# Weird Computer problem (Network connections) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-computer-problem-network-connections/231521 "2004-02-27T21:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-computer-problem-network-connections/231521/1 "2004-02-27T21:02:00Z")
I am running XP Home, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB HD. I have a cable connection and a Linksys 802.11b wireless access point. On my desktop computer (host) I cannot open the network connection box anymore. I access network connections through my start menu or the control panel, and it shows two connections. One is the local area connection, the other is 1394 connection. When I click on either of these, noting opens. My cursor will blink briefly, but the connection won’t open. I can’t check the status or anything. I can right click and get to the properties, but the other options on the right click menu won’t open. I have a laptop also running XP home and connected to my wireless network, the connections work fine there. I am virus and spyware free. What is up? Can I fix this? I’m not absolutely sure which connection is my cable internet connection, I forgot which one is which and what the other is used for. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-computer-problem-network-connections/231521/2 "2004-02-27T21:23:29Z")
Your “local connection” is probably the one you need to examine. 1394 is Firewire - I have a Sony VAIO which has both a standard ethernet jack and a firewire port, and I also have those two entries on my Network Connections list. BYW, my “Local Connection” entry also contains two other lines of text: Local Area Connection Enabled Realtek RTL8139/801x Family (That last entry being the type of Ethernet adapter on my PC) In my case, anyway, left-clicking on that “Local Connection” entry performs the same activity as right-clicking on it and selecting the “Status” option. What happens when you try that? ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-computer-problem-network-connections/231521/3 "2004-02-27T22:01:31Z")
Yeah, this is a Sony Vaio. Left clicking does nothing - my cursor blinks but the link doesn’t open. My laptop is also a Vaio, but all connections open fine. Thanks for straightening me out to which is my main internet connection - when neither opens, it is hard to figure out! I just mentioned right clicking to point out I can get to properties by doing that, but status, repair, all that other stuff is unavailable. My connection went down the other day. It was a matter of a billing screw-up, but before I called I wanted to check on the status myself. I couldn’t open it up to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-computer-problem-network-connections/231521/4 "2004-02-28T19:51:11Z")
Nobody knows? I was thinking there was something changed in my registry, something I could switch back, to get these connections to open. Every other program and file on my computer opens normally, just these two things don’t.