another "unable to contact your DHCP server"

so my computer can pick up the wireless internet signal but i cannot get online. i tried to do the ipconfig /release then renew and i get the error code unable to contact your DHCP server. request has timed out

so after i tried to release, renew, i followed a link and used the Winsock Fix program which didnt work. now here is the kicker. this problem happens to me a lot. whenever i unplug the wireless internet card (usb) from my comp for one reason or another and try to plug it back in after an extended period of time, i cannot connect. example - i am a student so when i go home on break and come back i cannot connect to my internet and have to do this whole mess again (but i can connect at home). so yesterday i was in a design competition in which i used my computer at the design site and i just tried to plug my computer/usb internet card back on and amazingly i cannot get online. but of course at the competition i was able to get onto the school's wireless using my same old wireless usb car

so...i need help. and i would like to know why this only happens when i have to move and replug my computer up. so on friday night at 10pm my computer and setup worked - i unplugged everything, brought the computer to campus, came home sunday afternoon and tried to set up my computer and now i am stuck...again

anyways here is the info

wireless usb internet card: 2wire
internet modem: belkin version 1444
computer: dell dimension 8400 desktop
internet secutiry: our connection is password protected

ipconfig /all reads

host name: chriscomp
primary dns suffix: (blank)
ip routing enabled: no
wins proxy enabled: no

ethernet adapter wireless network connection 9:

connection-specific dns suffix: (blank)
description: 2wire blah blah blah

physical address: states that
dhcp enabled: yes
autoconfg enabled: yes
autoconfig ip address: 169.254.166.254
subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
default gateway: 169.254.166.254
dns servers: 192.168.2.1

note - the dns server is only listed b/c i currently have i manually put that into the internet protocol (tcp/ip) properties and i got the # from my roomates computer in which i am on right now writing this

when i switch the setting to automatic and recheck the ipconfig /all the dns servers line isnt even listed in the command prompt (the last line is thus default gateway)

and finally my dns server, dhcp slient, and windows zero config are all automatic and started

so this is a pretty specific case and i have been having to do this for about 2 years now (everytime i go to and come back from breaks from school in which i take my computer home with me) but for some reason i cannot solve it this time

i know in the past i have done things like ping or something in command...no idea what that does but...

thanks in advance for any help and your time!!!

 

Addresses starting 169.254. are automatically generated by the operating signal. What happens is the system tries to find a DHCP server, and when it can't find one it auto-generates its own address. The fact you've got a 169.254. address indicates that you are not seeing the network properly.

Are you using Windows' in-built wireless software or the software supplied with the USB device?

 

i have been using the windows wireless system and NOT the software supplied with the usb device

and this setup did work for me friday night like noted in my first post

 

How far away from the router/modem? Signal strengths can vary and odd things can cause the signal to disappear (we once installed in a class room. The signal was perfect thoughout the room .... that is until the kids stood up, when the signal would drop out).

If you still get the problem with the computer right next to the router, try installing and using the software supplied with the USB device; it could well be more reliable that the Windows system (its often the other way round, but not always).

 

again this setup worked perfectly from august up until last friday night

i have "excellent" signal strength

it is not an actual issue at all - i can pickup the signal perfectly. it has something to do with the settings of the device i believe.

i know there is a DNS server issue b/c that doesnt have an address assigned to it when i go to the properties of the wireless connection...i just dont know what or how to do anything about that

 

Try manually setting the DNS address to the IP address of your router (in the TCP/IP properties of the connection).

 

i tried that already - i used the DNS server number from my roommates laptop and put it in manually and i still couldnt connect so i did the whole windows repair this connection and it said it couldnt connect still

so i again tried to release and renew the ipconfig and i got the same error even with the DNS manually plugging in that the server could not contact the DHCP