Can't go online because of DHCP I think :(?

Question

I'm typing this on my mom's computer, because unlike everyone else who's connected to the router, I can't connect to the internet on my (wired) desktop computer. It's worked for years with no problems with the router, and then one day Hunter puts in some sort of ethernet PCI thing without telling me (it's a looong story).

So I turn my computer on and get the "Limited or no Connectivity" error on my little connection computer icon thing at the bottom right. Eventually I discover the PCI and take it out, but that didn't make a difference.

I googled the words I saw on the PCI and came across an ad for one just like it. If it helps to know what it is: http://seattle.ebayclassifieds.com/computers-tech/federal-way/agere-systems-d-1156l-a7a-pinball-p40-56k-pci-modem/?ad=23441337

I Googled up a bunch of 'fixes', and one of the first I tried was a fix in which I open the command prompt and type 'ipconfig /release' and then 'ipconfig /renew'. When I typed 'ipconfig /renew' I got this error: unable to contact your DHCP server

So I began looking for ways to fix that (most of which regarded netsh commands, deleting the winsoc folders and re-installing the TCP/IP).

Eventually I just changed my static IP addresses in TCP/IP properties (I'm such a derp for not doing it hours ago), and the little computer icon says I'm online and such, but yet if I try to browse the internet I get the DNS error page like I always get.

I can't login to my router via my computer, but I checked it out on my mom's and it seems fine. I even resetted it by unplugging everything for ten minutes. When that didn't work, I did a hard reset which of course didn't work either.

Also according to the router, the DHCP server SHOULD be enabled- but of course it isn't on my computer.

Here's the ipconfig:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\tarra>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : starr-bfbd70121
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet #
3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-90-C7-36-2B
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.155
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

C:\Documents and Settings\tarra>

I have Windows XP SP 3

Other stuff I remember trying but it failed: Winsockfix (yay for USBs), restoring the system to a previous month, scanned with super antispyware and malwarebytes, and repairing local area connection. I know I did a whole lot more, but it's really all I remember. x___x

Sorry for such a long post, lol.

Answer 1

Whew! Now that's a question! (Most askers are so vague as to be useless or nearly so, but you're overkill!). Rute is correct, but to explain a little better - DHCP means Dynamic Host Configuration protocol, which means that when you're using DHCP you're letting the router "dynamically" assign IP addresses on an ad hoc basis as devices join and leave the network. Assigning a static address locks your machine into one address, which may or may not be available. You need to either enable DHCP and use whatever default address the router assigns, or dis-enable DHCP and set up each device manually, which is fairly technical (as you discovered) and harder to keep running smoothly for all.

As for what Hunter did, sounds like he put a new network adapter in your machine (PCI is a motherboard interface standard) - maybe faster than your old one - but when you took it back out you needed to return everything software/settings-wise to the way it was before, but all your efforts really did was paint yourself into a corner. Maybe Hunter could help you sort this out, and maybe the new card isn't really such a bad idea, just needs to be set up correctly. Hope this info helps. Any follow-up questions?

Answer 2

"Also according to the router, the DHCP server SHOULD be enabled- but of course it isn't on my computer."



That's because you disabled DHCP when you changed it to a static ip address. When you gave yourself the static address, you didn't enter any DNS information. I know this because your ipconfig window doesn't show it there. Enter the DNS info, or change back to DHCP.

Answer 3

Just go to the TCP/IP config and check "obtain address at startup".Everything will blank out and doing the release/renew of your address will restore communication.

Answer 4

dhcp needs to enabled to work