens to the network.

[johnwill]

I have to believe you're in a time warp somewhere. A workstation is not going to take down a network in the fashion you say without some REALLY ODD network configuration in play! Sorry, but this is just not believable.

[Jakamo5]

Well thanks anyway... i'll work on getting a video of it and I'll post it here.

By the way, sorry for the double post, but this is both a Windows XP and Network problem so I figured I'd post it in both...

[Jakamo5]

Alright, I've uploaded the video as proof. It's hard for me to prove that it makes everyone else lose internet, but actually if you think about it, when the DHCP gets released as shown, it's obvious that everyone using that network won't have internet as well...

Also please note, I have the "Magnifier" application up only because it stays on top and blocks people who watch the video from seeing my personal info (IP, MAC address, etc).

Here is the video:

http://www.box.net/shared/dbkzk0dgks

[Sunny Silverz]

It seems that your laptop is acting as a router instead, yes it is amazing, I saw the video

[Jakamo5]

Right, and not only is my laptop connected to ethernet wire which is connected to router which is connected to modem (proving that my laptop is NOT the gateway), but also, when I go through the network connection wizard and tell the wizard exactly that (that my laptop connects to internet through a router), it does nothing for me, the icon doesn't go away, and still shows up when i restart.

[johnwill]

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt:

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands, one at a time, followed by the Enter key:

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[Jakamo5]

will this give out any information that could pose a risk for me (could someone use it to hack into my PC or something)

[Jakamo5]

I finally found a thread with a few people with the same problem. Seems you were right about upnp maybe,

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com...onnection.html

Thanks again!

[johnwill]

No hacking information, or I wouldn't ask you to post it.