Kaj Haulrich wrote:
I'm ashamed to ask this :
A friend of mine has a box with Windows XP SP2 and can't access the
internet. I've agreed to help, so we now have his box at my home
and try to connect via my LAN connection with dynamic DHCP. Up
pops a message saying "limited or no access". When clicking this
message another dialog box says something about not getting a IP
address from the DNS server. And we should contact the network
administrator. Very informative, eh ?
With my Linux box there is no problem getting an IP address, so of
course there's nothing wrong with the network or my DNS servers.
Somewhere in this piece of shit we noticed that the box already had
an old IP address, but doing a "whois" on that (from Linux) we
found an address in California, U.S..... (169.254.2.90).
This is absurd. We live in Denmark.
How can I delete that IP address and get a valid one from my DNS ?
I'm totally ignorant when it comes to this crap, but I know some of
you know more than something about Windows, so :
ideas, anyone ?
TIA
Kaj Haulrich.
Kaj; Here's the problem - those of us who are competent at Windows
troubleshooting, would be embarassed to answer your request, simply
because they don't want to admit that they know how to fix Windows!
Of course, not that I'm admitting anything, but the IP address you've
been getting is a BullSh*! IP that Windows automatically sets for itself
when it can't connect to, or receive an IP address from a DHCP server.
Now, if I was a Windows Guru, I'd probably be suggesting that you check
the network cable that you're using, but then, if the problem is the
same at his place AND at yours, then I'd say it had everything to do
with the firewall in SP2, especially if he has an anti-virus program
which also has a built in firewall.
Once you have turned off these firewalls, open a shell and try this;
C:\ipconfig /release , followed by C:\ipconfig /renew
Assuming that the problem was a dual-firewall problem, that should fix
it, otherwise, he may have a bad TCP/IP stack, which you would have to
un-install and re-install, or a bad network card.
Of course, since I'm NOT a Windows Guru, I can't be absolutely sure
about this! If possible, try re-installing Windows without Service Pack
2. He'll be much better off. While you're at it, and if you can find it,
Service pack 1 or 1A would not only be safer and his system would run
faster, but you would also be able to remove or shut down a lot of
annoying services, which only serve to open a lot of nasty ports - ie;
Automatic Updates, Messenger, UPnP, etc., as well as removing Outlook
Express, Internet Explorer (sort of), and MSN Messenger - to be replaced
by AMSN (Open-Source version) or Trillian Messenger both of which could
be found via Google.
At the same time, you can switch him over to Mozilla T-Bird and Firefox
which will slow down the inevitable Windows contamination and
destruction, but those are just guesses, Ahem.
After all, I don't know a thing about Windows.
--
Mr. Geek
Registered Linux User #190712
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