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Skid Vis
Asked: 2012-07-11 05:18:49 +0800 CST

Windows 7 Network Connections empty

  • 772

Whenever I try to look at my network connections, the window opens up empty. The only thing shown is the Organize button. I went into Device Manager and deleted my network devices, but now installation fails when I try to reload them.

windows networking connections

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    solution:

    I fixed it by deleting the following registry key and rebooting:

    HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Config

    Note: I found the suggestion on this site.

    • 4

  2. I was having the same problem when connecting to a FQDN UNC share name. However, when I just used the IP address or just the hostname, I was able to see the contents without any problem.

    • I tried the solution linked to above and deleted the config registry entry and rebooted, but it did not resolve it.
    • Also, all 4 of my entries in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Connections\ClassManagers were on separate lines.

    I added a new DWORD entry here:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters

    Name: DirectoryCacheLifetime Value Data is 0. (Hexadecimal is selected)
    Click OK
    Then Reboot

    My folder contents re-appeared after rebooting. So the DirectoryCacheLifetim fixed the problem for me. I am not sure why the empty network shares suddenly though. This was always a Windows 7 Pro machine and I have not every had any network problems with it, and it's a pretty clean install. Users do not have admin access to install anything.

    The Fix source was found here:
    https://dslmac2.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/empty-folders-in-windows-7-on-network-but-others-can-see-files/

    • 1