Can't acquire DCHP IP. Could it be hardware?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben Bowen
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Ben Bowen

I'm having problems here. It's on a an older PC running XP SP2. I
installed a new DVD drive, which worked fine. I also installed some
CODECs and Quicktime. Amid all this the PC crashed, but came up with
no issue except now it can't get an IP from DHCP. It is connected
directly to a Zyxel Prestige 600 modem. When the PC tries to acquire
an address I get an error saying it can't contact the DHCP server.

I can connect my laptop to the same modem and get an IP with no
problem. I have tried pretty much everything I can think of:
- removed installed CODECs
- stop/start DHCP service
- restored XP to an earlier checkpoint, the day before I touched
anything.
- Winsock fix tools
- reset TCP/IP/Winsock catalogs.

I'm almost thinking now it might be hardware since I can't find
anything in the software. The only thing that makes me think it's
*not* hardware is all of the LEDs, except Activity, are lit on the
card, and when it tries to acquire an IP I see some activity on the
modem LEDs.

Any idea what's going on with this PC?

Oh, and to add to the matters, it's very difficult to debug this thing
as all of the text is in Czech. I guess I understand what it must be
like for a non-geek to try to troubleshoot now. A bunch of words
appear on the screen and I have no idea what they mean :)
 
Some more info. I used Wireshark to see what was going on. I see the
DHCP discover from the PC, but that's it. It then goes into a
Gratuitous ARP on the local IP.

No. Time Source Destination
Protocol Info
4 26.999090 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255
DHCP DHCP Discover - Transaction ID 0x6bc5d547

No. Time Source Destination
Protocol Info
5 59.088651 Kingston_3d:68:27 Broadcast
ARP Gratuitous ARP for 169.254.233.208

When I trace the DHCP from my laptop, I see all of the messages DHCP
Discover, DHCP Offer, DHCP Request, and DHCP ACK. I still don't know
if it could be hardware related, but it's strange.
 
I'm having problems here. It's on a an older PC running XP SP2. I
installed a new DVD drive, which worked fine. I also installed some
CODECs and Quicktime. Amid all this the PC crashed, but came up with
no issue except now it can't get an IP from DHCP. It is connected
directly to a Zyxel Prestige 600 modem. When the PC tries to acquire
an address I get an error saying it can't contact the DHCP server.

I can connect my laptop to the same modem and get an IP with no
problem. I have tried pretty much everything I can think of:
- removed installed CODECs
- stop/start DHCP service
- restored XP to an earlier checkpoint, the day before I touched
anything.
- Winsock fix tools
- reset TCP/IP/Winsock catalogs.

I'm almost thinking now it might be hardware since I can't find
anything in the software. The only thing that makes me think it's
*not* hardware is all of the LEDs, except Activity, are lit on the
card, and when it tries to acquire an IP I see some activity on the
modem LEDs.

Any idea what's going on with this PC?

Oh, and to add to the matters, it's very difficult to debug this thing
as all of the text is in Czech. I guess I understand what it must be
like for a non-geek to try to troubleshoot now. A bunch of words
appear on the screen and I have no idea what they mean :)
Click to expand...

Ben,

If the computer OS is in a language that you don't speak, I'd get another
computer, change the language, or rebuild the OS in a language that I could
understand. Dealing with a technical problem is bad enough when you do speak
the lexicographical language.

But what Winsock fix tools have you tried? Have you tried an OS repair?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/problems-with-lsp-winsock-layer-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/problems-with-lsp-winsock-layer-in.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
 
I'm having problems here. It's on a an older PC running XP SP2. I
installed a new DVD drive, which worked fine. I also installed some
CODECs and Quicktime. Amid all this the PC crashed, but came up with
no issue except now it can't get an IP from DHCP. It is connected
directly to a Zyxel Prestige 600 modem. When the PC tries to acquire
an address I get an error saying it can't contact the DHCP server.
Click to expand...

If it is connected to a cable modem, it is normal for cable modems to
only give out one IP address and it seems that your laptop has
received that address. When you change devices that connect to a
cable modem, it is almost always necessary to power-down the modem by
unplugging it from the wall, then plug it in and wait for it to
initialize before plugging a new device (computer or router) into the
modem.

I recommend that you get a Router if you plan to connect more than
one device to your modem.

HTH,
John
 
Hi
The Zyxel Prestige 600 is a combo Modem Router, thus if another computer
works well it is a specific problem of the None working computer.
This page contains a process to be use check the viability of the computer's
Network components.
http://www.ezlan.net/debug.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
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