Network and Dial-Up Connection Icons Disappear When You Use Dcomcnfg.exe to Set the Default Impersonation Level to Anonymous (273461)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q273461

SYMPTOMS

After using Dcomcnfg.exe to set the Default Impersonation Level setting to Anonymous, entries that were previously defined under Network and Dial-up Connections are no longer visible.

Furthermore, if you double-click desktop shortcuts that point to previously-defined Network and Dial-up Connection objects, you receive an error message that states "Local Area Connection cannot be found."

CAUSE

Windows Explorer uses the Default Impersonation Level setting to access Network and Dial-Up Connection objects. Anonymous access does not provide sufficient access for Windows Explorer to display details of these objects.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

254631 Some Network and Dial-Up Connections Icons May Be Missing

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, use Dcomcnfg.exe to reset the Default Impersonation Level setting:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type dcomcnfg, and then click OK.
  2. On the Default Properties tab, click any setting other than Anonymous in the Default Impersonation Level box. The default setting is Identify.
After you make this change, all previously-defined Network and Dial-up Connection objects become accessible again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The Dcomcnfg.exe online, context-sensitive Help for the Default Impersonation Level setting is incorrect. It states that a setting of Delegate is not supported in Windows 2000, and implies that Anonymous is supported.

However, the article that is located at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/psdk/com/cme_e2z_2jco.htm states the true position, which is that a setting of Delegate is supported in Windows 2000, and that Anonymous is not.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/26/2006
Keywords:kbfix kbprb KB273461
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