"Acquiring network address" forever...

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but the 3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3 cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it access the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to release and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore to 3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Try tip #3 at www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message
...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other
PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but the
3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3 cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it access
the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched
cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to release
and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore to
3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Thanks Carey - i'll try this tonight at home.
The PC was working fine earlier in the day, when my wife was using it
successfully for email, but somehow it suddenly stopped working. I'll try
this fix. This doesn't seem directly related or identical to the problem i'm
having ("acquiring network address") as part of the bootup process, but i've
leaerned that sometimes the problem/fix are not always directly related to
the symptoms.
THanks for the advice! i hope it works!

"Carey Holzman" wrote:

Try tip #3 at www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message
...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other
PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but the
3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3 cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it access
the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched
cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to release
and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore to
3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

It won't hurt or make things worse.

Let me know the outcome.

Thanks!
Carey

"Tim King" wrote in message
...
Thanks Carey - i'll try this tonight at home.
The PC was working fine earlier in the day, when my wife was using it
successfully for email, but somehow it suddenly stopped working. I'll try
this fix. This doesn't seem directly related or identical to the problem
i'm
having ("acquiring network address") as part of the bootup process, but
i've
leaerned that sometimes the problem/fix are not always directly related to
the symptoms.
THanks for the advice! i hope it works!

"Carey Holzman" wrote:

Try tip #3 at www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message
...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other
PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but
the
3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3
cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it
access
the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines
can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched
cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to
release
and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore
to
3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

i tried both LSPFix and WinsockXPFix, and they may have done some good, but
neither fixed this issue. I also installed/replace a brand new NIC, but that
didn't help either. so no networking yet.

curiously, when i try to release/renew the IP (in RUNCMDIPCONFIG), i get
this error message - "An error occurred while renewing interface Local Area
Connection 3: the RPC server is unavailable."

In Services (Local) the RPC service is set to start automatically, while the
RPC Locator was not. Setting RPC Locator to start (manually or
automatically) has made no impact on the problem.

any ideas? this is FRUSTRATING! and strange.



"Carey Holzman" wrote:

It won't hurt or make things worse.

Let me know the outcome.

Thanks!
Carey

"Tim King" wrote in message
...
Thanks Carey - i'll try this tonight at home.
The PC was working fine earlier in the day, when my wife was using it
successfully for email, but somehow it suddenly stopped working. I'll try
this fix. This doesn't seem directly related or identical to the problem
i'm
having ("acquiring network address") as part of the bootup process, but
i've
leaerned that sometimes the problem/fix are not always directly related to
the symptoms.
THanks for the advice! i hope it works!

"Carey Holzman" wrote:

Try tip #3 at www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message
...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other
PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but
the
3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3
cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it
access
the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines
can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched
cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to
release
and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore
to
3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message ...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but the 3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3 cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it access the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to release and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore to 3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

A temporary solution: Right-click on icon and Open Network
Connections. Point to the relevant connection under Device Name.
Right-click and Refresh. You are now connected and the icon's gone.
I don't get this "problem" with a full reboot. However, it returns
after hibernation. I have a Toshiba laptop.

I have exactly the same problem, same error messages.
Has anyone solved this or can point me where to go.
Thanks

"Tim King" wrote:

i tried both LSPFix and WinsockXPFix, and they may have done some good, but
neither fixed this issue. I also installed/replace a brand new NIC, but that
didn't help either. so no networking yet.

curiously, when i try to release/renew the IP (in RUNCMDIPCONFIG), i get
this error message - "An error occurred while renewing interface Local Area
Connection 3: the RPC server is unavailable."

In Services (Local) the RPC service is set to start automatically, while the
RPC Locator was not. Setting RPC Locator to start (manually or
automatically) has made no impact on the problem.

any ideas? this is FRUSTRATING! and strange.



"Carey Holzman" wrote:

It won't hurt or make things worse.

Let me know the outcome.

Thanks!
Carey

"Tim King" wrote in message
...
Thanks Carey - i'll try this tonight at home.
The PC was working fine earlier in the day, when my wife was using it
successfully for email, but somehow it suddenly stopped working. I'll try
this fix. This doesn't seem directly related or identical to the problem
i'm
having ("acquiring network address") as part of the bootup process, but
i've
leaerned that sometimes the problem/fix are not always directly related to
the symptoms.
THanks for the advice! i hope it works!

"Carey Holzman" wrote:

Try tip #3 at www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Tim King" Tim wrote in message
...
I have a similar problem that just started today. i have 2 other
PCs(running
WinXPSP2) that can access the Internet and local subnet just fine but
the
3rd
PC (also WinXPSP2) keeps trying to 'acquire network address'. PC #3
cannot
'see' the router or other machines on the local subnet, nor can it
access
the
Internet. IPCONFIG shows no IP address. Since the other 2 machines
can
access the network, i don't think its the router/hub. I have switched
cables
and switched router ports, but PC #3 just won't work. I tried to
release
and
renew the IP but that didn't help either. I even did a System Restore
to
3
days ago, when the network was working, but that didn't help.

I'm ready to try swapping NIC cards - will that help, maybe?
Any ideas on what to look at or replace?

"Hans-Georg Michna" wrote:

On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 17:52:03 -0700, "Christian Hart"
wrote:

Since installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (WinXP2, for
short), I now have a new permanent and *moving* icon for
the "Local Area Connection" in the system tray. It
doesn't interfere when I open my ADSL connection to SBC
nor is the icon set to appear for a normal or shaky
connection (i.e., the settings located in the properties
dialog for the Local Area Connection). The tooltip and
properties dialog for the distracting little icon
indicate "Status: Acquiring network address." The
settings from SBC are set per their directions (e.g.,
pretty much everything is "acquire setting
automatically") but their response about this issue
suggests that they're still examining WinXP2 and aren't
yet familiar with my issue. I also use Zone Alarm Pro 5.1
and can't figure out if the problem lies there instead.
The NIC is a 3Com Gigabit LOM. Can anyone help clear up
my admittedly network-newbie ignorance? Pretty please? :-)

Christian,

what happens when you left-click or right-click on that icon?

Do I understand you correctly that everything works and there is
only this irritating icon?

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset. This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.

Rebuild the Winsock and ensure the DHCP and Network Location Awareness
services are running. It's not an XP issue. Thank the spyware on your
system.


Carey

"sdoboze" wrote in message
lkaboutsoftware.com...
Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset. This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.

"sdoboze" wrote in message
lkaboutsoftware.com...
Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset. This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.


XP under any edition has always been known as notoriously slow to awake on
the network if left auto assigned. That is why you should ALWAYS manually
assign IPs on your LAN if XP is present.

Sorry not true. XP has been known since it first came out to be slow
attaining a network if left on auto assign for IP.


"Carey Holzman" wrote in message
...
Rebuild the Winsock and ensure the DHCP and Network Location Awareness
services are running. It's not an XP issue. Thank the spyware on your
system.


Carey

"sdoboze" wrote in message
lkaboutsoftware.com...
Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset. This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.

Not true.


"Interrogative" wrote in message
...

Sorry not true. XP has been known since it first came out to be slow
attaining a network if left on auto assign for IP.


"Carey Holzman" wrote in message
...
Rebuild the Winsock and ensure the DHCP and Network Location Awareness
services are running. It's not an XP issue. Thank the spyware on your
system.


Carey

"sdoboze" wrote in message
lkaboutsoftware.com...
Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset.
This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.

Sorry, you are wrong. It is a well known issue.


"Carey Holzman" wrote in message
...
Not true.


"Interrogative" wrote in message
...

Sorry not true. XP has been known since it first came out to be slow
attaining a network if left on auto assign for IP.


"Carey Holzman" wrote in message
...
Rebuild the Winsock and ensure the DHCP and Network Location Awareness
services are running. It's not an XP issue. Thank the spyware on your
system.


Carey

"sdoboze" wrote in message
lkaboutsoftware.com...
Have the same problem here XPSP2. ATMEL chipset on a 35mw USB adapter.
Works fine on many other installations with same router and chipset.
This
one in particular, "Acquiring network address" forever. Didn't happen
under XP SP1.
Yet another wonderful microsoft 'feature'.