Restore Network Access
Introduction
This brief article lists a couple possible solutions if you have lost network access to your computer and/or cannot get a valid IP address. I recently encountered a problem when I uninstalled Google Desktop Search. It ended up corrupting my Winsock entries and I was unable to get a valid IP address and was instead being assigned an Automatic Private IP. It took me from about midnight to 4am to solve the problem and I was a breath away from blowing out my system and doing a complete re-install. So, if your computer is connected to your router but you can't get a valid IP address, read this article before re-installing Windows.
Solutions
Try the following in this order:
1. Release and Renew IP
- Start....Run.
- Type: cmd [Enter]
- Type: ipconfig /release [Enter]
- Type: ipconfig /renew [Enter]
- Type: ipconfig /all [Enter]
- If you still don't get a valid IP address or you receive an error message, proceed to the next step.
2. Reset TCP/IP
- For complete details on this step, see: How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP.
- Start....Run.
- Type: cmd [Enter]
- Type: netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt [Enter]
- Open your C:\ drive and view the resetlog.txt.
- You might have to reboot.
- If this doesn't solve your problem, go on to the next step.
3. Checking for a Winsock2 Error
- See complete details at: How to determine and recover from Winsock2 corruption.
- Insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and then locate the Support\Tools folder.
- Double-click the Setup.exe file.
- Follow the steps on the screen until you reach the Select An Installation Type screen.
- On the Select An Installation Type screen, click Complete, and then click Next.
- Start....Run.
- Type: netdiag /test:winsock [Enter]
- If you want additional details, type: netdiag /test:winsock /v instead of the above.
- If the Winsock test fails, continue with the next step.
4. Recover from a Winsock2 Error
Conclusion
I hope this information will prove useful to someone. I'm glad I found it before completely wiping out and re-installing my system!