No Ip Address

My mom just ordered cable internet and can not acquire an IP address. The ISP (comcast) says that they assigned one to her and everything on their end is fine. I have done the following: uninstalled/reinstalled network adapter, changed all wires, tried to repair the connection. all of the drivers appear to be working fine. she's running xp. I checked her IP address by using cmd ipconfig and it's all zero's.
Any thoughts on what this might be?

 

First, make sure you use the Comcast Install disk if you did not do so already. Next Right click on network connections, and click on "Properties". Then...right click on Local Area connection, and click on "Properties" On the first tap, make sure "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)"Is highlighted, and click on the Properties tab. Make sure its set to "Obtain Automatically" If its not, click the "Obtain Automatically" radio button, and click apply. Then click ok, ok ok. and hopefully that should do the trick.

 

tried that with no luck.
anything else?

 

can you ping the router? (start>run>"cmd")

Code:

ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

xxx being the IP of the router, consult your routers documentation for that

what about the device itself?

Code:

ping 127.0.0.1

could try:

Code:

ipconfig /renew

also I've found simply unplugging the modem for 30 seconds or so then plugging it back in again worked on similar occasions.

 

Whats the error results of ipconfig /renew?

Word, for word, please.

Is this XP SP1, or SP2?

 

Pyrate. there's no router. I went to her house and set up the connections for computer, router and modem. Then told her to call Comcast cable to get the service activated. when she called them they couldn't get it working so they had her disconnect the router. for now if i can just get the cable working directly thru her modem i will be happy. I can set up the router myself later. she's had this modem for a long time. the cable co. said that they detect her as having an IP and that it's right on their end. Could it be a bad modem?

 

adrnalyne- I'm not sure that I know what ipconfig/renew is. I've done run/cmd/ipconfig and there's no IP address. is there a renew command I can try from the run menu?
I will get back to you tonight about the wording of any/all errors she's getting.
thanks for trying to help me thru this, I know it's a pain not having the computer here with me. that and I don't know much about computers to begin with.

 

Start, run, cmd.

Click ok.

At the command prompt, type:

ipconfig /renew


What is the error? It make take a few moments to time out. I would still like to know which Service Pack is installed.

 

ok, i'll have her check the service pack and get you the exact error for ip /renew.
should i put the sevice pack 2 on a disc and install it on there now if she doesn't already have it? I was just going to have have get the updates after the internet was up and running. this computer hasn't been online in a year or so.

 

They should have provided her witha more up to date modem? This doesnt sound right to me, that they wont help her through this. Comcast has been known for their customer service, and they need to get a Tech out there to make sure she is set up. Right now, your mom is paying for the service, without being able to use it. You should call comcast and if they tell you "Well its working on our end, so theres nothing we can do" You tell them "Poppycock. Your guy was supposed to make sure she can get online, which she cant, so get yer butt out here, and fix it" lol

 

I agree 100%!!!
I'll explain... she is getting a $20 per month internet deal. This so called "deal" inlcudes a do it yourself kit. My froogle mother owns a modem and doesn't want to rent one from them for $3.00 per month. The do it yourself kit included a disk and a 1800 #. she spent 2.5 hrs on the phone trying to get it working and after that they said they could send out a tech on her dime. she has an appointment setup for later this week. I can't see paying for tech to come out for something that should be simple. so turned to you all for some ideas on things i might not have tried or overlooked.
that being said... I disagree about comcasts "great customer service" I have been fighting w/ them for 1 year about redoing the cable lines at my place to correct a weak signal, they've come out 4 times to run them... everytime they come out they have a wrong work order and think they're here to check my modem. i finally said forget it. been over a year and they can't fix one thing for me.
whew... ok, i feel better now.

oh yeah back to my mom. she tried installing the comcast disk and got an error. I'll get the wording tonight. the tech on phone said it wasn't a problem. (yeah right) you know, none of this is their prob. of course not. always my prob. if i had some c4 let me tell you.

 

Well, I dont have all the info I need, but I tend to believe Comcast. Its probably not their problem. Wanna know why? You would have a 169.x.x.x IP address if it was on their end.

Seeing how you don't, I tend to believe them. I feel you most likely have a broken winsock, but I would like errors and the service pack level before blindly suggesting a repair method.

 

Alright Adryn. I can't get it till tonight. but as soon as i have it i'll post it up here. ignore the psycho babble.

 

No rush, I'll be here off and on.

 

alright, this is what she has.

when running the ipconfig /renew she gets:
"an error occured while renewing interface network 3. the RPC server is unavailable"

when trying install the comcast cd she gets:
"one or more installation files are missing or have become corrupted. you can exit and start again or call the comcast 1800 #"

she has windows xp service pack 2.

sorry there's no code or specific error to report.
any ideas?

 

At a command prompt, (cmd.exe)

Type netsh.

Press Enter

at the netsh prompt, type

winsock rebuild

Hit enter, reboot when its done.


Let us know how that works out.

 

If the winsock reset fails (and it probably won't); try start->run->services.exe, hit OK. Check the "DHCP" service (and the DNS service, while you are in the area); make sure it is running and set to "automatic."

 

after typing in the netsh she gets the error:

intialization function inithelperdll in ipmontr.dll failed to star with error code 10107 netsh>

I had her go thru with the winsock rebuild and it said no command found.

she also tried the services.exe and nothing came up, she went to her connections and said they are all on auto.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259

Go through the section thats not for Sp2.

 

she does have the sp2.
you still want me to try the steps for not having it?

 

Considering the SP2 method didn't work--yes.

Make certain you backup anything you modify in the registry.

 

You also might want to try my earlier suggestion as well, except type "services.msc" instead of "services.exe" into the run line (sorry about the typo! )

 

checked that gecks. all's kosher.

As using the microsoft link Adrynalyne gave me with the setup cd, well she has 12 cd's and none say "setup". The comcast tech is coming out this morning. I really appreciate all of the help. I'll keep you posted on the outcome good bad or impartial.
Thanks again
-Cass

 

You don't need a CD for my method.


Windows XP without Service Pack 2 instructions
To repair Winsockif you do not have Windows XP SP2 installed, delete the corrupted registry keys, and then reinstall the TCP/IP protocol.
Step 1: Delete the corrupted registry keys
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

For more information about how to back up the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/) How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. In Registry Editor, locate the following keys, right-click each key, and then click Delete:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
4. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
Note Restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys. Doing so causes the Windows XP operating system to create new shell entries for those two keys. If you do not restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys, the next step does not work correctly.
Step 2: Install TCP/IP
1. Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.
2. Click Install.
3. Click Protocol, and then click Add.
4. Click Have Disk.
5. Type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
6. On the list of available protocols, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
7. Restart the computer.

 

apparently she didn't print out all the directions.
I called her, did it, it worked, you're the man!
I can't thank you enough.
would a damaged winsock cause prob writing pics to cd or slow starup?

 

Wow! You people are all excellent! Good job on sticking through it 1trkmind and Adrynalyne and Gecks...way to go.

 

Not, but the slow startup could be spyware--which probably caused the winsock problem.

 

when I said slow startup, I meant slooooow startup. about 5-10 min with nothing but the winxp "vortex space" wallpaper before it would load up. after redoing the winsock it starts right up.
I'm going to get her cleaned up w/ lavasoft, adaware away, spybot and norton system works when I have a chance. Thanks again everyone. she called me last night and said she can only get on the Comcast home page and nothing else. I think I can get her taken care of tho when I go over there.
Once again my hat goes off to all that helped!!!!
-Cass