cannot obtain proper IP address via wireless connection

martini1179 · 02-22-2006, 12:36 AM

Hello All,

I'm having a problem with my laptop connecting to my wireless network. My laptop can receive my network's wireless signal, but cannot access network (ie. no internet access and it cannot be seen by other devices on the network). My wireless connection has always been spotty, forcing me to upgrade my wireless card's drivers, but ever since I did so, I cannot access the network AT ALL now from the laptop.

On the machine in question, I'm running Windows XP SP1, Windows firewall is disabled and I'm using a ZoneAlarm Firewall, and the IP range of the router has been programmed into the firewall (to the best of my knowledge). TCP/IP is set to obtain an IP address/DNS automatically. The router and network otherwise work flawlessly.

From my basic understanding of networking, my laptop cannot get a proper IP address. Instead of it being 192.168.0.X, the IP address is something like 169.254.212.46.

Performing an ipconfig /all gives me the following:

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name: D224GJ41
Primary DNS Suffix: [this is blank]
Node Type: Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled: No
WINS Proxy Enabled: No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Configuration: [this is blank]
Connection-specific DNS suffix: [this is blank]
Description: Dell TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card
Physical Address: 00-90-4B-74-21-F2
Dhcp enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration IP address: 169.254.212.46
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
Default gateway: [this is blank]

Performing an ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew gives the following error: "An error occurred while renewing interface Wireless Network Connection : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out."

The network authentication is WPA-PSK and the data encryption is TKIP. These have never given me a problem in the past, but I'm listing them just in case.

Also, I don't know if this is relevant or not, but in Windows Network Connections, under LAN or high-speed internet, I have three things listed: Local Area Connection (with a red X -- says "Network Cable Unplugged, Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller), Wireless Network Connection (Enabled, Dell TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI card), and 1394 Connection (enabled, 1394 Net Adapter). Also, device manager is not showing any red Xs or yellow exclamation points.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I wanted to give you all a clear picture of the situation. I do NOT want to start assigning static IPs to my computers, if at all possible!

Thanks in advance,

Marty K.

**Terrister** · 02-22-2006, 06:29 AM

Right click on 1394 net adapter (firewire) and disable it. See if that fixes the problem. Also loading SP2 would be a good idea. It fixed many networking problems.

**johnwill** · 02-22-2006, 03:16 PM

You really need to consider installing SP2, it fixed a LOT of wireless networking issues.

martini1179 · 02-23-2006, 06:33 PM

Well, I installed SP2 on the laptop and I'm still not connecting. Windows recognizes the network, but I cannot access it. My other PC, which is connected via an ethernet cable, has no connectivity problems (and THAT PC is even running SP1).

I tried to automatically repair my wireless connection via the new networking windows, but I got an error message: "Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: Renewing your IP address."

The items previously listed under Network Connections remain the same, with the exception of Wireless Network Connection, which now says "Limited or no connectivity." Also, disabling the 1394 Net Adapter didn't work before I installed SP2, and since installing SP2 it refuses to disable itself. Not sure if any of this matters.

What next? Do I have to completely keep XP up to date, or will should SP2 suffice to fix my problem? I ask because most are just security updates (I feel pretty secure) which sound like they do nothing for networking connectivity and my hard drive space is low.

I know that its not my hardware because I was able to connect to a neighbor's not-so-secure network.

**johnwill** · 02-24-2006, 08:41 AM

Well, first off, disable the encryption and see if you can connect to your network at that point. If so, we can start to figure out what's going on with the encryption.

martini1179 · 02-25-2006, 09:22 AM

Thanks for your help, but I think I've solved this particular problem. After upgrading to SP2 didn't help, I used common sense and rolled back the wireless card driver, and doing so let me access the network again. Ironically, I had updated that driver so that Windows wouldn't keep disconnecting my wireless connection, but that only made it worse. Yet attempting to fix that solved both of my connectivity problems, since I only needed SP2 in the first place.

Thank you both for your help, as your advice steered me towards solving my problem.

Marty K.

**johnwill** · 02-26-2006, 09:15 AM

Glad we got you going.

02-22-2006, 12:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
martini1179 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South Florida, US and A. Posts: 72 OS: Ubuntu 9.04 x64 Linux; Windows Vista x64 SP1	cannot obtain proper IP address via wireless connection Hello All, I'm having a problem with my laptop connecting to my wireless network. My laptop can receive my network's wireless signal, but cannot access network (ie. no internet access and it cannot be seen by other devices on the network). My wireless connection has always been spotty, forcing me to upgrade my wireless card's drivers, but ever since I did so, I cannot access the network AT ALL now from the laptop. On the machine in question, I'm running Windows XP SP1, Windows firewall is disabled and I'm using a ZoneAlarm Firewall, and the IP range of the router has been programmed into the firewall (to the best of my knowledge). TCP/IP is set to obtain an IP address/DNS automatically. The router and network otherwise work flawlessly. From my basic understanding of networking, my laptop cannot get a proper IP address. Instead of it being 192.168.0.X, the IP address is something like 169.254.212.46. Performing an ipconfig /all gives me the following: Windows IP Configuration Host Name: D224GJ41 Primary DNS Suffix: [this is blank] Node Type: Hybrid IP Routing Enabled: No WINS Proxy Enabled: No Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Configuration: [this is blank] Connection-specific DNS suffix: [this is blank] Description: Dell TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card Physical Address: 00-90-4B-74-21-F2 Dhcp enabled: Yes Autoconfiguration enabled: Yes Autoconfiguration IP address: 169.254.212.46 Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0 Default gateway: [this is blank] Performing an ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew gives the following error: "An error occurred while renewing interface Wireless Network Connection : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out." The network authentication is WPA-PSK and the data encryption is TKIP. These have never given me a problem in the past, but I'm listing them just in case. Also, I don't know if this is relevant or not, but in Windows Network Connections, under LAN or high-speed internet, I have three things listed: Local Area Connection (with a red X -- says "Network Cable Unplugged, Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller), Wireless Network Connection (Enabled, Dell TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI card), and 1394 Connection (enabled, 1394 Net Adapter). Also, device manager is not showing any red Xs or yellow exclamation points. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I wanted to give you all a clear picture of the situation. I do NOT want to start assigning static IPs to my computers, if at all possible! Thanks in advance, Marty K.

02-22-2006, 06:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Right click on 1394 net adapter (firewire) and disable it. See if that fixes the problem. Also loading SP2 would be a good idea. It fixed many networking problems. __________________

02-22-2006, 03:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	You really need to consider installing SP2, it fixed a LOT of wireless networking issues. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

02-24-2006, 08:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Well, first off, disable the encryption and see if you can connect to your network at that point. If so, we can start to figure out what's going on with the encryption. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

02-26-2006, 09:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Glad we got you going. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

02-23-2006, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
martini1179 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South Florida, US and A. Posts: 72 OS: Ubuntu 9.04 x64 Linux; Windows Vista x64 SP1	Well, I installed SP2 on the laptop and I'm still not connecting. Windows recognizes the network, but I cannot access it. My other PC, which is connected via an ethernet cable, has no connectivity problems (and THAT PC is even running SP1). I tried to automatically repair my wireless connection via the new networking windows, but I got an error message: "Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: Renewing your IP address." The items previously listed under Network Connections remain the same, with the exception of Wireless Network Connection, which now says "Limited or no connectivity." Also, disabling the 1394 Net Adapter didn't work before I installed SP2, and since installing SP2 it refuses to disable itself. Not sure if any of this matters. What next? Do I have to completely keep XP up to date, or will should SP2 suffice to fix my problem? I ask because most are just security updates (I feel pretty secure) which sound like they do nothing for networking connectivity and my hard drive space is low. I know that its not my hardware because I was able to connect to a neighbor's not-so-secure network.

02-25-2006, 09:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
martini1179 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South Florida, US and A. Posts: 72 OS: Ubuntu 9.04 x64 Linux; Windows Vista x64 SP1	Thanks for your help, but I think I've solved this particular problem. After upgrading to SP2 didn't help, I used common sense and rolled back the wireless card driver, and doing so let me access the network again. Ironically, I had updated that driver so that Windows wouldn't keep disconnecting my wireless connection, but that only made it worse. Yet attempting to fix that solved both of my connectivity problems, since I only needed SP2 in the first place. Thank you both for your help, as your advice steered me towards solving my problem. Marty K.