DHCP and wireless conection

[npoe1]

Ok, this is my problem, today I took a laptop from a friend, I tried to use IE but almost any address that I tried send me to a web page called netster or something like that, so I installed Opera and use it for sometime without problems, but once I finish my work, I started to explore the computer and after a while I came to a program called FixSockets or something similar, the program was in MyDocuments and I assume that it will correct the problem, but I lost the ability to get an IP, so I uninstall and install the network programs from XP from add/remove programs and Windows components, but now the computer can?t contact to my router and get an address via DHCP, I get an IP 169.254. so if anyone have an advise of how to correct this problem I will be very pleased and will appreciate the help.

 

[RebateMonger]

If someone just gave you this computer, I'd advise re-installing Windows on it. It sounds like you have spyware or other contamination, as well as possible networking socket corruption. It'll be faster to just re-install XP than to figure out a fix.

Just be sure to identify the EXACT hardware currently installed in the Device Manager (WRITE IT DOWN). And download the drivers from the manufacturer and stick them all on a CD if you don't have a Drivers Disk from the manufacturer.

 

[JackMDS]

The best would be to do what RM suggested above.

However, if you can not gather all the info, or and you do not know how to fresh install.

Win Add/Remove is Not the way to deal with anything that has to do with functional Network.

In General, you can debug the Network Settings of a computer by following these steps.
Step One. Check the Network parameters in the Computer's Device Manager. Make sure that the Network Card drivers are installed correctly; i.e. there is No IRQ conflict, and No Ghost installation. http://www.ezlan.net/faq#ghost

Step Two. Verify Basic network setting in the OS: http://www.ezlan.net/Installing#verify If the above two Steps indicates that every thing looks good but functionally it does not work.

Step Three. Check (and repair if necessary) the Socket Layers, Winsock, and or refresh the TCP/IP Stack. http://www.ezlan.net/clean#refreshnet

If need to Reinstall the Network Settings; Log to this page, it have a lot of links to instructions for Windows Network Installation - http://www.ezlan.net/Installing.html

:sun:

 

[npoe1]

Thank you all, I will try to fix it and reinstalling is really the last option, so I will try to fix it this night, thanks.

 

[npoe1]

Well, It didn?t work I tried what ezlan.net page said and didn?t work, so any other suggestion besides reinstalling?

**Edit:**

I can not to reinstall XP until I get the original windows key that the company use, because that laptop is from my friend?s work and there is a possibility that he did not notice the problem until quite time has pass, he almost never uses the network and the laptop by the way.