• http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    From Oliver@3:633/280.2 to All on Sun Mar 31 02:29:34 2024
    Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything. http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    Any idea why?

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  • From Paul@3:633/280.2 to All on Mon Apr 1 18:32:40 2024
    On 3/30/2024 11:29 AM, Oliver wrote:
    Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything. http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    Any idea why?

    That URL is mentioned here.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/internet-explorer-edge-open-connect-corporate-public-network

    "In some cases, such as when you connect to a network that uses a
    proxy server to connect to the internet or when network restrictions
    prevent NCSI from completing its active probe process, Windows opens
    the MSN Portal page in the default browser."

    And Microsoft uses the MSN Portal to kill Internet Explorer.
    So if Internet Explorer happens to open that page, it
    may be damaged (if it hasn't already been removed from the PC).
    That Learn page was probably written, before the started
    using MSN as a kill switch for IE.

    Paul

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  • From =?UTF-8?B?Li4ud8Khw7HCp8KxwqTDsSA=?@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Apr 2 07:42:13 2024
    Paul wrote on 4/1/24 12:32 AM:
    On 3/30/2024 11:29 AM, Oliver wrote:
    Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything.
    http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    Any idea why?

    That URL is mentioned here.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/internet-explorer-edge-open-connect-corporate-public-network

    "In some cases, such as when you connect to a network that uses a
    proxy server to connect to the internet or when network restrictions
    prevent NCSI from completing its active probe process, Windows opens
    the MSN Portal page in the default browser."

    And Microsoft uses the MSN Portal to kill Internet Explorer.
    So if Internet Explorer happens to open that page, it
    may be damaged (if it hasn't already been removed from the PC).
    That Learn page was probably written, before the started
    using MSN as a kill switch for IE.

    Paul


    Not really removed. IE Mode(and the necessary IE files, some but not all
    now common to Edge remain)

    If IE mode is necessary even though configured as 'Allowed' it may
    require the destination URL to be added to the 'IE Mode pages(which by
    design is only retained for 30 days, but can be re-added)

    --
    ....w¡ñ§±¤ñ

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  • From Oliver@3:633/280.2 to All on Tue Apr 2 21:52:51 2024
    On Mon, 1 Apr 2024 13:42:13 -0700, "...w¡ñ§±¤ñ " <winstonmvp@gmail.com>
    wrote

    Paul wrote on 4/1/24 12:32 AM:
    On 3/30/2024 11:29 AM, Oliver wrote:
    Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything.
    http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    Any idea why?

    That URL is mentioned here.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/internet-explorer-edge-open-connect-corporate-public-network

    "In some cases, such as when you connect to a network that uses a
    proxy server to connect to the internet or when network restrictions
    prevent NCSI from completing its active probe process, Windows opens
    the MSN Portal page in the default browser."

    And Microsoft uses the MSN Portal to kill Internet Explorer.
    So if Internet Explorer happens to open that page, it
    may be damaged (if it hasn't already been removed from the PC).
    That Learn page was probably written, before the started
    using MSN as a kill switch for IE.

    Paul


    Not really removed. IE Mode(and the necessary IE files, some but not all
    now common to Edge remain)

    If IE mode is necessary even though configured as 'Allowed' it may
    require the destination URL to be added to the 'IE Mode pages(which by design is only retained for 30 days, but can be re-added)

    I've never used any of the Microsoft browsers, so in this situation,
    the browser that is coming up is my default (non Microsoft) browser.

    Thanks for confirming that it's not only something on my system alone
    as msftconnecttest.com does internet availability probing for everyone.
    "Microsoft maintains a page on the Web for Windows computers to
    connect to in order to test that the internet is working properly."

    This says it's mostly showing up for corporate networks or public hotspots. https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/fix-msftconnecttest-redirect-error/
    But it's showing up for me on my own home network using normal Wi-Fi.

    I rarely connect to public hotspots (many of which require a separate web browser login step) so I'm not sure why it's coming up for me on my Wi-Fi.

    My default browser (which isn't Windows exploder) is what's pulled up to
    that URL (http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect) every once in a while.

    I need to learn more about this "NCSI" program, which I didn't even know existed, but which is apparently watching everything that I do on Windows.

    (Network Connectivity Status Indicator) https://appuals.com/how-to-fix-msftconnecttest-redirect-error-on-windows-10/

    That site suggests a fix: Disable connection test from the registry HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet\EnableActiveProbing

    They suggest changing "EnableActiveProbing" from hex 1 to hex 0 which I
    just did, but I will have to wait a while to see if that solved the problem (since the problem only pops up sporadically when I'm at home on Wi-Fi).

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  • From sticks@3:633/280.2 to All on Sun Apr 7 14:34:15 2024
    On 4/2/2024 5:52 AM, Oliver wrote:
    On Mon, 1 Apr 2024 13:42:13 -0700, "...w�񧱤� " <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote
    Paul wrote on 4/1/24 12:32 AM:
    On 3/30/2024 11:29 AM, Oliver wrote:
    Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything.
    http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

    Any idea why?

    That URL is mentioned here.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/internet-explorer-edge-open-connect-corporate-public-network

    ÿÿÿ "In some cases, such as when you connect to a network that uses a
    ÿÿÿÿ proxy server to connect to the internet or when network
    restrictions
    ÿÿÿÿ prevent NCSI from completing its active probe process, Windows
    opens
    ÿÿÿÿ the MSN Portal page in the default browser."

    And Microsoft uses the MSN Portal to kill Internet Explorer.
    So if Internet Explorer happens to open that page, it
    may be damaged (if it hasn't already been removed from the PC).
    That Learn page was probably written, before the started
    using MSN as a kill switch for IE.

    ÿÿÿ Paul


    Not really removed.ÿ IE Mode(and the necessary IE files, some but not
    all ÿ now common to Edge remain)

    If IE mode is necessary even though configured as 'Allowed' it may
    require the destination URL to be added to the 'IE Mode pages(which by
    design is only retained for 30 days, but can be re-added)

    I've never used any of the Microsoft browsers, so in this situation, the browser that is coming up is my default (non Microsoft) browser.

    Thanks for confirming that it's not only something on my system alone
    as msftconnecttest.com does internet availability probing for everyone.
    ÿ"Microsoft maintains a page on the Web for Windows computers to
    connect to in order to test that the internet is working properly."

    This says it's mostly showing up for corporate networks or public hotspots. https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/fix-msftconnecttest-redirect-error/
    But it's showing up for me on my own home network using normal Wi-Fi.

    I rarely connect to public hotspots (many of which require a separate web browser login step) so I'm not sure why it's coming up for me on my Wi-Fi.

    My default browser (which isn't Windows exploder) is what's pulled up to
    that URL (http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect) every once in a while.

    I need to learn more about this "NCSI" program, which I didn't even know existed, but which is apparently watching everything that I do on Windows.

    (Network Connectivity Status Indicator) https://appuals.com/how-to-fix-msftconnecttest-redirect-error-on-windows-10/

    That site suggests a fix: Disable connection test from the registry HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet\EnableActiveProbing

    They suggest changing "EnableActiveProbing" from hex 1 to hex 0 which I
    just did, but I will have to wait a while to see if that solved the
    problem (since the problem only pops up sporadically when I'm at home on Wi-Fi).

    I am out of town and this is the third hotel I have had to call the
    hotel's support company and give my MAC address to get hooked up.
    Trying to log in firefox opens up to the msftconnecttest page and then redirects me to a detectportal.forefox.com/canonanical.html page and it
    just sits there.

    Anybody know how to beat this issue?


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  • From Paul@3:633/280.2 to All on Sun Apr 7 17:25:16 2024
    On 4/7/2024 12:34 AM, sticks wrote:

    I am out of town and this is the third hotel I have had to call the hotel's support company and give my MAC address to get hooked up. Trying to log in firefox opens up to the msftconnecttest page and then redirects me to a detectportal.forefox.com/canonanical.html page and it just sits there.

    Anybody know how to beat this issue?


    Managed router with MAC filtering ?

    Yes, that's what you do. Call up, give them the MAC.
    They add the MAC as "valid" to the router.

    We had that at work. Plug your home computer into
    the work RJ45, nothing happens. No network.
    Since the home computer you brought in, has a
    MAC that's not stored in the router, it rejects
    all your traffic.

    That's how the IT department at work, prevented
    excitable entry level managers from moving employees
    themselves. The IT department used to move people,
    and when the computer was in the new location, the
    MAC for it was added to the router in that section.
    And the MAC would be removed from the router that
    controlled the previous location.

    If the router was unmanaged, like a home router,
    then it might well not have MAC filtering, just
    plug in any old thing and it works.

    Some places have "free Wifi", so scumbags stand
    outside and use it. Adding some kind of filtering,
    is a means of ensuring the patrons have access
    but not the scumbags. If "everyone knows the password",
    that's not going to help if your MAC must be entered too.

    Paul

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  • From sticks@3:633/280.2 to All on Mon Apr 8 02:45:19 2024
    On 4/7/2024 2:25 AM, Paul wrote:
    On 4/7/2024 12:34 AM, sticks wrote:

    I am out of town and this is the third hotel I have had to call the hotel's >> support company and give my MAC address to get hooked up. Trying to log in >> firefox opens up to the msftconnecttest page and then redirects me to a
    detectportal.forefox.com/canonanical.html page and it just sits there.

    Anybody know how to beat this issue?


    Managed router with MAC filtering ?

    Yes, that's what you do. Call up, give them the MAC.
    They add the MAC as "valid" to the router.

    Yes, they can get me hooked up, but I'm wondering why this laptop that
    has never had this problem before cannot get to the login page now. All
    three hotels the same way, it just sits there. The staff act like this
    never happens, and I cannot believe they do this for every one who has a computer and not a phone. Phones hook up easily.

    I've checked for updates and there aren't even any hardware drivers to
    update. Searching for the solution finds people who have the exact
    issue, and the restart computer, forget the connection, and other
    similar useless things. There is something going on in either Win 10 or Firefox that is screwed up, though Edge didn't work either.

    We had that at work. Plug your home computer into
    the work RJ45, nothing happens. No network.
    Since the home computer you brought in, has a
    MAC that's not stored in the router, it rejects
    all your traffic.

    That's how the IT department at work, prevented
    excitable entry level managers from moving employees
    themselves. The IT department used to move people,
    and when the computer was in the new location, the
    MAC for it was added to the router in that section.
    And the MAC would be removed from the router that
    controlled the previous location.

    If the router was unmanaged, like a home router,
    then it might well not have MAC filtering, just
    plug in any old thing and it works.

    Some places have "free Wifi", so scumbags stand
    outside and use it. Adding some kind of filtering,
    is a means of ensuring the patrons have access
    but not the scumbags. If "everyone knows the password",
    that's not going to help if your MAC must be entered too.

    Yes, but you dont have to enter it on your phone. Just room number and
    name. Must look up a database and say you're good to go. Frustrating.

    Paul


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  • From Paul@3:633/280.2 to All on Mon Apr 8 04:20:09 2024
    On 4/7/2024 12:45 PM, sticks wrote:

    I've checked for updates and there aren't even any hardware drivers to update.ÿ Searching for the solution finds people who have the exact issue, and the restart computer, forget the connection, and other similar useless things.ÿ There is something going on in either Win 10 or Firefox that is screwed up, though Edge didn't work either.


    This sounds like a perfectly credible theory :-)

    And then you have to postulate, "how am I going to fix this".

    On purpose, I have tested the "wait for Microsoft to fix it" idea,
    and that has NEVER NEVER NEVER worked. Not once, did waiting
    resolve fuck all. The only way this will get fixed, is if you
    fix it.

    I can give you an example. My Realtek wired NIC, after a boot up,
    about 2 minutes in, the link would... just drop. "No more packets
    for you Paul." Reboot, get another two minutes. Well, this is not
    particularly a hardware failure, because it is perfectly functional
    for two minutes. Then it stops.

    The driver had not changed in at least two years. That
    wasn't it. Changing drivers did not help. Reinstalling the
    same driver version did not help.

    I wasn't in a mood to piss around, so I bought a plugin
    Intel NIC, and here we are. "Fixed". I do not know
    at the moment, whether the Realtek was ever fixed or not.

    I don't think I was able to positively correlate that to
    Patch Tuesday. Evidence trail... lacking.

    I think I even ran an offline MSSS scan. Nope.

    Paul

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  • From sticks@3:633/280.2 to All on Mon Apr 8 14:08:14 2024
    On 4/7/2024 1:20 PM, Paul wrote:
    On 4/7/2024 12:45 PM, sticks wrote:

    I've checked for updates and there aren't even any hardware drivers to update.ÿ Searching for the solution finds people who have the exact issue, and the restart computer, forget the connection, and other similar useless things.ÿ There is something going on in either Win 10 or Firefox that is screwed up, though Edge didn't work either.


    This sounds like a perfectly credible theory :-)

    And then you have to postulate, "how am I going to fix this".

    It surprised me at first that this is not a known issue and not a single online article offered any kind of solution, but I guess I must have
    some sort of specific hardware that isn't working quite right. I
    certainly am going to have to check into it once I get back home, but
    then I would have to go to a local hotel and see if they'll let me check
    out any "fixes" I might try. I don't want to have to rely on hotel
    support every time I go someplace. I did try just about everything I
    could think of, but unfortunately this trip has been exhausting with
    back country hiking and my mind is probably a little weak at best. I'll
    keep at it one way or another.

    On purpose, I have tested the "wait for Microsoft to fix it" idea,
    and that has NEVER NEVER NEVER worked. Not once, did waiting
    resolve fuck all. The only way this will get fixed, is if you
    fix it.

    I can give you an example. My Realtek wired NIC, after a boot up,
    about 2 minutes in, the link would... just drop. "No more packets
    for you Paul." Reboot, get another two minutes. Well, this is not particularly a hardware failure, because it is perfectly functional
    for two minutes. Then it stops.

    The driver had not changed in at least two years. That
    wasn't it. Changing drivers did not help. Reinstalling the
    same driver version did not help.

    I wasn't in a mood to piss around, so I bought a plugin
    Intel NIC, and here we are. "Fixed". I do not know
    at the moment, whether the Realtek was ever fixed or not.

    I don't think I was able to positively correlate that to
    Patch Tuesday. Evidence trail... lacking.

    I think I even ran an offline MSSS scan. Nope.

    That brings an interesting option to mind. I used to carry in the
    laptop bag one of those USB wifi adapters, but unfortunately it wasn't
    in my bag. I might go up to a local hotel once I get back and see if it
    can connect with one of those, and then I could narrow it down to my
    internal wifi adapter.

    Thanks Paul, and I'll report back if I ever find out anything useful.

    sticks


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