The Network Connections folder is empty. (Error 1084: This service cannot be started in Safe Mode)

Operating System: Windows XP
Symptom: The Network Connections folder is empty.

Resolution 1: Try to start the "Network connections" service, from computer management. If the service successfully starts, then you 'll be able to see the network connections in Network Connections folder.

Resolution 2: When you try to start the "Network Connections" service or any other service, you receive the following error:

"Windows could not start this service on Local Computer. Error 1084: This service cannot be started in Safe Mode "

This error can occur if the computer has a value enabled in the registry, which causes the operating system to operate as if it was in Safe Mode.

Please use the following steps to resolve this issue.

   1. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
   2. Type regedit into the Open field, and then click OK. The Windows Registry Editor launches.
   3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot.
   4. There should be two subkeys, 'Minimal' and 'Network'. If there is a third subkey, 'Option', delete the entire ‘Option’ subkey.
   5. Restart the computer. The "Network connections" service (or any other service) should now be able to start successfully.

DHCP and Static IP Address settings in registry

If you ever want to find you IP Address settings from registry, then follow the above procedure:

1. Go to Start > Run and type regedit
2. In Windows registry editor, navigate to the following path: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces



There as you can see, every network interface on your workstation has a unique Interface name,  ex: {0DEA7AE1-39EF-4483-8C56-F6AE17961A14}

If you select one of the interfaces you can view these keys :

DhcpIPAddress : This key holds the automatically provided IP Address from a DHCP server to your workstation. ex: 192.168.0.10

DhcpSubnetMask: This key holds the Subnet mask for the IP Address, automatically provided by the DHCP server. ex: 255.255.255.0

DhcpDefaultGateway: This key holds the Gateway address automatically provided by the DHCP server. ex: 192.168.0.1

DhcpServer: This key holds the IP Address of your network DHCP Server ex: 192.168.0.1

DhcpNameServer: This key holds the IP Address of you network name server (DNS), automatically provided by the DHCP server. ex: 192.168.0.100

IPAddress: This key holds the Static IP Address defined by you or by a network administrator in the workstation.  ex. 192.168.0.20

 SubnetMask: This key holds the Subnet mask  for the IP Address, defined by you or by a network administrator in the workstation. ex: 255.255.255.0

DefaultGateway: This holds the IP Address of the Default Gateway for the network. ex. 192.168.0.1

NameServer: (DNS): This key holds the IP Address of you network name server

How to easily diagnose network errors.

In a Windows XP/2003/Vista/2008 machine you may experience network problems.
A simple but useful tip, to view the network errors and packets lost, is to enable the status of send/receive packets errors, on to your network card.
After you enable this, you can easily view the status of your network card, by double clicking the "Local area connection" icon, from Control Panel > Network connections".