Network/Sharing Center -> properties question.

[Grand_Poobah]

My HP laptop is connecting just fine using either it's wireless or wired
method. However, I need to change the IP address (I use static
addresses). When I open the Local Area Connection Status I see the
usual Local Area Connection Properties when I click the Properties
button. Clicking "Details" shows my current IP address.

What happens next is really strange: I see the "Client for Microsoft
Networks" which appears instantly. If I wait for five or ten minutes
MAYBE the rest of the usual items will appear. Most times they won't.
When they do not appear, I try using the Install button. I get the
three item list (Client, Service, & Protocol) but no matter which one I
choose and click "Add" I get the following message:

"Could not add the requested feature. The error is: The system cannot
find the file specified"

If all the various items DO appear, any attempt to change the IP address
(by highlighting the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) - whose box
is checked) results in the Properties button remaining grayed out. I
can't double-click it, right-click it, or anything else. Also, somehow,
the TCP/IPv6 entry's box has become UNchecked - and I can't make it check.

Since I cannot get to the IP properties, how can I change the IP address?

System is Vista Home Premium (32-bit) with all updates and whatnot. No
related messages appear in the Event Viewer.

Am I making any sense?

GP

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

You may try to run this command: net localgroup "Administrators" "Local
Service" /add. More details can be found here:
Vista issues
Network and sharing center freezes, server execution failed · Network
and Sharing Center .... You should create your own shares to share your
drives . ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistanetissues.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Robert:

Thanks for all those discussions. I read through every one of them and
nothing appears to match my specific problem. I still cannot change my
IP address no matter what. I cannot get to the level of the IP protocol
to change it. The Properties remains grayed out even in the rare
instance that the protocol (TCP/IPv4 or 6) appears.

I find now that I can force all the various protocols/services to appear
every time if I click Install and immediately click Cancel on the
pop-up. Strange as it may seem.

I still cannot get the TCP/IPv6 box to 'check' for me though. I can
highlight it, but cannot put a check in the box. I know for certain
that it WAS checked when I first got the computer and put my IP address
in initially.

I now need to change my IP address but cannot.

Is there a 'net' command that will change an IP address? I am just not
up on networking - especially through a Vista interface. I should buy a
Networking for Dummies book I guess.

GP


--->

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Further information. I rebooted the laptop this morning and never was
able to get to the Internet. I am on my trusty XP Pro machine right now.

The Vista laptop shows either "limited or no connectivity" or "Local
Only" depending on whether I make it 'private' or 'public'. Once it
showed "Identifying" for an hour before I finally gave up. There is
something very wrong about this.

I am beginning to thing that putting VMWare on the machine and then
having to literally rip it off by hand damaged some IP files badly. I
may have to see if I can put new drivers on it - otherwise I guess I'm
screwed.


GP

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Even more (and this is really cool):

I am posting from the affected laptop BUT the Network and Sharing Center
tells me "You are not connected to any network".

I plugged my network cable into the laptop and it fiddled around for
about ten seconds and then I was able to start up the browser and my
email client. All worked just fine - I would think that if Vista tells
me I am not connected, then is REALLY something goofed up in the machine.

GP

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Robert:

My last word on this. I managed to shoot myself in the foot - but
recovered. In my last post I mentioned that I had to rip VMWare off my
computer. I did that a bit ago while I was on a trip and just forgot
about doing it. Every Registry entry I removed I exported first so I
started inserting each .REG file one at a time (all 42 of them). As
luck would have it, #38 completely fixed this problem.

I do appreciate your help as one of the links you provided gave me the
reminder about VMWare not mixing well with Vista under certain
circumstances.

Case closed. Reminder to myself: Be careful out there.

GP