XP Home: Network Connections control panel not working.

My Network Connections control panel has not been working for some time. I finally decided to take the time and fix it.

The control panel (NCPA.CPL) was missing. I restored it by going into the registry and un-hiding it:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load

I cannot get it to work however. Whenever I double-click on it, the OS does nothing. No errors are in the event logs. Process Explorer shows no new processes starting up, nore is there a spike in the CPU usage. I get the same problem when I right-click on My Network Places and select properties.

I noticed a file in WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 called ncpa.cpl.manifest. I opened it with Notepad, and here are it's contents:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
manifestVersion="1.0"> <assemblyIdentity processorArchitecture="*"
version="5.1.0.0" type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Shell.shell32"/>
<description>Windows Shell</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity                 
type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*"
processorArchitecture="*"/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

I don't know exactly what a manifest file is, but it appears to be an XML file, and part of the OS.

All I know is that I would like to be able to change my network settings again.

Close

BTW: There are no viruses, or spyware on this system.

 

It used to be that people here would help you right away. What happened in the time that I was gone?

 

I looked through my os and couldn't see the 'manifest" file if you have an os install disc and not restore disc you can do a repair install without loosing anything except the sp2 install and your os hot patches but they can be reinstalled and it should fix you network control panel.

xp pro sp2
bigc

 

Nothings changed Close_Hauled.

Just some issues take longer to address then others.

BTW, nice to see u back.


snowbound

 

Hi big,

How's your grandson?

I tried copying the NCPA.CPL file off of the CD and it still would not load. Something perposely hid the control panel, as well as some others. I read an article somewhere on how to restore them and it worked. The ones that were hidden were:

ncpa.cpl
odbccp32.cpl
snd.cpl
joystick.cpl
midimap.drv

ODBC works just fine, as do SND and JOYSTICK. I suspect that the sound and joystick were hidden by the SoundBlaster driver install. There is no MIDIMAP.DRV on my system, but there is a MIDIMAP.DLL.

 

Hi Close_Hauled,

Might be worth it to take a look at your control panel extensions using Tweak UI and see if any are hidden.

Nick

 

I also have the same manifest file. Timestamped the day I installed XP.

Nick

 

Does this help: How to troubleshoot missing network connections icons in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP

I believe they are associated with visual styles.

Regards,

CrazyM

 

I brought up the repair install because a while back I uninstalled Kaspersky antihacker and it took my whole control panel my restore function disapeared off of the comp completely and the bad thing was I had a system login password and it was only accessible through the control panel and it was gone. I found you can beat the password with a lot of work. a repair install fixed everything. you might try this here it night let it reinstall the hidden files and anything that might be inoperable. At least I hope it will be of use to you.

bigc

P.S.
the grandson is just great

 

I am trying these steps on the Microsoft site now. I noticed that the RPC service was off and set to manual. What is the default? I set it to Automatic, and manually started it. Maybe I shut it off earlier for some forgotten reason. Anyone know why I would do such a thing?

I also need to find my Windows CD!!!!! The procedure has me turning on Simple TCP/IP Services for some reason and I need the CD!! Just my luck.

 

Also check the "don't load" subkey under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...

Nick

 

The default for the RPC service is automatic. The Network Connections service depends on it (and a lot of other services as well). Your System event log will show any RPC service errors.

Nick

 

My event log is spotless in all three areas, system, application and services. I don't even have any yellow icons. I keep the system as clean as possible because I use it only for gaming.

Now where the hell is that CD! The last time I needed it I could not find it.

 

This may sound dumb, but if your RPC was off, how did you connect to the internet?
I accidently shut mine down, quite awhile ago and couldn't get connected?

This is kinda strange because the properties of my control panel quit showing up a few weeks ago, but I didn't have any idea how to get them either, is this the same problem? If not, I will ask elsewhere!

 

I restored the missing control panels here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load

The entries looked like this:

"ncpa.cpl"="No"
"odbccp32.cpl"="No"
"snd.cpl"="no"
"joystick.cpl"="no"
"midimap.drv"="no"

Just replace the No with Yes and they will appear. Or delete the entries.

In my case the network control panel showed up, but did not work. The midimap file no longer exists, but the others do and they work.

 

This is working!! Thanks. I am not yet done with the procedure, but I can already see my network connections.

What's worse is that I poured through Microsoft already. I guess I did not dig enough. How did you find it?

 

Thanks alot, Close Hauled! I will be happy to see it work right!
Nice seeing you here again!
Been on a sail?

Take Care, come back and see us!

 

You are welcome, and thank you.

I have been saving my pennies for a boat. I am almost there.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in on this one. Once again you have proven why Wilders is the best forum site around.

 

Good to hear things are working out.

I cheated
Or searched the KB for ncpa.cpl and limited the search to XP.

Regards,

CrazyM

 

Hey Close, good to have you back!

Happy to see some sharp people jumped in and you got things sorted.
If you'd like to check up on some service defaults/dependencies, look here.

Your gonna have to tell us of you're adventures while you were absent.
Looking forward to those wind swept tales from the high seas.


GF

 

Thanks Global,

I'll post an update on the Ten Forward (What does that mean?) forum. It's good to be back.

Boy would I like to have a beer with that Black Viper. What a site!