Win2000pro - preparing network connections hangs - services.exe

squeaky

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Can you disable the Ethernet port from within the BIOS?

Nope. Nor, truthfully, should I need to. The card on the other machine is installed and enabled but, since there's no local connection defined, it doesn't do the "preparing".

The local connection on THIS one will not delete. Not even from within the registry.

I am using the regedit right? I find the key pointed to in the link above, right-click on it and choose delete from the context menu. Confirm OK... and that's it? Done deal?

Because while it disappears off the regedit list when I delete it - If I reboot to ensure it's gone I STILL get the "preparing" AND the darn key is BACK!

Oh and... sbybot, spyware blaster, ad-aware, malaware, ccleaner, system care, hijack this and a couple of other things ALL say I'm clean and clear.

-TangleFoot-

squeaky wrote: »

I am using the regedit right?

That particular registry tweak refers to the unnecessary duplication of a single network interface, which is most certainly not the problem you are experiencing. Have you tried disabling or uninstalling the device from within Device Manager?

squeaky

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Have you tried disabling or uninstalling the device from within Device Manager?

I have disabled AND uninstalled the ethernet card via device manager. I've forced a re-install of the device driver. The system finds the "new" device and installs it fresh. It's NOT, as far as I can tell, the ethernet card that's wrong - it's this poxy local connection.

The option for "delete" on its context menu is GREYED OUT.

Highlighting and hitting the delete button in the "connections" panel DOES NOT WORK.

Right-clicking the tray icon and choosing "Disable" DOES NOT WORK.

Disabling the ethernet card in device manager and THEN trying ALL of the above... DOES NOT WORK.

Re-enabling everything AND connecting the ethernet cable to my router gives me a working connection but then choosing disable from the connections panel icon OR from the tray icon DOES NOT WORK.

Ending the process via task manger - MAKES A RIGHT MESS.

Trying to create a NEW connection with the wizard in the hopes of getting a "clean" one... DOES NOT WORK.

Tossing the !!!!!!! !!!!ing thing out of the sodding window, however... JUST MIGHT

I've got a registration license key (stuck to the bottom of the laptop) but what I don't have is a win2000pro installation disk.

I've got a winXP OEM disk - but this thing is too old with not enough memory (128Mb) to allow me to load it.

Actually, although I'm talking about using it as a defenestrator, with the exception of this one and a half minute pause during start up it's quite a handy little machine. Especially since it "will" allow me to use it away from my computer desk because my time per session here is limited to about twenty minutes at a time. (My poor old bod is giving up on me... but I had LOADS of fun getting it this way ) so I really REALLY want to get this sorted out.

daily_2

Disable dhcp - give it a static ip? Why can't you disable it in the bios? Is it looking for a domain?

If they are identical, image the good one.

flashy

Have you tried going into the Local Security Policy and enabling the setting "always wait for the network at computer startup and logon"

Its in the Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.

Enable it and set it to disabled.

squeaky

daily wrote: »

Disable dhcp - give it a static ip? Why can't you disable it in the bios? Is it looking for a domain?

If they are identical, image the good one.

Disable dhcp ??? Er... pass?

Static IP? As in point it at the router address?

I can't disable it in BIOS because there's no entry in the bios for networking.

Imaging... hmmm... that's a thought. I'll need to track down software that WORKS with win2000 though. Most stuff only stipulates XP or later and, so far, at least half of the things I've downloaded that SAY they work with 2000... Don't!

I googled win2000 installation disks and they're still on sale! At a price! <sigh>

squeaky

flashy wrote: »

Have you tried going into the Local Security Policy and enabling the setting "always wait for the network at computer startup and logon"

Its in the Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.

Enable it and set it to disabled.

I'll be happy to try that... just as soon as you tell me where "Computer Configuration" is in windows 2000



Hmm... I have "Local Security Settings" and in that are...

• Account Policies
• Local Policies
• Public Key Policies
• IP Security Policies on Local Machine

I'm convinced, after all the sweeps and checks that I've done that I don't have anything malicious that's burgling this thing. It's either a setting somewhere that I just plain haven't found yet, or a damaged/missing service or dll or something.

I'll power up the other laptop and compare all the settings in Local Security and see what comes up.

But first... coffee and breakfast...

squeaky

Ooops! Forgot to mention an update from 2.30 am this morning...

I deliberately booted with the ethernet controller and its local connection enabled AND the wireless card fitted and enabled with its own local connection enabled too.

Windows ONLY opened the ethernet (LAN) one and didn't open/connect the wireless one.

I went into the connections panel and right-clicked the wireless one and disabled it. Then I tried the ethernet connection one and YAY!!! it could at last be disabled.

So then I disabled the ethernet card in device manager too.

Then I rebooted with NONE of the connections enabled and it STILL hung for a minute and a half on "Preparing Network Connections"

?????

Now I really AM going for breakfast and coffee

squeaky

In AdminTools>>Security Settings>>Local Policies>>User Rights Assignment

On the other machine I have:-

• Create global objects
• Impersonate a client after authentication

..and probably more which aren't on this one. How do I go about creating these keys/settings?

squeaky

I've been searching the web for a win2000 iso to download, which should be OK because I *DO* have a registration key...

They all seem to be bit torrent type things (or pay for or go round the houses three million times and not get anywhere or actually NOT be available as a single iso but a whole BUNCH of rar files) and I haven't got a CLUE about any of this.

<sigh>

I don't want or need "bootlegged" OR illegal, I just want to source the file so I can recreate the lost disk. As I say, I HAVE a legal reg code.

Hmm...