Solving 'The underlying connection was closed' Error in Microsoft Easy Connect Windows 7 'microsoft easy connect windows 7'

Are you experiencing a frustrating error message that says 'the underlying connection was closed' when trying to access certain websites or services using Microsoft's Easy Transfer feature on your Windows 7 machine? This issue can be quite vexing, especially if you're in the middle of transferring important files and settings from one computer to another. Fortunately, there are some simple yet effective solutions that we'll cover below.

The underlying cause for this error often lies with outdated or disabled security protocols within Internet Explorer (IE) on your Windows 7 system. Specifically, IE uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) versions 1.0 and 1.2 by default to establish secure connections over the internet. However, some websites may not yet support these newer TLS protocols, leading to connection failures.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Update Internet Explorer

Firstly, ensure that your version of Internet Explorer is up-to-date. To do so:

- Open Internet Explorer.

- Click on the Gear icon located at the top right corner of the browser window.

- Select 'About Internet Explorer' from the drop-down menu.

If any updates are available, follow the prompts to download and install them completely before proceeding further with these troubleshooting steps.

Step 2: Enable TLS 1.0 & TLS 1.2 in IE

Next, we'll need to enable both Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.0 and its newer counterpart - TLS 1.2 within Internet Options settings:

- Open Internet Explorer again.

- Click on the Gear icon once more at the top right corner of the browser window.

- Select 'Internet options' from the drop-down menu.

In the next window that appears:

- Underneath 'Security,' click on 'Advanced.'

- In this new Advanced Security Settings dialog box, scroll down until you see a section labeled as follows:

- For Internet zone only

- or Local intranet

- Checkmark both boxes beside 'Use TLS v1.0' and 'Use TSLv2 (Transport Layer Security)':

Once these changes have taken effect by clicking OK twice throughout the process, try accessing your desired website again using Microsoft Easy Transfer.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 Users

If after implementing all of above mentioned adjustments you still encounter problems while connecting via https/ssl protocols during file transfers between computers running different operating systems such as XP/Vista or vice versa (or even within same OS but across separate instances), consider trying these additional workarounds:

1. Run the Microsoft Fix It tool specifically designed for resolving SSL/TLS issues on Windows Vista, 7 & Server versions:

- Download and save fixit_50198.exe from here.

- Double-click on it to run the executable file.

Follow all prompts provided by the installation wizard until completion. Restart your computer once finished if prompted before attempting another transfer session using Microsoft Easy Transfer again.

If none of these troubleshooting techniques resolve your 'the underlying connection was closed' error while trying to use Microsoft's Easy Transfer feature between Windows machines, it may be worth exploring alternative file transfer solutions such as:

- Belkin Easy Transfer Cable for transferring files between computers without relying on network connectivity at all.

- Third-party software like Acronis True Image or EaseUS Todo Backup which offer more comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities compared to built-in tools.

In conclusion, the 'the underlying connection was closed' error when using Microsoft's Easy Connect feature in Windows 7 is often easily resolvable by enabling TLS v1.0 & v1.2 within Internet Options settings or running specific Fix It utilities provided directly from Microsoft support websites depending upon your exact system configuration and requirements.

Microsoft easy connect windows 7