Dan said:
I have an XP Pro computer that runs fine except for the
fact that it will not connect to the network. It used to
connect fine and then something has happened to stop it
from working.
I tried reinstalling XP but that did not fix the problem.
It is an Intel MB with a P4.
The one error message I see on boot up is "Sockets init
failed".
Thanks,
Dan
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Sounds to me like you have damaged winsock keys in the registry:
If you are using Cable or DSL, physically disconnect that connection first.
Uninstall any third-party proxy software or firewall programs before
proceeding.
If using the XP ICF, then leave it enabled.
Step 1: Delete registry keys
A)Open Regedit from the Run line
B)Go to both of the following keys, EXPORT each of them, and then delete
them:
(To export a key, you right click on it and choose "export" - you can choose
where to export them to -
DESKTOP is handy - and you need to type in a file name such as "exported
Winsock key" / "exported WinSock2 key"
and then click on SAVE)
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2
C)Restart the computer
NOTE: It is important to restart the computer after deleting the Winsock
keys.
Doing so causes the XP operating system to recreate shell entries for those
two
keys. If this is not done, the next step does not work correctly.
Step 2: Install TCP/IP on top of itself
A)Open the properties window of the network connection (Local Area
Connection)
B)Click Install
C)Click Protocol, then Add
D)Click Have Disk
E)Type the path to the \%systemroot%\inf folder (usually C:\Windows\inf) and
click OK
(if you try to click Browse, then browse to the \inf folder,
it may not show up in the list)
F)You should now see "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" in the list of available
protocols. Select it and click OK.
G)Restart the computer
When the computer reboots you will have functional Winsock keys.
Reinstall any third-party firewall, or make sure that the XP ICF is still
enabled before connecting to the Interenet.
If so, then be sure to delete the exported winsock and winsock2 reg files.
(You don't want to accidentally put them back in the registry)
Make sure you have all critcal Windows Updates installed.
Side effects and possible problems:
This method will restore basic functionality to the Winsock keys, but is not
a
complete rebuild. On a default install of Windows XP the registry key:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2\
Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries will have 11 sub-keys.
When applying this method, the Catalog_Entries will only have 3 sub-keys.
However, it works and there does not appear to be any side effects.
The missing entries relate back to the:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces key.
Also, third-party proxy software or firewalls may need to be reinstalled.
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