Every couple of days, lately, this pops up without me doing anything.
http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect

Any idea why?

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

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

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
>>
>> "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).

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
>>>
>>>     "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).

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?

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

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

On 4/7/2024 12:45 PM, sticks wrote:

> 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.
>

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

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.  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.
>>
>
> 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