Losing DHCP

[fungipami]

I have just replaced my Toshiba cable modem with an RCA modem. Now whenever I reboot, I have internet access at the start of the reboot (confirmed by my cable company) and then I immediately get locked out.

In winipconfig I can initially see a valid IP address, confirmed by the cable company as my address, but when I do a release/renew I get the following error message: "DHCP server unavailable renewing adapter". At that point it loses the ip address.

The cable company says they are providing me with a signal, and it's a problem in my software.

I have determined that the problem is not with my firewall (Zone Alarm Pro) by uninstalling and reinstalling, turning it off, and talking to folks at the company, who say that if it is not running it can't be causing the problem.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My system specs:
Operating system: Windows 98/SE
USB cable connection using an RCA DCM15 cable modem

 

[MattWray]

Does the Cable modem show a solid link light for the Cable? Do you get a solid link for your PC?

Thanks,

Matt Wray
MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA

http://www.sss-steel.com

 

[fungipami]

Yes. I neglected to mention that I have dual boot, and when I boot into Win2000 I have an internet connection, so the cable company says that they are providing me with a connection, and that the problem is on my end, and for me to solve.

 

[MattWray]

So it works fine with win2k, but does not with Win98? Try uninstalling and reinstalling TCP/IP in 98....

Thanks,

Matt Wray
MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA

http://www.sss-steel.com

 

[Pyg]

Doesn't Win98/SE have problems with USB stuff? My memory escapes me at the moment.


Check the network properties for different network adapters. Often AOL adapters can cause conflicts with certain network cards. To remedy this problem, open the Network control panel and remove the AOL adapter. Note: starting AOL Again will reinstall the AOL adapter. To avoid this situation completely, uninstall AOL and use AOL Instant Messenger and AOL Web Mail instead of AOL when connected to the JMU Network. AOL can be reinstalled when no longer using JMU's network.

Check for proxy settings. Open the Interet Options control panel and click the tab "Connections". Click the "Lan Settings" button at the bottom. In the Lan Settings window, make sure the "User a proxy server" box is unchecked.
Try a different network cable (have user swap cables with a "working" PC).

(source)

http://www.jmu.edu/computing/helpdesk/selfhelp/tcphelppc.shtml

 

[fungipami]

Thanks to both of you. I'll try these suggestions when I get the time on Monday, as I'm in the middle of a 4-day conference. Matt, how do I reinstall TCP/IP? I did try reinstalling Win98, although it didn't appear to change anything - would this have reinstalled it or can I do it separately?

 

[MattWray]

If you reinstalled the OS, that would definitely have reinstalled anything within it. But for future reference, in your network properties, highlight TCP/IP and choose uninstall. Then click Install and add a new protocol, the TCP/IP. That may not be exact, it's been a long time since I used 98, but that should be close enough for you to get it... Try Pyg's suggestions....

Thanks,

Matt Wray
MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA

http://www.sss-steel.com

 

[CobolKid]

Check out Microsoft's knowledge base article Q295085, title; "Network Configuration Is Retained After Uninstalling Network Components" ie; even though you reinstall you may be retaining the old config.
Steve

 

[bcastner]

Or you could use this tool to rebuild your Winsock service:

http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/WinsockFix.zip

Knows the difference between Win95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT, Win2k and XP and reacts accordingly.

 

[fungipami]

Thanks all! I'll let you know what happens.