Client laptop loses network connection after travelling

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Scott
  • Start date Start date
P

Peter Scott

I have a wired home network with 1 desktop acting as server /
Internet-gateway and 1 laptop client. Both are on Windows XP, and I have run
its Network Setup Wizard on both. Normally everything works perfectly.

Sometimes, after the laptop has been away from the network for a while, it
can't get a proper IP address using DHCP, for example it gets either:
169.254.109.86 with subnet mask 255.255.0.0
or
0.0.0.0 with subnet mask 0.0.0.0
When it's working properly it gets:
192.168.0.217 or similar, with subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Repeated attempts at renewing the IP address always eventually resolve this
problem, sometimes after hours of trying. During this, I normally try
rebooting both computers, and I juggle with the connections on the Netgear
Fast Ethernet Switch, and also reboot the Switch. Windows Firewall is
enabled, and Norton AntiVirus is installed, but disabling one or both seems
to make no difference.

I can't see ANY PATTERN to what eventually puts it right.

Any suggestions please?

Peter
 
this may help, quoted from http://www.howtonetworking.com/troubleshootingipconfig.htm
Why do I get 169.254.x.x IP?

Symptom: The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has reserved 169.254.0.0-169.254.255.255 for Automatic Private IP Addressing. If the computer can't get ip from DHCP, APIPA provides an address that is guaranteed not to conflict with routable addresses.

Resolutions: 1) Make sure you have good connection.
2) Check the hardware and settings.
3) Make sure the DHCP is working.
4) For the test, you can assign static ip. If static ip works, it is possible DHCP issue. If static ip doesn't work, check the hardware or connection.
5) WinSock2 stack may be corrupted and need to repair.

..

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services. Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
I recommend Brinkster for web hosting!

I have a wired home network with 1 desktop acting as server /
Internet-gateway and 1 laptop client. Both are on Windows XP, and I have run
its Network Setup Wizard on both. Normally everything works perfectly.

Sometimes, after the laptop has been away from the network for a while, it
can't get a proper IP address using DHCP, for example it gets either:
169.254.109.86 with subnet mask 255.255.0.0
or
0.0.0.0 with subnet mask 0.0.0.0
When it's working properly it gets:
192.168.0.217 or similar, with subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Repeated attempts at renewing the IP address always eventually resolve this
problem, sometimes after hours of trying. During this, I normally try
rebooting both computers, and I juggle with the connections on the Netgear
Fast Ethernet Switch, and also reboot the Switch. Windows Firewall is
enabled, and Norton AntiVirus is installed, but disabling one or both seems
to make no difference.

I can't see ANY PATTERN to what eventually puts it right.

Any suggestions please?

Peter
 
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