ip address

[splatt]

im using windows xp and have recently been given 169 ip adr. i have tried release/renew but it times out saying DHCP cannot locate. Can somebody help please

[BillyNoMates]

Are you trying to connect directly to the Internet through a modem/cable modem or through a router ? Some additional information about your setup would be useful.

Basically DHCP is failing to obtain a valid IP address and XP has auto-assigned a default address in the 169.x.x.x range.

[splatt]

very quick!!

i have ntl broadband using modem and ethernet, after being on phone to them for over an hour trying different diagnosis they said its deff. not the modem or them and for me to contact my comp.supplier but as comp shop has liquidated its a bit difficult..

[andydingdang]

NTL technical services are useless so I wouldn't believe what they tell you. It's doubtful that your network card would just stop working. I would call them back and ask them to recheck. If they really think that there is no fault with the box then could be your network card or possibly cable.

[OBonio]

a) does the modem support DHCP?
b) have you tried another cable?
c) maybe worth forcing an IP like 192.168.0.5, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, gateway... 192.168.0.1? Depends what your modem uses as an internal network.

What model is the modem?

[BillyNoMates]

This problem definitely points to DHCP failing on the PC - so unlikely to be a fault with NTL.

Can you go into Services (Control Panel, Settings, Administrative Tools - on Win2K so similar on XP) ?

Check down the list to see if the DHCP Client service is Started - if not highlight it and try to start it. It should also be set to automatic.

Is your machine kept clean of Spyware and viruses ? Are you runing a firewall ? Have any softare changes been made recently ?

[splatt]

i'll check the DHCP and start it if not already. I had mcafee 7 which covered everything and even unistalled that last night as an idea, but still no luck..

[splatt]

hi, i looked at the DHCP service and it was started and also automatic. any other suggestions please?

[BillyNoMates]

I had an identical problem to this with my Blueyonder cable service (same as NTL braodband). It was very odd and caused by some Spyware - which was surprising as I am fairly well protected & firewalled.

It caused UDP traffic to be blocked - so DHCP was failing.

Not sure if you have any other Internet access as the moment but certainly worth downloading and running the following if you haven't got them already ;

Lavasoft Ad-aware (SE Personal) ; http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

- do the updates and a full system scan, delete 'critical' objects only

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4 : http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

- do updates, then search & fix and then immunize

Spyware Blaster : http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

- just install and do the updates and enable all protection.

Windows Defender (replaces Windows AntiSpyware)

I am fairly sure this solved my problem although it was a very odd problem and I don't recall what Spyware caused it. I use the above regularly and have never had a problem since.

[splatt]

thanks alot BNM, im using work internet so i presume i copy these to a disk and then insert it when home and i'll be able to download then? also ive re installed my mcafee 7 so should i uninstall that first?

[splatt]

Hi, no luck im afraid. i did uninstall Mcafee and dowloaded the 3 you gave. I was able to delete criticals, fix and immunize and enable all protection, however on all of them i could not do the updates and maybe this is why it didnt work...

[BillyNoMates]

Sorry - I should have thought of that ! The only thing I can suggest is that you uninstall TCP/IP and reinstall.

Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection -? Properties on Win2K so similar on WinXP. You will probably need you XP CD to do this.

Good Luck !

[BillyNoMates]

This may be of some use ;

Q: How to Reset TCP/IP (#4099)

A: In Windows XP, the TCP/IP stack is considered a core component of the operating system; therefore, it is not possible to uninstall TCP/IP in Windows XP. However, the TCP/IP stack can be reset to the state when the OS was first installed.
1. Go to Start Menu -> RUN
2. Type "command" click OK
3. In the new window that pops up type this "NETSH INTERFACE IP RESET LOG.TXT" (less quotes), then press enter.
4. Reboot, if you like.
More detailed information can be found in this MSKB article:

How to Reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP (Q299357)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=299357

[splatt]

BNM, last night i contacted NTL again and this time they suggested i change from using the ethernet cable to a usb cable, after some unticking of certain boxes also, it is now ok. thanks for your suggestions and i'll keep the TCP/IP reset handy if it goes pear shaped.