How to remove Internet Connection Sharing

[Alan van der Vyver]

I accidentally took a wrong path through XP's new connection wizard and
ended up with Internet Connection Sharing (a network object called
Internet Connection). This has created havoc on my network as there are
now two DHCP servers and overlapping addresses, etc.

I have found countless configuration and troubleshooting articles and
even warnings to not install it on an existing network, but no
information on how to get rid of the cursed thing once it is there.

XP won't permit me to delete it and disabling it does not help. Once the
machine has started with it on, ipconfig /renew gets the same address,
even thoug it is disabled. If I release the IP address and then shut the
machine down with the internet connection disabled, it restarts enabled
and allocates an address from its pool.

I have tried disabling the corresponding service, but that also has no
effect. I have also done all the obvious stuff like checking all
connections (including disabled ones) to ensure that none of them have
the Internet sharing check box selected.

I have even deleted the corresponding network connection. This causes
the Internet Connection object to also disapper, but when I create a new
local connection (taking care not to specify anything related to
Internet connections), the Internet Connection object reappears. There
seems to be no way to get rid of it.

By the way, I have this problem on two machines and the behaviour is
identical on each, so I can't put it down to a corruption in the system
somewhere.

I would be grateful for any way to permanently get rid of this thing and
if you happen to have a method of preventing it from ever returning,
that would be an added bonus.

regards,
Alan.

 

[CheshireCat]

Can you delete your connections, run the New Connection Wizard then document
which options you're choosing as you follow the path. It may be obvious to
someone else not directly involved in your probs.
At the same time, please post back information about how your network
accesses the internet.

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

I suspect you are seeing the "Internet Gateway" feature which represents
your UPnP enabled router.

To make sure, right click properties on the connection. If you see this
text on the property page, then it's your UPnP enabled router and shouldn't
cause a problem

"This connection allows you to connect to the Internet through a shared
connection on another computer."

 

[Alan van der Vyver]

Thanks to those who helped.

I was, in fact able to remove Internet Connection Sharing by stopping the
service. I was subsequently confused by the Internet Gateway which, as was
pointed out, seems to be harmless.

The remaining confusion regarding a "rogue" DHCP server plus other
"impossible" network behaviour turned out to be caused by an almost
identically configured neighbour's wireless network. Some of my machines
were connecting to his network. I now know the value of a well chosen SSID.

It is also nice to know that what I had learned about networking is still
true. I was beginning to doubt my sanity.

Alan.