Ok folks, here’s da facts, an’ only da facts. [ul]
[li]1) My buddy’s computer was working fine. Then suddenly it wasn’t (prob. a virus)–couldn’t even get into Safe Mode. Took it down to my place to try to fix.[/li][li]2) I could not repair it, so we decided a format and restore.[/li][li]3) I used his OEM copy of WinXP Pro (and updated to SP 2)[/li][li]4) It worked just dandy, I reinstalled all his software, brought it up to his place.[/li][li]5)I plugged in his network cable and it WOULD NOT connect (note that it worked just fine back at my place). I plugged my laptop into his cable modem. Connected just fine. Thus, it ain’t the cable modem (also switched cables, removed router from the equation, etc. just in case). We both have Comcast Cable as our ISP.[/li]Symptoms follow:[/ul]
a) Network connection will stay stuck on “acquiring network address” forever
b) IPCONFIG /release (or /restore or /anything else) doesn’t work. Something about DHCP and contact your network adminstrator. Yeah, I know. I shoulda written down the exact error message. I know better than to not. But I didn’t. Oops.
c) “Repair network connection” doesn’t work. Something about “IP Address couldn’t be released”. Again, yeah, I know. I should have written the exact error down.
d) The damned computer thinks the IP address is 0.0.0.0
e) Tried uninstalling/reinstalling all the hardware
f) Tried uninstalling/reinstalling all the network protocols
g) Made him buy a new LAN card. Same deal
h) Called the ISP’s tech-support who basically said “I dunno.”
[ul]
[li]6) Took the damned thing back to my place. Still wouldn’t connect (my computer connects fine). It was still stuck on “acquiring network address”[/li][li]7) Reformatted, reinstalled. Everything worked hunky-dory for 2-3 days (after multiple reboots, plugging/unplugging the system and LAN cable, etc) , then suddenly this morning, it stopped working again–goto step 5 above.[/li][li]8) It’s currently working 'cause I went to back to a restore point, but I don’t know why it stopped or how to fix it if a restore point isn’t available.[/li][li]9) I’ve searched on the internet and[/li]a) Lots of people have this problem
b) Most of them have wireless routers. He’s not.
c) I can’t actually find a solution to the problem
[li]10) HELP! [/ul][/li]
I saw in the GD Computer Sticky the bit about “LSPFix” and I’ve downloaded it, but in case it doesn’t work (or even if it does) I want to find out what’s CAUSING the problem and if there’s a manual fix for it.
I’m not sure whether this’ll help or not, but when I installed my wireless router it was also permanently stuck “acquiring network address”. At some point previously I’d disabled all of the unused services on my PC, including anything related to DHCP and addressing. Setting all these back to automatic and rebooting solved the problem.
Ok, the problem just reccured.definitely a software problem because simply restoring an earlier restore point fixes the problem.
The error I get when I try to IPCONFIG /Renew is “An error occured while renewing interface local area connection: unable to contact your DHCP server. Request is timed out.”
The error I get when I try to repair the network connection is “Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: renewing your IP address. For assistance, contact the person who manages your network.”
I tried both netsh commands and neither fixed things.
I also tried LSPFIX. No dice.
Crusoe, I’m not sure how to disable/reenable services.
If it’s Windows XP, open the start menu, select the Run option and in the Open box type msconfig. In the resulting pop-up is a Services tab. Look through this for DHCP Client and DNS Client (these were the two that weren’t running for me; I’ve no idea which was causing the problem specifically) and check they’re running.
Out of curiosity, have you rebooted the cable modem? Often, a dropped DHCP reservation (in a dynamic environment) will require a reintroduction between PC, cable modem, and DHCP server. It’s always the blasted little things. . .
I’ve had problems like this arising from multiple instances of device installation cluttering up the device manager and apparently causing Windows some perplexity as to which one is active… so… time to trot out my very favourite piece of fix-it advice:
Try this:
[ul][*}Click Start>run and type CMD <enter>
[li]In the command line window, type SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1 <enter> (type it without any spaces around the = sign, or it just won’t work.[/li][li]Type Start Devmgmt.msc <enter>[/li][li]In the Device Manager control panel applet, click View>Show Hidden Devices.[/li][li]Expand each device category in turn; it is generally safe to uninstall anything that is greyed out, especially if it is a duplicate of a non-greyed item.[/li][/ul]
The usual disclaimers apply; I will not be responsible for trashed systems, back up your system and registry first, and set a restore point etc.
I wanted to second this, it seems like your OP never mentions restarting the cable modem, nor any of the responses.
Most cable modems (I have Optimum Online, BTW) only allow a single MAC address to be assigned an IP. So they remember the MAC address of the first computer that connects. Since you connected your laptop to his modem, the modem will only allow your laptop to be connected from that point on. Same thing at your house with your computer, it didn’t work because that cable modem only lets your computer connect.
Usually rebooting the cable modem (unplug it) will cause it to forget the MAC and allow the next computer to get an address.
A lot of people that buy routers run into this the first time they connect their router, after having previously had the computer directly connected.
If you tried this already, then ignore everything I said. Sorry for not reading closely enough.
