unable to contact DHCP server

Hi everyone at windowsBBS,
I'm new and i have a problem, my OS is windows Xp.I tried to set up a home network using the Network Setup wizard putting my computer as one with internet access which other computers could access the internet through. I don't know exactly what i did wrong but I could not connect the other computer to the network. But a bigger problem is that afterwards, i was unable to access the internet. It seems that i am unable to connect to the DHCP server and ipconfig shows that i have no IP address. I tried ipconfig/release and ipconfig/renew and ping showed ok. I do not have an expansive knowledge of computers(shamefully), so i'm sorry i can't give more details as to what i did. I have cable internet connection.
I entered ipconfig/all and this is what appeared:

Windows IP Configuration
host name...............................hoenix
primary Dns suffix......................:
Mode type...............................:mixed
IP routing enabled.....................:no
WINS proxy enabled...................:no

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection- specific DNS Suffix..:
Description.............................:Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address......................:00-0E-7B-**-**-**
Dhcp Enabled..........................:Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled.........:Yes
IP address..............................:0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask...........................:0.0.0.0
Default Gateway......................:
DHCP Server...........................:255.255.255.255

Here's some more if that helps at all...:
C:\Documents and Settings\Kish>ipconfig/release

Windows IP Configuration

IP Address for adapter Local Area Connection has already been released.

C:\Documents and Settings\Kish>ipconfig/renew

Windows IP configuration

An error occured while renewing interface Local Area Connection : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

I hope thats enough information. I would be very grateful if anyone could offer me some advice or point me in the direction of a web page or post i overlooked that deals with this. I am suffering internet withdrawal symtoms...

Thanks!

 

For XP Service Pack 2 only:

Start, Run, CMD
netsh winsock reset

Wait for a prompt to restart your computer. Reboot.

For all other Windows Versions:

Download and Run WinsockFix by Option ^Explicit: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257

Note: remove punctuation marks from your Computer Name. Use only alphabetic characters or arabic numerals.

 

If you do indeed have Cable Internet then I suggest that you invest in a Router. Then each machine can have its own Internet connection and need not depend on any other for it.
I myself have a Router with three machines and a Printer connected to it. The Internet or the Printer ( if I do not forget and shut it off ) can be used by any machine at any time regardless of the status of the others.

BillyBob

 

Winsockfix attempted

hey guys,

Thanks for your help. I tried to run the WINsockfix and it ran and then it said repairs complete. Then a window reading please restart computer came up and my laptop just shut down. When it had restarted i tried to connect to the internet but there was no connectivity. I ran WINsockfix again and at the end a window flashed up saying error and the computer shutdown. It wasn't up long enough for me to read it. When the system restarted it said Dhcp server unavailable. Did i do something wrong? Any ideas as to what i could try next?

thanks

 

default gateway

hi Arie,
i'm sorry but i don't know how to set up a default gateway. Could you explain please or point me in the right direction?
thanks

 

i read the cableguy page you directed me to and tried to configure a default gateway in the properties of Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). But i am not sure what values to enter for IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. There are no values in Default gateway field on the General tab for the properties of the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). I tried specifying the details of my partners laptop on the same connection as he is connecting fine. and i didn't know what to specify. They are as follows:
IP Address: 124.197.139.54
subnet mask:255.255.255.0
default gateway: 124.197.139.1

I applied these settings and tried to connect but no luck.

 

I have just logged into a wireless connection and can get to the internet fine through that, but still no luck with my LAN. I was wondering if anyone thought it was worth just system restoring seeing as nothing else has worked?

thanks

 

Hey Arie,

I think i will do a system restore as there doesn't seem to be any other options. I was just wondering if you had any idea as to what it is that i did? Did i do something wrong when trying to configure the default gateway? I'm not familiar with the registry so i don't know what it is that i did when setting up the network that messed up my DHCP settings. i just wanted to set up a wireless network to share files and internet between the two laptops until i bought another LAN cable. I would really like to learn more about this and become more computer literate.

thanks

 

You can do ICS with wireless, but one of the computers will require two network interfaces:

One connected to your broadband modem;
One Wireless set for Ad Hoc mode.

See: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

 

thanks bill, i may give that a try if i ever feel brave enough again after i sort this mess i made out.
I have just done a system restore to the day before i tried to set up the network and then lost my Lan connectivity. I ran ipconfig to see if it had all reset and had this result:

Windows IP Configuration:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix......:
Autoconfiguration IP Address........: 169.254.254.55
Subnet Mask..............................: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway.........................:

Ethernet adapter wireless network connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix......:local
IP Address.................................: 192.168.0.4
Subnet Mask..............................: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway.........................: 192.168.0.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Kish>ipconfig/release

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection..:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix.............:
Autoconfiguration IP Address................: 169.254.254.55
Subnet Mask.....................................: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway................................:

Ethernet adapter wireless network connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix......:
IP Address.................................: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask..............................: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway.........................:

C:\Documents and Settings\Kish>ipconfig/renew

Windows IP Configuration

An error ocurred while renewing interface Local Area Connection: unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix........:
Autoconfiguration IP Address...........: 169.254.254.55
Subnet Mask................................: 255.255.0.0
Degault Gateway..........................:

Ethernet adapter wireless network connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix......: local
IP Address.................................: 192.168.0.4
Subnet Mask..............................: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway.........................: 192.168.0.1

So still no connectivity. I'm not sure what to try next.

 

The wireless adapter is working properly.

The wired adapter is not.

Which are you trying to use, and which has a connection to the modem?
It appears the wireless adapter has a valid router connection.

In order to make it primary:

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Expand the Network Adapters section.
Find the wired network adapter.
Right-click and set to 'Disabled' (do not uninstall)

Reboot and your wireless connection should provide access to the internet.

 

Sorry, i did not make it clear. The wireless internet connection is not mine but a neighbour's, so i do not want to make it primary or use it at all. I want to connect through my LAN.