Connection Issue / DHCP

[Guest]

I have having an issue with my desktop computer connection to the internet. I
have comcast cable internet, and use their modem. I do not have/or use a
router, I plug the network cable directly into my LAN card. I'm getting a
address type of "Automatic private Address" instead of the "assigned by DHCP"
type. Comcast told me it is definatly not a Comcast issue, it must be
something with XP. I have alreay tried most common troubleshooting, manually
releasing/renewing, trying to repair the connection, re-installed XP Pro,
re-installed lan car drivers. I'm at a loss on what to do. I also have a
laptop, when I plug it in, it works with no problem. Any help would be
greatly appriciated.

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

I have having an issue with my desktop computer connection to the internet. I
have comcast cable internet, and use their modem. I do not have/or use a
router, I plug the network cable directly into my LAN card. I'm getting a
address type of "Automatic private Address" instead of the "assigned by DHCP"
type. Comcast told me it is definatly not a Comcast issue, it must be
something with XP. I have alreay tried most common troubleshooting, manually
releasing/renewing, trying to repair the connection, re-installed XP Pro,
re-installed lan car drivers. I'm at a loss on what to do. I also have a
laptop, when I plug it in, it works with no problem. Any help would be
greatly appriciated.

It certainly isn't a comcast problem if your laptop works on the same
modem at the same time. I suspect that a third-party firewall is
blocking your outbound broadcast. Have you uninstalled ZoneAlarm, but
accidentally left the vsmon.exe process running? If so, then the
ZoneAlarm firewall is still running. The Windows Firewall should not
block DHCP. (Neither should the ZoneAlarm.)

Run "ipconfig /all" in a command prompt window from the laptop and note
the IP address, mask, default gateway, and DNS addresses that are
assigned to your laptop. Then copy those settings into the Alternate
Configuration on your desktop, which is found in the TCP/IP properties
of your Local Area Connection. If you can then connect from your
desktop, the problem is with DHCP and you can focus on finding the
software that is blocking your DHCP broadcast or receipt of response.

Otherwise, if you still can't connect when you have the Alternate
Configuration from your laptop, you have a software problem or hardware
problem and I would suggest resetting TCP/IP using
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q299357
as a start on a solution. If you are plugged into the cable modem, but
your tray shows a network icon with an X through it, you have a cabling
or adapter hardware problem. Try swapping your cable, you might be using
a cross-over cable when you should be using a straight-thru or vice-versa.

I hope this helps get you started on a solution.

 

[Guest]

Kent,

Thanks for the info, i'll try it out when I get home, and let you know what
happens.

I know its not a cabling issue, I still get the Lan connection Icon.

-Scott

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I presume you've tried changing Ethernet cables? Tried the one that works on
your laptop? If Ken's advice doesn't work, might want to see
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/central/display/details.php3?installerID=127&nav=title

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have having an issue with my desktop computer connection to the internet. I
have comcast cable internet, and use their modem. I do not have/or use a
router, I plug the network cable directly into my LAN card. I'm getting a
address type of "Automatic private Address" instead of the "assigned by DHCP"
type. Comcast told me it is definatly not a Comcast issue, it must be
something with XP. I have alreay tried most common troubleshooting, manually
releasing/renewing, trying to repair the connection, re-installed XP Pro,
re-installed lan car drivers. I'm at a loss on what to do. I also have a
laptop, when I plug it in, it works with no problem. Any help would be
greatly appriciated.

I assume that Comcast had you turn the cable modem off, wait a minute,
and turn it back on. That's often necessary after moving the cable
modem from one computer to another.

It might help to manually configure the speed and duplex settings for
the network card, as shown here:

Windows XP Network Troubleshooting - Problems with Network Cards
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm

You MUST have a firewall enabled on the network connection at all
times when connected directly to a cable modem. If you don't,
Internet hackers can infect your computer with a worm within a few
seconds. If you haven't installed a firewall program (Norton Internet
Security, ZoneAlarm, etc), be sure to enable XP's Internet Connection
Firewall:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Whoops - Sorry, Ken(t).

I presume you've tried changing Ethernet cables? Tried the one that
works on your laptop? If Ken's advice doesn't work, might want to see
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/central/display/details.php3?installerID=127&nav=title

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

As long as the laptop has a lease over this connection, resetting the modem
may not be enough. Try:

1. Connect the laptop - make sure Internet is working, then execute
ipconfig /release and disconnect the laptop.

2. Unplug cable modem power supply, wait 2 min., replug power supply.

3. Connect and start desktop.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Lanwench,

Yeah, I tried the winsock repair tool. That too did not work. But I press
on, I will figure this thing out.

 

[FL]

2. Try Winsock XP Fix (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html) or
any of the other items found at http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/winsock.htm.

Lanwench,

Yeah, I tried the winsock repair tool. That too did not work. But I press
on, I will figure this thing out.

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

Scott wrote on 20-Aug-2004 10:33 AM:

I tried doing everything that you suggested (using all the info from the
laptop, plugging that into the alt config) it didn't work though. I will keep
trying. The last thing I want to do is have to wipe the hard drive and start
from scratch. I am about to that level though, it is quite nerveracking.

OK, let's review the situation:

desktop on comcast cable modem won't connect to Internet
laptop connects fine
release/renew on DHCP on desktop doesn't work
"trying to repair the connection" doesn't work (same as release/renew)
reinstalled XP [assumed repair install], reinstalled LAN drivers
using the DHCP address info from the laptop in a static config on the
desktop doesn't work

I suggested that perhaps a remnant of ZoneAlarm (vsmon.exe) was still
running after you uninstalled it. Did you check that?

I also suggested the repair command "netsh int ip reset
[log_file_name]". Did you try that?

Steve suggested
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm
and you should work through all of that before giving up. Did you do that?

One last thing we have not touched on is if you recently removed spyware
with Ad-aware or Spybot. Removing NewDotNet or WebHancer with these
tools will break your network LSP stack. Get LSPfix from
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm. I don't know if WinSockFix tries to do
the same thing, but I know LSPfix works. Do not use LSPfix unless you
have removed malware. It is a dangerous tool. Tell LSPfix you know what
you are doing in the checkbox and let it fix a damaged stack. If the
stack is not damaged, but you find NewDotNet, use the NewDotNet
uninstaller in Add/Remove Programs to remove it safely.