Server failed to assign server address error message

[Guest]

On my XP laptop when I plug into a network I am getting a message that the
server failed to assign a server address. I am on the network but I can not
access the Internet or anything because the connection is incomplete. Also I
appear not to be getting wireless connections I assume due to the same
problem. I have service pack #2 loaded. What do I do? Help?

Thanks

 

[Chuck]

On my XP laptop when I plug into a network I am getting a message that the
server failed to assign a server address. I am on the network but I can not
access the Internet or anything because the connection is incomplete. Also I
appear not to be getting wireless connections I assume due to the same
problem. I have service pack #2 loaded. What do I do? Help?

Thanks

Are the drivers for your network card updated? I'd start there.

It sounds to me like you are getting an APIPA address, which will not give you
access to anything on your network that is getting a correctly assigned address.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=220874

Let's start by looking at the ipconfig information for the problem computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is
NOT checked!, copy and paste entire contents into your next post.

Microsoft offers free technical telephone support for Service Pack 2 problems.
Call 800-936-5700, press 0 to get an operator, and ask for SP2 Technical
Support.

Also, try the Support Webpage.
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2>

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply -- but I do not think this is a Service Pack 2 issue.
The problem has been around longer than that. We loaded the service pack to
make sure everything was current and I told you so you know where I am at on
the Op system. The problem is intermitent in that I can get on my office
network fine but I can not get on other networks, like my local library and
do not seem to do wireless at all.

Ideas? Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for the reply -- but I do not think this is a Service Pack 2 issue.
The problem has been around longer than that. We loaded the service pack to
make sure everything was current and I told you so you know where I am at on
the Op system. The problem is intermitent in that I can get on my office
network fine but I can not get on other networks, like my local library and
do not seem to do wireless at all.

Ideas? Thanks.

DOHH, you applied SP2 with a problem outstanding. Which may complicate things.
Rule #1 of SP upgrade - Fix all open problems before upgrading.

What's special about your office network? Did the techs there put some client
software on the laptop that is incompatible with another network maybe? How
many networks are you trying to connect to wirelessly? Anything different about
the wireless equipment - is your office all 802.11G maybe and the others
802.11B?

Try and describe as many networks as possible, with as much detail as possible.
The diagnosis may be in the details. If I was there in person, I'd find lots of
stuff to check, but as it is, you have to be the eyes and hands.

And provide ipconfig for this computer, and a couple others (where the laptop
does not work) for reference.

Lots of ideas. It's your dime.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Sorry I am not making myself clear here. Let me start from the beginning.

The computer stopped recognizing networks. No error message was appearing
on XP -- I would plug in the cable and see the ntwork but no access, no
message.

At the same time the computer is not finding wireless networks either.
Library, cofee shop, etc. It had been finding wireless as I was able to do a
signin at an airport with I think the lounge's tmobile or whatever network.
But after that airport it seems to have stopped.

The computer is 18 months old - running centrino and XP.

I took it to the office IT guy. He could not find the problem but then he
found that the port seemed to have its own firewall turned on. He turned off
the port's own firewall and everything seemed to be working fine. It was
finding the network, getting the address, etc.

With seemingly fine he then loaed SP2, updated the virus protection defs,
etc. After all that it was still working fine on the wired network - i.e.
cableed in via the builtin card in the laptop and the port that he thought
was the problem. Everything fine.

I took it home and tried to go on to the library wireless. It says it can
not find the wireless network signal. No signal, no wireless connection on
the list. I tried a search, a reboot, a wireless chant <grin> and still nada.

I plugged in it via a cable to the network. The LAN signal appeared and the
computer got the network. SP2 with all its new hohas sent me a message that
the server failed to assign a server address. I tried resets, reboots,
reconnecting the wire and another chant for good measure. Still all it does
is find the network but gets no address and can not do anything but sit there
and blink at me.

I tried AOL and it could not find the TCPIP connection either but the dialup
is working fine.

Took it back into the office and plugged it back into that network (office
is 20th century it does not have wireless) and it found the network
immediately, was able to go onto the Internet, AOL found the TCPIP, etc.

Took it to the local coffee shop with its tmobile hotspot figuring may be
the problem was the library. It does not find the hotspot signal at all.
Nothing on the list, no errors, no nothing. Tried the reset, wireless
refresh, checked the wireless was enabled, turned it off and on, went and got
another coffee, did another chant, and threatened it with being turned into
spare parts. All it did was sit there and tell me it has no wireless signal
available.

Checked the ipconfig and there is not much there that I see:

Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Traveler
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated
Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-16-2F-C0


Now what? Take it out back shoot it and go buy a new model? I am sick of
doing the chants.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Sorry I am not making myself clear here. Let me start from the beginning.

The computer stopped recognizing networks. No error message was appearing
on XP -- I would plug in the cable and see the ntwork but no access, no
message.

At the same time the computer is not finding wireless networks either.
Library, cofee shop, etc. It had been finding wireless as I was able to do a
signin at an airport with I think the lounge's tmobile or whatever network.
But after that airport it seems to have stopped.

The computer is 18 months old - running centrino and XP.

I took it to the office IT guy. He could not find the problem but then he
found that the port seemed to have its own firewall turned on. He turned off
the port's own firewall and everything seemed to be working fine. It was
finding the network, getting the address, etc.

With seemingly fine he then loaed SP2, updated the virus protection defs,
etc. After all that it was still working fine on the wired network - i.e.
cableed in via the builtin card in the laptop and the port that he thought
was the problem. Everything fine.

I took it home and tried to go on to the library wireless. It says it can
not find the wireless network signal. No signal, no wireless connection on
the list. I tried a search, a reboot, a wireless chant <grin> and still nada.

I plugged in it via a cable to the network. The LAN signal appeared and the
computer got the network. SP2 with all its new hohas sent me a message that
the server failed to assign a server address. I tried resets, reboots,
reconnecting the wire and another chant for good measure. Still all it does
is find the network but gets no address and can not do anything but sit there
and blink at me.

I tried AOL and it could not find the TCPIP connection either but the dialup
is working fine.

Took it back into the office and plugged it back into that network (office
is 20th century it does not have wireless) and it found the network
immediately, was able to go onto the Internet, AOL found the TCPIP, etc.

Took it to the local coffee shop with its tmobile hotspot figuring may be
the problem was the library. It does not find the hotspot signal at all.
Nothing on the list, no errors, no nothing. Tried the reset, wireless
refresh, checked the wireless was enabled, turned it off and on, went and got
another coffee, did another chant, and threatened it with being turned into
spare parts. All it did was sit there and tell me it has no wireless signal
available.

Checked the ipconfig and there is not much there that I see:

Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Traveler
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated
Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-16-2F-C0


Now what? Take it out back shoot it and go buy a new model? I am sick of
doing the chants.

Thanks.

An intriguing tale.

Any idea what happened just when "The computer stopped recognizing networks"?

Before you (the tech) loaded SP2, "the port seemed to have its own firewall
turned on"? I'd sure like to know what that was about. Are we talking about
ICF (WF pre SP2) being enabled on the network card maybe? ICF shouldn't block
address assignment.

The ipconfig that you provided says "Media disconnected". I'd start by getting
the most current drivers from Broadcom - I'll bet that what you have isn't SP2
compatible.

Check for LSP / Winsock corruption too.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318584
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=811259

With XP SP2, Start - Run - "cmd". Type "netsh winsock reset catalog" into the
command window.

Give LSP-Fix <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>, WinsockFix
<http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257>, or WinsockXPFix
<http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html> a shot.

If no help yet, reset TCP/IP.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=299357

Start - Run - "cmd". Type "netsh int ip reset c:\netsh.txt" into the command
window.

If none of this works, it may be time to involve Microsoft. At least while we
try to find something else to look at.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.