Using the Network troubleshooter in Windows 7

Networks rely on complex technology, so diagnosing the root cause of a network problem can often be a difficult task. For example, if you can't access a website, you will see an error message, but the message might not be necessarily very helpful since it typically won't pinpoint the exact problem. The problem could be caused by a number of issues with your computer, the web server, or the network between your computer and the web server.

When a network problem occurs in Windows 7, the Network troubleshooter helps to diagnose and repair the problem. For example, when you see some error messages such as “Page cannot be displayed” or “Server is not available,” you have the option of using the Network troubleshooter to identify the problem. To open the Network troubleshooter from network-related error messages, click Diagnose or Troubleshoot.

Error message with a Diagnose button

Some programs, such as Remote Assistance, automatically detect when there’s a problem and give you the option of running the troubleshooter. Here are some other ways to access the Network troubleshooter:

• Right-click the network icon ( or ) in the notification area of the taskbar, and then click Troubleshoot problems.
  Troubleshoot problems option
• Click the Start button , click Control Panel‌, and then, in the search box, type troubleshooter. Click Troubleshooting, click Network and Internet, and then click the type of problem you are experiencing.
  Network and Internet troubleshooters
• Click the Start button , click Control Panel‌, and then, in the search box, type network. In the list of results, click Network and Sharing Center, and then click Troubleshoot problems.
  Troubleshoot problems option in Network and Sharing Center
• Click the Start button , click Control Panel‌, and then, in the search box, type adapter. Under Network and Sharing Center, click View network connections, right-click a network adapter, and then click Diagnose.
  Diagnose option in Network Connections

After diagnosing a problem, the Network troubleshooter will suggest ways for fixing it. Sometimes the troubleshooter can even fix the problem automatically without any intervention from you. For example, if your network adapter has difficulty resuming from sleep, the Network troubleshooter can automatically reset the adapter and driver.

The Network troubleshooter can also detect whether a computer's wireless networking capability is turned off. This is a common problem, which might have led you to call technical support in the past. But with the Network troubleshooter, you can fix this problem yourself.

Network troubleshooter dialog box showing that wireless capability is turned off

After you run the Network troubleshooter, a problem report is stored in the troubleshooting history for future reference. If troubleshooting didn't fix the problem, sharing this report with a technical support person can help them identify and solve complex network problems faster.

The problem report contains one or more event logs. Network administrators and technical support personnel can use the information in the event logs to analyze connectivity problems or help interpret the conclusions. You can find this information by clicking View detailed information on the final page of the troubleshooter, or by following these steps:

For more information, see Use Network troubleshooter event logs to solve network problems.