Network problem - No IP address!!

Curry_Queen

Hi :hello:

I need help again please

A hit squad to come and sort out my (not so) DS would be good ... but I guess I'll just have to settle for help in trying to repair his PC - yet again!!! :rolleyes:

His PC is not being assigned/renewed an IP address to connect to the internet, although it is showing good signal and can "see" the network connection. I've no idea where the problem lies - his PC, his wireless network card or my router???

For background info, I have 3 PC's connected to a Netgear DG834G router, (two on wireless and mine on an ethernet connection) and all are running XP pro - both mine and the other PC are working perfectly fine. I've tried everything I can think of, although I'm certainly no pro when it comes to networks, so have now come up against a brick wall :wall:

The card status is reporting "little or no connectivity" and when I try to repair the connection it fails saying it cannot "renew IP address".

Any help or advice to solve this would be most appreciated to alleviate the current ear-bashing I'm getting, because of course it has to be MY fault it's not working for some reason :mad:

Cheers!

gunneradt

it sounds like the connection is flaky. Try to go as close to the router as possible to begin with and see if that will restore the connection and get you an ip addrses issued by the router.

Curry_Queen

gunneradt wrote:

it sounds like the connection is flaky. Try to go as close to the router as possible to begin with and see if that will restore the connection and get you an ip addrses issued by the router.

I don't think it's a distance problem as the signal strength is reporting as "excellent" and it's worked perfectly fine for the last month or so where it is (moving it would be difficult) and it isn't very far away anyway (upstairs almost directly above router)

gavinp

As 2 out of the 3 PCs work, it is likely to be the PC:

DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) is used to request/assign an IP address so if it is blocked by firewall software, it doesn't work.

It is also worth checking the Services in Windows XP to ensure that the "DHCP Client" service is running.

Check the network card under Control panel for the TCP/IP settings and ensure that it is set to automatically obtain an address.

Try turning off or removing any firewall software on the PC temporarily as it may be blocking DHCP requests.

Check the wireless encryption key for the PC is correct.

The other thing to check is to see if MAC filtering is enabled on the router - this only allows the network cards with their MAC addresses listed to connect to your router. Switch it off temporarily if it is enabled to see if this fixes it.

Thanks

Gavin

Curry_Queen

Thanks Gavin, I'll go do the checks you suggest

Just to add that nothing has been changed at this end, i.e. with the router, so I'm assuming it's something he's done on his PC (highly likely! :rolleyes: ) but I'm also wondering whether any type of virus activity could cause this sort of problem too?


Edit: Well I could do the checks if he wasn't watching a DVD on it now :wall: :mad: ... ah well, I'll come back to this later and make the most of the peace and quiet for the next couple of hours

Thanks again! :beer:

espresso

Has this computer been conected to another network recently?

Try Start, Settings, Network Connections,
Highlight Wireless Network Connection icon.
Under Network Tasks, select Change settings of this connection.
Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.

See if Obtain an IP address automatically is checked, if it is not checked, check it and and click OK.

Curry_Queen

espresso wrote:

Has this computer been conected to another network recently?

No, it's a new PC and has only ever been connected to my network and was working fine until this morning. Further investigations are on hold for now (see edit above) but I'll go through everyone's suggestions once I can get access to it again

Thanks!

gunneradt

at the dos prompt it mgith ber worth trying ipconfig/release, the ipconfig/renew and see if it gains an ip address. Check also that the dhcp server in the router is not limited below the number you need.

Tharweb

Something else to try...I was getting the same message and found there was some conflict between assigned IP addresses.

I disconnected the cable from the PC to the router and turned off the wireless card in the laptop. I shut the PC and laptop down and then rebooted the PC first. Then I reconnected the cable to the PC and allowed it to find its IP address. I then rebooted the laptop and switched the wireless card back on. The laptop found its IP address and no more limited connectivity message.

There is a software fix you can try if all the suggestions don't work but its a last resort as it involves registry changes.

Curry_Queen

I'm back again

I've done all the above checks and still no joy, but I have something new to puzzle over now. The PC is being assigned an IP address now but it's not one I recognise as being anything to do with either my ISP or network and begins 169.xxx.x.xxx instead of 192.168.0.x

The MAC address is correct, as are the subnet and DHCP ranges, and it's definitely my network that it's seeing so I'm completely lost as to what to do next. I've masked the full IP address it's showing in case it is anything to do with me, but I would like to know how I can find out what it belongs to?

T4i

Type ipconfig/all into the cmd.exe

This will show you what IP's have been assigned to what....

IP Address is the address of the p.c you are sat at. Default Gateway is the router or modem IP.

It will also tell you if DHCP is enabled...is it?