Networking issue

[lightweight]

We have just got a cable modem installed in our apartment, and I have configured it for use with our router. (SMC Barricade) My PC is in port 2 of the router, and everything works fine for me. Everything *was* working just fine for my roomate in port 3 until I uninstalled a norton product he was using. I wanted to install an upgraded version of it, so I removed the previous. After installing the new antivirus, I ran live update and was able to download the updates successfully. Five minutes later after the computer restarts my roomate cannot connect to the Internet. When I try an ipconfig /renew it gives me the error:

"An error occured while renewing interface Local Area Connection 2 : The RPC Server is unavailable"

I have tried running the WinsockXP Fix, re-installing TCP/IP from C:\Windows\inf and also removing the network card from device manager and having it re-installed. Has anyone else had a similar problem? What can I do to fix this?

 

[Joemonkey]

Straight from Microsoft's knowledgebase

First step is to run this from a command prompt:

net start rpcss

If not, follow the rest of the instructions in the link

 

[lightweight]

I've already read this article and tried as it suggested. The RPC server is already running, I checked in the service list. The only address I can ping is my localhost. I cannot ping the gateway, or any machines connected to the gateway.

 

[Joemonkey]

Looks like a format/reinstall might be best bet then. Or, you could try installing another OS as dual boot and see if it is hardware related.

 

[ktwebb]

You would want to try a repair before a format/reinstall. Also, it would be crazy to actually install another OS just to check hardware. The concept isn't a bad idea but all you need is Knoppix or another CD bootable OS. I prefer Knoppix. The latter seems an unlikely fix. If you were working, then installed some software, especially symantics garbage Norton A/V then it seems fairly obvious. I would put your XP CD in (making the assumption your using XP here) and run a repair. Might not make a difference but certainly worth trying before you go through a format and install.

Have you tried manually assigning an IP? I would also definitely give that a shot as well if you haven't.

 

[tweekah]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Have you tried manually assigning an IP? I would also definitely give that a shot as well if you haven't.

That will get him on the internet, but not fix the original problem. Beats a full format/reinstall. I've gotten around the RPC server unavailable problem with static ips. Or you can try system restore utility.