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[Fix] “One or More Network Protocols are Missing on This Computer” Error in Windows

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Today I’m going to address a very weird and very annoying problem present in Windows 10 operating system. I have faced this problem in 10 of my computer machines which have Windows 10 installed although this problem may also occur in previous Windows versions such as Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 7.

This problem first occurred in an Insider Preview build but I assumed that it was fixed in final RTM build of Windows 10 but I was wrong. The same problem has started occurring again in newer Windows 10 versions.

Let’s talk about the problem. Suddenly your Wi-Fi or any other Internet connection stops working. Although your computer shows that it has been connected to Internet but no websites open in browser and there is no sign of Internet connectivity. If you try to diagnose the issue by running built-in network troubleshooter by right-click on Network icon in Taskbar notification area (system tray) and select “Troubleshoot problems” option, it throws following error message after running:

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One or more network protocols are missing on this computer.

If you try to check the details, you get following reason:

Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing.

Network_Protocol_Missing_Computer_Error_Windows.png

No extra information is shown and no steps are given to fix the issue and the user has no idea what to do next?

Don’t worry! If you are also facing this issue, I’m going to list a few working solutions which will help you in troubleshooting and fixing this irritating issue. I’m going to list the solutions from basic to advanced.

So without wasting time lets start the tutorial:

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SOLUTION 1: Disable 3rd Party Firewall or Security Suite

First of all if you are using a 3rd party firewall or Internet security suite (also known as total security suite), then try to temporary disable its protection. If it fixes the connection issue, then its a problem in the security software or firewall and you need to change its settings or replace the security software.

[Windows Fix] Yellow Triangle with Exclamation Mark on Network Connections Icon in Taskbar

SOLUTION 2: Update Network Adapter Drivers

Sometimes it might be happening due to a faulty, corrupted, outdated or incompatible driver of Network adapters. If you know your computer manufacturer website, go to the website and download the latest and compatible driver for the network adapter and install it. Restart the computer and it may fix the problem.

SOLUTION 3: Uninstall Network Adapters Using Device Manager

If you can’t download and install latest drivers for the network adapters, try following:

1. Press WIN+X keys together to launch WIN+X menu and select Device Manager option. Alternatively, you can open it using devmgmt.msc command in RUN or Search box.

2. Now locate the Network adapters section.

3. Right-click on each network adapter one bye one and select Uninstall option.

Uninstall_Network_Adapters_Device_Manager.png

4. Once all have been removed, right-click again and select Scan for hardware changes option.

The adapters will be rediscovered and Windows will reinstall the drivers. Restart your computer and it may also fix the problem.

SOLUTION 4: Reset Winsock Catalog to a Clean State

If you still face the problem, try following command to reset Winsock Catalog to a clean state:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run following command:

netsh winsock reset

Reset_Winsock_Catalog_Clean_State_Command_Prompt.png

2. Restart your computer and it should fix the issue.

SOLUTION 5: Obtain IP Address Automatically and Settings Custom DNS

You can also try following steps:

1. First make sure the option “Obtain an IP address automatically” is selected in Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) properties. How will you open the properties box? Check out following link to learn how to access Internet connection’s TCP/IPv4 properties box:

How to Change or Use Custom DNS Server Settings in Windows?

2. Also try to set custom DNS server settings for your Internet connection with the help of above mentioned tutorial.

Custom_DNS_Server_Settings.png

3. You may also try to disable Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) in connection settings and restart your computer.

SOLUTION 6: Use IPCONFIG Commands to Reconfigure Networking

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run following commands one by one:

netcfg -d
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns

2. Restart your computer and it should fix the issue.

SOLUTION 7: Reset IP Configurations Using Command Prompt

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nsi\{eb004a00-9b1a-11d4-9123-0050047759bc}\26

3. Now right-click on 26 key and select Permissions option.

Change_Network_Key_Permission_Registry_Editor.png

4. It’ll open a new window. Select Everyone from the user names list and enable “Allow” checkbox given for “Full Control” permission.

Assign_Full_Control_Network_Key_Registry_Editor.png

5. Close Registry Editor and open Command Prompt as Administrator and run following command:

netsh int ip reset

Reset_IP_Configurations_Command_Prompt.png

6. Close Command Prompt and restart your computer. It should fix the issue.

PS: Taking ownership and permission of the key is required to be able to successfully run the above mentioned command in Command Prompt otherwise you’ll receive “Access is denied” error message in the result as shown in the screenshot.

SOLUTION 8: Fix Windows Sockets Entries in Registry Editor

If everything fails, then you’ll need to manually fix Windows Sockets entries in Registry Editor. The entries are present under following key in Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2

Windows_Sockets_Registry_Editor.png

You’ll need to delete the existing Winsock and WinSock2 keys from Registry and then re-add the same keys taken from a working computer which doesn’t contain this problem.

For your convenience, we are providing ready-made Registry script which will automatically delete the keys and will also restore default working keys to fix the issue.

Download following ZIP file, extract it using 7-Zip or any other file archive utility and run extracted REG file. It’ll ask for confirmation, accept it:

Download Registry Script to Fix Windows Sockets Entries

After running the script, restart your computer and it’ll fix the issue and you’ll have a working Internet connection again.

SOLUTION 9: Use “Network Reset” Feature in Windows 10

Windows 10 users can also take help of built-in “Network Reset” feature to fix network connection issues:

[Windows 10 Tip] Use “Network Reset” Feature to Fix Common Internet Connection Issues

PS: You can also check out following tutorials addressing similar issues:

[Fix] Network Connections Folder is Empty, Not Showing Network Adapters List

[Fix] “Local Area Connection doesn’t have a Valid IP Configuration” Error Message in Windows

[Fix] No Internet Access After Installing Feature Update in Windows 10

Guide to Fix All Kind of Network and Internet Connections Problems in Windows

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  1. Great tutorial. Thanks VG.
    I think you forgot to mention which one worked for you. If something goes wrong we could try that first.

  2. ^^ The solutions have been mentioned in the sequence followed by me so the last one worked for me. But it’ll differ for different computers. So try from the first solution.

  3. I’m using Windows 10 and I have an even weirder issue. Every time I listening music or watching a video, my Internet connection stops working, I can’t even access my router.
    After troubleshoot problem, it restart my Ethernet adapter and it’s working until I listening music or watching a video again and it’s dropped.
    This issue didn’t happen with my Wi-Fi, only Ethernet network.
    I tried all your solution but none of them worked for me.
    Have you ever encountered an issue like this?

  4. ^^ Never encountered such issue but it might be a driver problem. Also try to play music in a different program.

  5. I tried it all, play music on Windows Media Player, foobar, Winamp, VLC …
    play video on Windows Media Player, KMPlayer, MPC-HC, VLC …
    Every time I open it, my Internet drop. Same goes with listen music on Soundcloud or watch video on Youtube.

    I re-install network driver or even Refresh my Windows 10 but still no luck.

  6. I have done it all as well, but I finally realized that in msinfo32, my Intel ProWireless 2915ABG Network Connection is perceived by Windows as being Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3.

    The driver is correct and the computer automatically connects me through the Ethernet icon, but I have no wireless protocol listed on the computer, not even a wireless category, only a message ‘no wireless devices detected’. So I cannot pick and choose my wireless connection. For the most part, Windows apps will not work as I do not appear to be connected to the internet.

    Windows Update will work, and surprisingly, I was able to connect here, but I cannot verify my machine under account, just a message to connect to the internet and try later. Weather app won’t accept a location, facebook app won’t download … etc.

    Maybe a hardware compatability issue?

  7. i’ve tried everything except solution 8.. but the problem to not go away. anyway, my problem seems to be on the ethernet cable side cause everytime i plug in the ethernet cable the connection seem to be okay and after a few minutes the browser reloads the pages and the there it is again. but, when i connect using wifi eveythings fine. if you have any idea on what’s happening it would be very great.

    Thank you! for all the effort you give on this fix.

  8. Try to use two wifi adapter and change usb ports alse resolve the problem without restarting…

  10. Solution 9: Remove ALL 3rd security software and activate Windows Defender, because MS is ask user’s feedback of Windows Defender so MS don’t want users using 3rd pary security software. (Not only security software, but absolutely ALL)

  11. SOLUTION 8: Fix Windows Sockets Entries in Registry Editor
    worked for me. thanks!

  12. FYI: I performed solution 3 & 4, restarted and my issue is resolved – TY! TY! TY!

  13. OMG after 5 hours of freaking out and searching and trying different solutions on the internet, SOLUTION 6 SAVED MY DAY!!!
    Thank you so much!

  14. nothing worked for me had to do a complete reinstall of operating system from scratch

  15. Thanks so much the third option worked for me, l spent a whole day with this issue and thanks to you it has been resolved. Me daa se, as in thank you in Ghana

  17. here is my problem. none of the solutions worked to fix it.

    My desk top won’t connect to my home wifi.

    If i run trouble shooter i get various results, these include

    one or more protocols is missing on this computer (run fix as admin, problem fixed, still no internet)

    missing system registry (run fix, fixed, no internet)

    The desk top will connect to my phone, which is using the same wifi network, which works fine.

    I also have a laptop, on the same network, which connects fine in the same location as the desktop.

    things i have tried, which have failed.

    turning router off, power cycling desktop.

    checking IP conflicts, ruled out – the router can see the desktop fine and says it has internet.

    uninstalling network adapters, power cycle.

    restoring the system to an earlier version.

    complete factory reset.

    cycling through various router bandwidths

    I’ve spent 4 hours on google and tried every trick the internet has to throw at it from running command prompts to flush dns to altering protocols on the adapter.

    i can reasonably rule out the pci card as it connects to my phone hotspot and works. i have also tried a usb wifi adapter which has the same problem.

    running windows 10 64 bit

    asrock 990fx extreme 3 mobo

    sapphire dual x rs 270

    tl-wn881nd 300mbps wireless n pcie express adapter

  18. Is the Registry Script Fix provided in the “Solution 8” corrupted? I tried opening it with Notepad, and it crashed for me. Then I tried Notepad++ and it converted everything to Chinese?

    I know Windows likes UTF-16, so I tried looking if it was that, and only the UTF-16LE didn’t show errors, but it’s in Chinese…

    I’ve downloaded the file in different computers, and different ISPs.

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