Wireless Connection: No IP address / DCHP error

I have been trawling the forums for over a week now, and I am at a loss as to where to go with this one.

I have an old PC running Windows XP SP3, with a wireless connection. Recently, I found that, when I have more than one tab open, the internet stops working, despite still being connected. Using the 'repair connection' function fixed this.

However, about 2 weeks ago the connection could not renew its IP address. I've not been able to reconnect since.

Using the 'repair connection' function and the CMD prompt, the problem seems to be either that it can't get an IP address off the router, or (in the CMD prompt) it cannot contact the DCHP server.

I have tried:

1) Manually assigning the IP address, gateway, etc. This results in what looks like a working connection in windows, but it's not one with which I can contact the router / get on the internet when I open IE/Firefox.

2) Removing all the security software (Zone Alarm, Spybot and AVG).

3) Re-installing the wireless card drivers.

4) Using both the Winsock and LSP fix.

5) Reinstalling Winsock using the Microsoft knowledge base.

6) Installing the Support tools, and using the netsh int ip reset c:/resetlog.tx command.

I still have the same problem, and have run out of suggestions online. Anybody have any suggestions than the nuclear option of reinstalling the OS?

Thanks

 

And ......

can you ping the router?
What happens if ping the name: yahoo.com ?
Then ping: 69.147.125.65 (that's the ip of yahoo.com)

Have you tried another wireless adapter?
Have you reset the wireless router?
Checked the router (use a known working computer or another router).

 

Thanks for the replies.

There's nothing wrong with the router - I've tested it on another PC.

I suspect it's an old PC giving up the ghost - I need to do a re-installation anyway, so I think that's probably the sensible option (all my data's on a separate hard drive anyway).

Although that could prove a mission in itself - the OEM Windows reload disc doesn't seem to want to work either. It boots from the disc, then goes straight into Windows. I've even disabled booting from the hard drive, and it still will not enter Windows setup.

All in all a dead PC I think.

 

Except that I have exactly the same problem after a reinstallation.

I've tried the suggestions above and nothing has any effect.

I can't ping anything either - that won't register either.

 

What does "ipconfig /all" show? Post the results here. In Device manager are there any red "X's" or yellow exclamation marks by the wireless adapter?

 

I would bet on the wireless card giving up the ghost. If you can't ping the router, after setting a manual IP address to the proper network, then the card is likely not working. Given that the router is set to answer to ping requests.
If you have another machine, set them both to the same wireless channel, and a specific IP address pair such that they should 'see' each other, and see if they DO see each other.
You can run the setup program under the i86 directory, I think, to re-install windows. Set the CD/DVD to do nothing when media is inserted, at least for the time you are booting from the DVD. If you cannot boot from the DVD, then run the setup program as above. You can open a CMD prompt and type "setup /?" to see the options while in the proper directory.
tom