XP Stopped Getting IP Address from DHCP Pool

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My Windows XP Home computer is on a wired home network with two other computers. Recently, for some unknown reason, it stopped getting an IP address from the DHCP pool on my DSL router/switch. The task bar shows a local area network connection, but ipconfig shows no IP address. I have eliminated the router, network cable, and on-board integrated NIC as problems (got a PCI card NIC and still had same problem). No indication of any spyware or virus problems, either. Some time before the complete failure happened, I would periodically have a similar problem, which I was able to resolve by stopping and then restarting the integrated NIC via Device Manager. Nothing helps now. I would do a partial restore from my backups, but am uncertain as what file(s) to pick. Any suggestions, before I hire someone to help?

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It may just need the TCP/IP stack resetting but enter these commands at the Command Prompt.

netsh winsock reset catalog

netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

exit

Now reboot.

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My ” batch” skills are a little rusty. How do I enter these commands as shown, without hitting Enter?

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My ” batch” skills are a little rusty. How do I enter these commands as shown, without hitting Enter?

No need to enter them all at once: Hit enter after each line.

Bruce

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My ” batch” skills are a little rusty. How do I enter these commands as shown, without hitting Enter?

Following Paul T’s post you type each command separately, pressing Enter after each.

I’ve opened them up in my last post for clarification.

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Open a “Command Prompt” – Start > Run > cmd

cheers, Paul

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Thanks to all who responded. The sequence of commands is what I figured. However, I am now ready for a “Plan B.” The first two commands were o.k. Anything with ipconfig, including after reboot, gives the following error message (edited): Windows IP Configuration. The request is not supported. Contact Microsoft Product Support. Addl. info.: unable to query host name.

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You could try an XP nondestructive reinstall:
http://www.informationweek.com/software/operating-systems/langa-letter-xps-no-reformat-nondestructive-total-rebuild-option/d/d-id/1044226?

Jerry

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Can you go into Device Manager, click on View/Show hidden devices then expand Non-Plug and Play drivers to check for any yellow alerts.

Also can you check that all your Network Services are Started

Click on Start, type services.msc then press Enter.

Their start up type should be Automatic or Manual

COM+ Event System
Computer Browser
DHCP Client
DNS Client
Network Connections
Network Location Awareness
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Server
TCP/IP Netbios helper
Wired Autoconfig is set to manual.
Wireless Zero Configuration
Workstation

If a service is not running, click on it to highlight then click on Start.

If it fails to start then right click to open its Properties and check the Dependencies and that each of them are running.

Any that are not listed in Services can be found in Non-Plug and Play Drivers.

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O.k., I checked Device Manager as you suggested. I found the following yellow alerts: IP Network Address Translation, McAfee Inc. mfeapfk, TCP/IP Protocol Driver. All of the associated *.sys drivers exist in Windows/System32/drivers. McAfee Inc. driver is started and other two, stopped. Each has following message in General tab: Device is not present, is not working or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24). IP Network Address Translator will not start: the dependency service or group failed to start. However, I cannot find any place that shows the dependencies. TCP/IP Protocol Driver will not start: system cannot find file specified. This driver seems to be causing problems with some of the services you have listed above. I tried disabling and enabling the two stopped items without luck.

Now, the services. First, I have no wireless adapters. Com+ Event System, Computer Browser, Network Connections, RPC, Server, and Workstation are started. Network Location Awareness and Wired Autoconfig are manual and I believe both started. DHCP Client, DNS Client, and TCP/IP Netbios Helper were auto and would not start, because of dependencies issues. Dependencies are AFD, IP SEC driver, and TCP/IP Protocol Driver. Except for TCP/IP Protocol Driver (mentioned above), other dependencies are o.k. IP SEC Services, not shown above, had the same dependency issues.

Not sure where to go from here.

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Is or has McAfee been on this system? If so completely remove it with the McAfee consumer product removal tool and fresh install the network adapter if need be. If McAfee has never been on the system you might have something pretending to be McAfee.

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McAfee was the magic word. See my last posts below.

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Had you downloaded anything prior to getting this problem as using a Restore Point can sometimes resolve.

On the off chance that McAfee is blocking, boot up into Safe Mode with Networking by tapping F8 as you switch on and select that option then check for connectivity.

To return to a normal boot, shutdown in the normal way then reboot.

While I don’t know about the McAfee inc.mfeapfk file, the other drivers with the yellow alerts in Non-Plug and Play Drivers can be reinstalled.

You may have to reinstall McAfee for its file.

To reinstall the drivers in Non-Plug and Play Drivers, first create a Restore Point and then right click on the driver and select Uninstall and follow the prompts.

After the reboot go back into Device Manager, click on Action/Scan for hardware changes and they will be reinstated.

Do this also for Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock (AFD).

Once the TCP/IP Protocol Driver has been reinstalled, that should resolve for the Dependencies for the others but as that driver activates on Boot, reboot the computer and check for connectivity.

If you still have problems, the next option would be to perform a system file check using the command sfc /scannow from the Command Prompt but you will need a XP CD if prompted.

In services.msc the Start status of any service will show as Started under the Status tab if started.

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“McAfee” was the magic word. I had renewed my subscription to VirusScan Plus and downloaded the new version. My network connectivity problem started after that. I did a System Restore back to before I downloaded the new VirusScan Plus, my network connectivity is restored.

HOWEVER, McAfee no longer works (not an immediate problem), BUT System Restore just shows a blank pop-up screen. I do not want to try reinstalling McAfee without being able to create a restore point. I did a restart on System Restore Service, but that did not help. Any suggestions now?

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I downloaded the McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool and ran it. Now System Restore is back to normal. I will now try to reinstall my VirusScan Plus. I thank all of you who provided information and a lot of patience. Apparently, my installation of the the new McAfee version broke something, which is now fixed. That magic word “McAfee” did the trick.

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There’s this article you could have a read through http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302796 but generally when any program is installed, a restore point is auto created.

You could also try the commands in http://bertk.mvps.org/html/tips.html#21

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