NetSetMan Support

sprslinky

Member

Registered: 2014-12-30

Posts: 1

Issues running Windows 8.1 and Netsetman 3.7.3

First I just want to give cudos and say what a life saver Netsetman is for what is such a HUGE hole in Windows IP management in general. Thanks for a GREAT utility, and thanks for making it free for personal use!  How could MS overlook something so glaringly obvious as being able to configure IP for different locations?!

  For the most part, the product works as described.  It seems to set all the parameters correctly and detect the proper locations and it always connects to the correct wifi location apparently with all the right IP settings and occasionally I don't have to do anything for successful connections for browsing--and it is enabled. However, more often than not it connects to the right location with what looks like all the correct setting but I end up with either a "limited connection" or a connection that isn't listed as limited, but cannot load any pages in any browser (tried IE, Chrome, Firefox, etc). The error message that usually appears in the browser is that the Domain Name cannot be resolved.  On rare occasion, it connects me to the correct location, but when mousing over the wifi icon in the system tray it says No Internet Access.

I have tried setting the DNS settings within windows for Google (8.8.8.8), the specific ISP DNS servers, and several other openly available DNS servers.  I have checked that the DNS and all settings for home and a couple locations with everything set to obtain the IP and DNS automatically (with the little boxes checked), with the exceptions being a couple work locations where I have set Netsetman to use the DNS servers provided through work, along with their relative specific IP settings as well (the whole reason I am using Netsetman).  I have also tried using the alternative IP settings option in Windows 8.1 with no success.  I have tried changing and activating different locations within Netsetman and then going back to correct location, I have tried resetting the wifi adapter both within Netsetman and manually through windows, all with no success. 

However, if I run the Windows 8.1 Networking troubleshooter, it pretty consistently finds and fixes the DNS problem and I'm able to connect and load pages without problems from then on.  This same problem happens at all locations.  What could the Windows 8.1 Network Troubleshooter be changing that Netsetman isn't and does anyone know of a way to fix this?  I have Netsetman running upon startup and with administrator privileges for all users, although I am the only user on the machine with full administrator privileges. Thx for any help in advance.

Last edited by sprslinky (2014-12-30 16:11)

NetSetMan Support

Administrator

Registered: 2005-08-06

Posts: 1,878

Re: Issues running Windows 8.1 and Netsetman 3.7.3

What could the Windows 8.1 Network Troubleshooter be changing that Netsetman isn't and does anyone know of a way to fix this?

The problem sounds quite strange, so that's probably the best way to approach it.
You can create a snapshot of the registry before and after the troubleshooter to see the difference. I assume it's enough to capture the following registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces

1. Run regedit.exe
2. Navigate to that path
3. Right-click it in the tree and choose to export it. Give it a name so it's clear at which point it was created.

Do this 3 times:
1. Before a NetSetMan profile activation (when the Internet is working without problems)
2. After a NetSetMan profile activation (when you experience the problems you've described).
3. After the Network Troubleshooter (when the Internet is working again).
IMPORTANT: Close and start regedit every time! Otherwise the settings won't get updated and you'll export the same settings all the time.

Please send me those three files so I can analyze/compare them.
If possible please also send me your settings.ini file from the program folder to see the exact changes you're attempting to apply. Please mention the profile you've activated during this test.

Send me the files as a ZIP file attachment by email:
www.netsetman.com/contact

Thanks.