Resolved Network magic shows no connection, but I am on the net

What are you clicking to launch Windows Online Help?

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows-vista/what-is-windows-help-online
Probably this Doc. Neil.
Another good link to Trouble shoot W7 Networks:http://www.7tutorials.com/how-troubleshoot-network-problems

 

I don't know, I don't think so ... because of this:

 

Correct. I click a menu item on my computer that says Help and Support. Either from the Start menu, or from the Networking troubleshooter or similar window. It's in my computer that the problem occurs. Browsing to help sites is not a problem.

 

For me, it was the word "online" included with "Help and Support" that was a bit confusing. In Windows 7, clicking the Start orb then "Help and Support" is not "online ", it's part of the Windows 7 operating system and is stored locally on your hard drive.

Anyway, am I correct that you have two problems ... both Network Magic and Windows Help and Support are not working correctly? Or is there even more?

 

Who manufactured your computer and what is the model number? Who is your ISP? According to your specs you are not using a router. So nothing is connected wirelessly or am I wrong. I have Optimum as an ISP. Before I got a router I had a wired connection did not need nor use Network Magic. I was able to access the internet without it and without any problems. Optimum advised me that there is no reason to turn off any modem at all as it can create the potential for connection problems. Are you using Internet Explorer if so did you change your Privacy settings to: Block third party cookies. Some websites(ie. Banking) use third party cookies? Did you try uninstalling then reinstalling Network Magic

 

I have found what may be the cause of at least one problem, the Network Magic issue. It seems Network Magic tries to connect with a server at purenetworks.com and if it finds the server, it will conclude the computer it is on is online. Cisco took the servers down and so will always show that the computer running Network Magic is not online. I have not been able to find a work-around, except disabling internet accessibility monitorning.

The other problem, of being able to access Microsoft's update server, is intermittent. I am starting to believe that it also is external. My ISP is United Telecommunications Services, UTS, in Curaçao. You have probably never heard of them. Even Google sometimes fails to recognize us. (the country, that is - on many country lists on the web the country Curaçao is not mentioned, instead they have Netherlands Antilles (no longer in existence since 2010).

The Online Help option from Microsoft, from my Start button (windows 7) is still a problem. I cannot get the Online help to work. But since I can browse the net I tend to see this as more of a nuisance - I am able to search the net for answers.

Given all this, I will close the question. It is not really resolved, but I am no longer willing to put time into it. Thanks everyone for helping me find a solution. Sorry for not sticking to my guns, but I've got other things to do...