# Acquiring network address

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquiring-network-address/540887>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 26, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquiring-network-address/540887 "2010-05-26T23:16:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquiring-network-address/540887/1 "2010-05-26T23:16:56Z")

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My other computer is stuck at “acquiring network address”.

I have rebooted, hit repair and nothing seems to work

How do I get it to work??

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**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquiring-network-address/540887/2 "2010-05-26T23:20:01Z")

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Usually that means the router is either not responding properly, or the computer’s network card has timed out at the request.

If this is a private network, try restarting the router. (Pull the power cord, wait ten seconds, put it back in.) If it’s a business network, you’ll need to have a word with the IT department.

There are other solutions and problems that might be it, but we’ll need more info.

1. Is it a wireless or cable connection?
2. Is it a private or business network?
3. Which OS is it running? (Windows - if so, which version - Mac or Linux?)
4. Has it been like this for long?
5. Have you tried restarting your computer?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquiring-network-address/540887/3 "2010-05-27T00:29:33Z")

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> [@Gukumatz](#):
>
> Usually that means the router is either not responding properly, or the computer’s network card has timed out at the request.
> 
> If this is a private network, try restarting the router. (Pull the power cord, wait ten seconds, put it back in.) If it’s a business network, you’ll need to have a word with the IT department.
> 
> There are other solutions and problems that might be it, but we’ll need more info.
> 
> 1. Is it a wireless or cable connection?
> 2. Is it a private or business network?
> 3. Which OS is it running? (Windows - if so, which version - Mac or Linux?)
> 4. Has it been like this for long?
> 5. Have you tried restarting your computer?

It is cable, it is in my home and the computer I am on now works fine (I unplug and use all the same connections when I switch computers.

It is Windows XP, it started last night, then this morning worked fine for most of the day and then stopped, and yes I have restarted, unplugged, etc etc