Win2k can't get on the internet *fixed*

[Hamman999]

[Edit on March 4 @ 11:52AM CT--I added the exact error message IPCONFIG gave me and I added some more information on my system setup]

Just for reference, about 3 weeks ago I had a similar problem like this--my Win2k partition couldn't find my internet connection, but my Win98 part. could. After a reinstall (which I later found out to be needless), I found out the problem was with my @HOME DHCP server (it wasn't giving me an IP). After going static, everything was going great. Just yesterday, the same thing happened again--Win98 works good, Win2k can't get outside on the net. I tried about everything I can think of:

• 
  Switching between dynamically configured and static IP--didn't work
  Reinstalling TCP/IP--didn't work
  Letting Windows reinstall drivers for my NIC--didn't work

Here's the catch--I can ping outside servers (like my mail and usenet server) and get a response. I have gotten one error message that has befuddled me. When I tried to release and renew my IP from the DHCP server I got an error message: "The following error occurred when renewing adapter Local Area Connection: An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket". This, I'm almost certain, signals a software malfunction. I don't want to reinstall again to find only that I've wasted my time, again. Help!

David
----------------------
My system config:
DELL PII450
192MB Crucial memory
12.9 GB IBM Deskstar 7200RPM
30.7 GB Western Digital Caviar 7200RPM
LG 40x CD-ROM
HP 8200i CD-Writer (4/4/24)
Aureal Vortex 2 OEM w/ Win2k default drives
Creative Labs Annihilator GeForce 256 SDR w/ 6.50 Ref drivers
VooDoo 2 w/ Win2k beta drivers
US Roboticxs 56k WinModem
@HOME supplied NIC (Intel 21041 based)
Win98SE w/ Directx7.0a on primary partition
Win2k SP1 w/ DirectX8.0 on fourth partition

 

[slicksilver]

Dude change the Thread Title........I thought it was a warez request

Raj

 

[Slikkster]

what does the event viewer say about the errors? Please post them verbatim...word for word.

Start/Run/eventvwr.msc Look at the system and application logs.

 

[Hamman999]

Slikk--
Here are the excerpts from the system event logs that seemed to relate to my problem. There was a bunch of other information, but all of it was normal occurence (it was in there on days when I wasn't having problems). All the error messages originate from DHCP. Here they are with the time and what I think was going on at the time:

3/3/2001 3:15PM (about time error statred to occur)
Your computer was not able to renew its address from the network (from the DHCP Server) for the Network Card with network address 0000C50DD16E. The following error occured:
An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket. . Your computer will continue to try and obtain an address on its own from the network address (DHCP) server.

3/3/2001 3:15PM (about 10 seconds later)
Your computer has detected that the IP address 24.22.242.xxx for the Network Card with network address 0000C50DD16E is already in use on the network. Your computer will automatically attempt to obtain a different address.

3/3/2001 10:12PM (troubleshooting later at night)
Your computer was unable to automatically configure the IP parameters for the Network Card with the network address 0000C50DD16E. The following error occurred during configuration: The procedure call table is invalid. .

3/4/2001 11:09PM (sometime after a restart from Win98 into Win2k)
Your computer was unable to automatically configure the IP parameters for the Network Card with the network address 0000C50DD16E. The following error occurred during configuration: The requested service provider could not be loaded or initialized. .

This is another message I got form source tcpip which I think occurs after the IP is set statically:

The system detected that network adapter Intel 21041 Based PCI Ethernet Adapter was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.

Just for proof's sake, here are to ping requests to yahoo.com and home-www.excite.com that I can make even though IE can't connect to these websites:

Pinging 64.58.76.178 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 64.58.76.178: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 64.58.76.178: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 64.58.76.178: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 64.58.76.178: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245

Pinging 199.172.146.81 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 199.172.146.81: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=245
Reply from 199.172.146.81: bytes=32 time=60ms TTL=245
Reply from 199.172.146.81: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=245
Reply from 199.172.146.81: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=245

Ping statistics for 199.172.146.81:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 50ms, Maximum = 60ms, Average = 52ms

I know this a long post but I hope this can help us resolve this.

David

 

[kroc]

Is IP address assigned by @Home as static?

If so:

Set your IP as static in internet Properties page, THEN...go to Services and be sure to Stop the DHCP Client service and set it to start as "Manual".
It should not need this service to connect if static IP has been assigned and sometimes I have seen Win 2k fail to shut this service down (after setting static IP) and it still tries to renew an address even though one has been assigned.

Just a thought...it may not apply to your situation but thought I'd mention it.

 

[Slikkster]

I do think this is an @home issue, so I'd be talking to them about it. Can't see anything that stands out on your end. Just sounds like their dhcp server isn't doing it's thing correctly at times.

 

[Hamman999]

Kroc--
I normally have my Win98 partition set up statically. After the first time I had DHCP errors, I figured it'd be best to leave this partition as permanently working backup. The Win2k partition I let use DHCP. Don't ask me why, I just do. And disabling the DHCP service when I had my IP entered statically didn't make a difference.

Slikk--
I don't see this necessarily as @HOME DHCP problem. I guess i'm not familiar enough with the different Win2k errorors to really know the difference however. Usually with this sort of error, making my TCP/IP settings static would counteract any DHCP issues, or so I would think.

The only thing that's really puzzling me is how I can ping outside servers (if I enter the correct IP address) and not be able to connect to them and use their services. It would seem like my machine (at least Win2k) is not interfacing with their DNS servers properly. One last question: does anyone know what that error message IPCONFIG gave me means: "The following error occurred when renewing adapter Local Area Connection: An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket". Thanks for all your help, and I'll probably contact @HOME tomorrow (in between researching and writing my 5 page English term paper).:frown:

One last thing, I can only think of one other thing I did before the problems started. Wanting to try out one of the other Napster alternatives, I installed AudioGalaxy (not too great BTW, use WinMX). After I finished the installation I used Ad-Aware to disable the WebHancer spyware component. Not sure if this related in anyway, but I thought it was worth noting, just in case.

David

 

[Slikkster]

I missed the part about having the dual boot and having no problems in Win98Se; sorry bout that.

Couple of things:

I would try reinstalling SP1. See if that helps. Also, here's my settings for DHCP in Win2K SP1. See if yours match:

Internet Protocol/TCP/IP Properties page:

"Obtain IP Address Automatically" (checked)
"Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically" (checked)
(nothing else is entered)

Click Advanced Tab

Now, on the following tabs, here's what's checked for me:

IP Settings:

DHCP Enabled
Interface Metric 1
(nothing else in boxes is entered)

DNS Tab:

"Append Primary and connection specific DNS suffixes" (circle is checked)
"Append Parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix" (checkbox is checked)
"Register this connections addresses in DNS" (checkbox is checked)
(nothing else is checked)

WINS Tab:

"Enable LMHOSTS Lookup" (checkbox is checked)
"Use Netbios setting from the DHCP Server" (circle is checked)
(nothing else is checked)

Options Tab:

IP Security
TCP/IP Filtering

(click Properties for both)

IP Security "Do Not use IPSEC" is checked
TCP/IP Filtering "Permit ALL" "Permit ALL" "Permit ALL" "Enable TCP/IP Filtering" is NOT checked.

See how yours shapes up compared to mine. I use RoadRunner. I do NOT have Client For Microsoft Networks installed nor File and Print Sharing, although both show up in my Network Connection Properties (they are unchecked).

 

[kroc]

Also (from a command prompt) run ipconfig /all.

Find out what Win 2k is recognizing and compare the DNS servers and settings to those provided by @Home.

The same info is essentially in the registry here>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{6622C5B0-AB4E-4C6A-97A9-9D574C5B50EB}

 

[Hamman999]

Slikk--
My TCP/IP settings for my dynamically-configured IP are almost exactly the same! I changed one small setting (the NetBIOS one), But that had no effect. So I'm still stuck without a working connection on Win2k. This is really getting on my nerves.

Kroc--
When I set my Internet settings statically, the IPCONFIG information is exactly as I have entered it in the TCP/IP properties (obviously). My DHCP connection (when it faults out) assigns me a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx address and gives me no DNS and no gateway.

I've checked and double-checked my manual setting almost 20 or 30 times. Oh well, it's off to @HOME tech support I go. I hope they can, for once, provide an intelligible solution.

David

 

[Slikkster]

Have you tried deleting your current Network Connection and creating a new one?

 

[Hamman999]

Well, I attempted to remove the connection, but Win2k wouldn't let me. Since one NIC is installed it must have a minimum allowance of one network connection. Trust me, I really wanted to do that because that would force Windows to re-recognize the connection. The best I could do was remove and reinstall the networking protocols and such (Client MS Networks and TCP/IP).

[edit--Update: just got off the phone with @HOME Tech support]
Well, I basically got the BS around with @HOME. There has been a major outage in Illinois (around 300,000 users at least), but they basically said my problem was my dual-boot setup and to receive continued supprot from @HOME I need to drop an OS. I think thye're full of crap because they said by just uninstalling Win98, I'd regain my Win2k internet functionality. But I can't drop win98 because some games won't work under 2000 (I'm looking at you EA Sports). I'd like to keep both because I love the problem-free stability of Win2k. So has anyone else out there had this type of problem?

David

 

[Slikkster]

did you try reinstalling sp1?

 

[Hamman999]

yes

 

[Slikkster]

Let's look elsewhere...something you said in an earlier post intrigues me. Have you checked your "hosts" file in Win2k? If it's still named "hosts.txt", then it's not activated. However, if it's just named "hosts" then it's being checked for name resolution before the DNS servers at @home.

If you have a "hosts" file, I'd consider deleting it, and see what happens. Or, rename it, but there should always be a template there called "hosts.txt" that can simply be renamed or copied to "hosts" if you need one.

I couldn't find anything about adaware that uses the hosts file, but lots of people are now using their host files to include the tons of ad-banner sites to reroute all name-resolution requests back to your own pc, meaning no ad-banners. Something could be amiss in your hosts file that is causing a loopback to you on all DNS requests. Deleting that file would remedy it as the pecking order would take ya right to the DNS servers.

It's here:

c:\Winnt\system32\drivers\etc (assuming your Win2k is installed in the default drive/folder)

While you're at it, check and see if there's anything going on in your lmhosts.sam file that's different from the default, although this is the last thing checked in a DNS search, and shouldn't be causing a problem.

 

[Hamman999]

Slikk--
Checked the hosts and lmhosts.sam files and I found one entry in the hosts file (lmhosts was default). As far as I can tell I think the @HOME software (I installed the netdiag software for such an occasion as this) places an entry in it for my cable modem's internal IP. So I renamed the hosts file--no dice; still nothing. But while I was mucking around, I thought of one other thing that might be holding me back. In the IPCONFIG output one of the entries that my Win2k setup has empty is the DNS suffix. If I remember correctly, when my connection was last working, this had a specific entry. And when this last happened, after I entered my specific settings, this entry was filled. The problem is that I'm not too sure what this is.

Since you're much more in the know about Win2k and networking, maybe you could answer my questions about what the @HOME tech told me.

1. Can having a dual-boot setup cause networking problems for one or both OSes? I find this ludicrous.
   
   He told me that if I continued my dual-boot configuration, that eventually, both OSes woluld be in such a state of disarray, I'd have to reformat and reinstall both OSes. I know this is a fact with Win98 and this is called registry bloat. I reformat Win98 anyway about every 6 to 10 months.
   
   Also, why could be the reason @HOME has such a problem with users having a dual-boot setup?

One more thing, does it matter that all my PCI devices (modem , NIC, soundcard, etc.) all share the same IRQ? I have heard of this causing problems with some systems. And in fact, on my Win98 setup these devices all use different IRQs.

Thanks for all your help so far. I'm probably not gonna have time to try much else this week because of an English paper and a two-day English midterm essay exam (damn I hate Lit classes).

 

[kroc]

My "connection specific DNS suffix" shows USWEST.net (My ISP)
But that is determined (I think) by the fact that I can get an IP address from my provider. (where you can not) You could add it in the registry setting that I noted in an above reply but I do not know if that would have any effect.

Shared IRQs (many in fact)in win 2 k is normal when running an ACPI system.

Multiple boot screwing up your set-up?
Unless you have them on the same partition (which would be a neat trick) I do not know how you could have ANY problems with Win 98 screwing up Win2k.

Maybe Slikk knows more as he may be a network guru.

 

[Slikkster]

@home's comments aren't worth responding to.

Download this utility...it's Win2k's version of "winipcfg.exe" that Windows 98 has built in...otherwise, a GUI version of Ipconfig.

wntipcfg.exe gui app for viewing ipconfig

This isn't going to do miracles for ya, but it's easier to look at and copy info from.

Run it in Win2K. Copy down EVERYTHING in it...line by line. Even the adapter mac address.

Then, boot to Win98 and run it's built-in "winipcfg.exe" utility which will give you the same line by line info. Copy it all down. Compare the two.

I don't have anything listed for DNS suffix, myself, btw.

 

[Hamman999]

Thanks for all your help guys, but it looks like I might do a reformat and reinstall of Windows 2000 anyways. When I tryed to start my paper today (in Win2k after some more tinkering around) I think I fubared my Office 2000 installation. Some error message about not having the Offfice programs installed. Even if I just reinstall Office, I still have to reapply the SR-1 patch, right? Well, the update at MS's site requires an active internet connection, which I don't have. I think the reapplication of SP1 messed something up. So basically what I am going to do is leave everything alone until Thursday, when I WILL have some free time (hopefully) to muck around some more. Hopefully, the outage will be fixed by then anyways and DHCP will be fully operational again. Anymore suggestions, guys? I might bug a couple guys at school tomorrow who might have some insight, but anything else you can throw my way would be excellent.

David

 

[kroc]

Slikkster-

thanks a lot for the progie link.
I always liked that in Win 98 ...much easier then ipconfig.

Let me ask you something.
Is it safe to assume that if I release my IP address that I am no longer visible on the internet?
i.e. no longer connected to my xDSL?

I have a dynamic connection so it would be nice to be able to log off once in awhile to get a new address or for security (without having to unplug my RJ-45).

thanks

 

[Slikkster]

kroc, no prob on the link. Sure, if you release your IP, you're out of the loop on the net. However, when I release mine manually and renew it, it just comes back with the same IP from my dhcp server. I'm doing a test now, actually, by setting it to static to see if there's any problems with my ISP (it wants to renew every day).

If you get ZoneAlarm Firewall software, you will be effectively invisible on the net, anyway. ZoneAlarm is one of the only software firewalls that has passed a very stringent test on vulnerabilities. I feel quite safe with it. And if you have File and Print sharing disabled in Network Control Panel, as well as disabling Netbios over TCP/IP, you might as well not even exist as far as anyone else knows. So, I'd go that route.

ZoneAlarm free firewall

Ham ...if you reformat and reinstall Win2K, make sure you set it up as the same computer name as you choose for Win98 as that might cause a problem with your ISP (In Win2K, you can find it in System Properties/Network Identification...right click on My Computer and click Properties and it will bring up the tabbed box.

 

[Hamman999]

Well, I just got home from school and I talked to our school's student networking guru. He said he had a similar problem with win 98 and winNT4. He told me about my last resort would be to physically remove the NIC, restart Win2k without the card, shutdown, re-seat the NIC, and the restart Windows with the card back in place. Are there any other options besides opening up my computer that I haven't tried?

One more thing...when I used that GUI proggie for IPCONFIG, I noticed it didn't list the DNS servers I manually entered. Is that a limitation of the prog. or something I should be somewhat worried about (plain IPCONFIG shows the manual DNS server entries)?

David

P.S. Slikk, you have been a great resource of knowledge, even if it hasn't quite completely worked. I made sure that I had the Network ID entered properly as well...about 500 times. BTW, that program is pretty nice, but I'm still connectionless under Win2K (as if that was gonna change anytime soon).

 

[Slikkster]

hi Ham...no problem. I live for the challenge There's always something else to check, too. Like going into your services applet and listing every service that's "started" (when you're in normal DHCP mode).

Start/Run/services.msc

The services applet is like an explorer window, so if you want to re-sort by column, just click on the header of the column. Like if you clicked on "Status", it would show you everything that's Started, Stopped, and Disabled, all by group.

Also, in Control Panel/Internet Options/Connection, what are your settings? List everything on the Connection Tab and the Lan Settings page. For instance, my cable isp doesn't use a proxy server, so I have absolutely nothing in my connections box, and NOTHING checked in the Lan settings box.
(No Automatically Detect...No Automatic Configuration Script, No Proxy Server and obviously no proxy settings on the following page...)

Found something interesting from Microsoft's KB:

How Win2000 uses DHCP

Read that page, then go to the link contained within about how to disable the autoIP address range for your adapter in the registry. Even if your adapter doesn't show this, I'd still make the registry fix.

 

[Hamman999]

Sorry if it's kinda unreadable, but I'm back with a detailed listing of my entire Services applet:

Name---------------------------------Status----------Startup
Alerter-------------------------------------------------Manual
Application Management----------------------------------Manual
Clipbook------------------------------------------------Manual
COM+ Event Susytem----------------------Started---------Manual
Computer Browswer-----------------------Started---------Automatic
DHCP Client-----------------------------Started---------Automatic
Distributed Link Tracking---------------Started---------Automatic
Distributed Transactio Coordinator----------------------Manual
DNS Client------------------------------Started---------Automatic
Event Log-------------------------------Started---------Automatic
Fax Service---------------------------------------------Manual
Indexing Service----------------------------------------Manual
Internet Connection Sharing-----------------------------Manual
IPSEC Policy Agent--------------------------------------Automatic
Logical Disk Manager--------------------Started---------Automatic
Log. Disk manager Admin---------------------------------Manual
Messenger-------------------------------Started---------Automatic
Net Logon-----------------------------------------------Manual
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing-----------------------Manual
Network Assoc. Alert Manager------------Started---------Automatic
Network Assoc. McShield-----------------Started---------Automatic
Net. Assoc. Task Manager----------------Started---------Automatic
Network Connections-------------------------------------Manual
Network DDE---------------------------------------------Manual
Network DDE DSDM----------------------------------------Manual
NT LM Security Support Provider-------------------------Manual
Perf. Logs and Alerts-----------------------------------Manual
Plug and Play---------------------------Started---------Automatic
Print Spooler---------------------------Started---------Automatic
Protected Storage-----------------------Started---------Automatic
QoS RSVP------------------------------------------------Manual
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager-------------------Manual
Remote Access Connection Manager------------------------Manual
Remote Procedure Call-------------------Started---------Automatic
Remote Procedure Call Locator---------------------------Manual
Remote Registry Ser.--------------------Started---------Automatic
Removable Storage-----------------------Started---------Automatic
Routing and Remote Access-------------------------------Disabled
RunAs Service---------------------------Started---------Automatic
Security Accounts Manager---------------Started---------Automatic
Server----------------------------------Started---------Automatic
Smart Card----------------------------------------------manual
Smart Card Helper---------------------------------------Manual
Still Image Service---------------------Started---------Automatic
System Event Notification---------------Started---------Automatic
Task Scheduler--------------------------Started---------automatic
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service-----------Started---------Automatic
Telephony-----------------------------------------------Manual
Telnet--------------------------------------------------manual
TrueVector Basic Logging Client---------Started---------Automatic
TrueVector Internet Monitor-------------Started---------Automatic
Uninterruptible Power Supply----------------------------Manual
Windows Installer---------------------------------------Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation------Started---------Automatic
Win Manage. Instru. Driver Extensions-------------------Manual
Windows Time--------------------------------------------Manual
Workstation-----------------------------Started---------Automatic

I aslo applied the registry edit but to no avail . My problem right now is that I cannot renew my dynamically-configured IP address. I keep getting this message (still): "The following error occurred when renewing adapter Local Area Connection: An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket." This message also is now appearing under my event viewer from source DHCP. What does this mean? But I guess the real question is what's next? Thankfully, I have my paper done, despite having to rteype 3 of 5 pages (thanks to a floppy disk and Word2000 error). So basically I have the time to try about anything tonigth, since I have the time. A continued thanks.

David

 

[Slikkster]

Ok, First, I'd turn off that DNS Client right away. That should only be on if you're connecting to a DNS server on your local network.

I'll keep looking at the rest of the list, but that stands out right away. First, stop the DNS client service, then set it to Manual.

Ok, there are some other services you don't need given your configuration:

Remember, if you set them to Manual, Windows will still use them when necessary, but no need to waste memory. I'm still hoping that DNS client service is the bugaboo for now. But here's the other services you can set to Manual (stop them first):

Distributed Link Tracking
IpSec Policy Agent
Remote Registry Service
RunAs Service

I have a couple of "started" that you don't have, but that's only because you can't get a dhcp renewal:

Network Connections
Remote Access Connection Manager
Telephony

Let me know as usual. Good luck.