While attempting to connect to the Games for Windows – LIVE service, you receive the error message: "Can't connect to LIVE. A connection to the network is not available"

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

When you try to connect to the Games for Windows – LIVE service, you may receive the following error message:

This issue may occur if Windows Internet Explorer is set to work offline.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Determine whether you are connected to the Internet. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. In the notification area on the right side of the taskbar, locate the icon that resembles two linked computers.
      • If you can see the icon and there is a red "x" over it, the computer is not connected through this connection.
      • If you can see the icon and there is no red "x" over it, the connection is active.
   2. Double-click the icon to open the Connection Statistics window. If you are online, this window shows the connection speed and how much data has been sent and received during the current session.
      
      Note There may be more than one Network Connection configured on the computer. Only one connection has to be active for the computer to connect to the Internet.
2. If the network connection is active, follow these steps:
   1. Close all windows that are open, and then start Internet Explorer.
   2. On the Tools menu, click to clear the Work Offline check box, if it is selected.
   3. Test to see whether the issue is resolved.
3. If the issue is not resolved, delete the temporary files. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then click OK.
   2. On the General tab, click Delete under Browsing History.
   3. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete files, click Delete cookies, and then click Delete history.
   4. After the delete operation is complete, click Close to close the Delete Browsing History dialog box.
   5. Test to see whether the issue is resolved.
4. If Internet Explorer starts in Offline mode automatically, modify the GlobalUserOffline registry value. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
   2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
   3. In the right-side pane, right-click GlobalUserOffline, and then click Modify.
   4. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
   5. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Webcheck
   6. In the right pane, verify that the following values are set to Auto:
      • LoadLCE
      • LoadSens
   7. If either of these values is not set to Auto, click the value in the right-side pane, and then click String on the Edit menu. Type auto in the String box, and then click OK.
   8. Close Registry Editor.

For more information about how to troubleshoot connection problems, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note The Network Diagnostics for the Windows XP tool is not supported by Games for Windows – LIVE Support or by Xbox Support. For support issues that are related to this tool, visit the following Microsoft Web site for support options: