"Acquiring network address" - what gives?

In message , Mike Easter
writes:
Paul in Houston TX wrote:
I've never had a modem / router or separate modem and router last more
than 2.5 years.

Quite some years ago, Win95 days, cable modems were bigger and got much
hotter and didn't last long. My provider had to replace it regularly.
Those years I couldn't own my own and also there was no monthly fee for
the modem.

These days my cable modem is smaller and cooler and has lasted for
years and years. Likewise my low priced router.

But... if I don't have a spare router on hand 'at all times' I watch
carefully for router sales and buy one 'in advance' to have a spare.
The price of routers on sale is much cheaper than having to buy a
router when you have to have it.

The one I'm using was bought in that way - cheapest I could find then.
It's worked for years. It clearly wasn't that at fault anyway - the
other PC (a 7) was still working fine through it, and rebooting this one
made it work for a while.

After doing a system restore to four days ago, the link has remained up
overnight. Which is reassuring in one way, but worrying in another, in
that I'm unaware of having done anything (changed any settings) recently
that I can think of that would have changed anything and made it
unreliable.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Experience is the comb life gives you after you lose your hair. -Judith Stearn

Paul in Houston TX wrote:


Thanks Paul.
Good advice that I will remember (and write down).

Working up a beer can is too much work :-)
You'll need to drink another beer when you're finished.
Oh.

Paul

The problem is back, sort of.

This machine so far has usually connected to the wifi router on a
reboot, which connection then remains sound for ages (hours, or a day or
two); I then suddenly find the connection has gone, and the tray icon
that normally shows a little computer with ")))" next to it is instead
showing the little computer with a yellow circle jumping right to left.
If I hover over this icon, I get a popup showing

Wireless Network Connection (SSID) [the correct SSID]
Speed: 54.0 Mbps
Signal Strength: Excellent [it's only about 3 yards!]
Status: Acquiring network address

This is what I normally see while it's establishing connection; but that
normally resolves to "Connected" after a short time, and the tray icon
goes to ))) (radio waves). It's currently staying at "Acquiring ..."
indefinitely.

1. The router/MoDem is working fine; I can access outside web pages via
another computer next to this one. (This computer is also connected via
wifi, not cable.)
2. The wifi hardware in this machine is receiving, I presume, otherwise
I wouldn't get the signal strength reading. (It can see other nearby
networks, too. And I don't think any of them are the problem: I'm less
than 3 yards from my router.)
3. The wifi hardware in this machine is transmitting: if I access the
router's status pages (via 10.0.0.2) on the other machine, I can see
this machine's MAC listed in the list of devices connected (there are
only two, this machine and the other one), which disappears and then
reappears if I manually disconnect and then (attempt to) reconnect this
machine.

So it seems to me, it's something at a higher level - part of XP -
that's "gone peculiar"; the hardware seems to be both receiving and
transmitting.

Any suggestions as to how to prod it, other than rebooting? (Or ideally
fix the problem, of course, but I'd live with having to do a prod.) It's
very odd; if I disconnect (right-click on tray icon, View Available
Wireless Networks, click on the one - which is showing Acquiring network
address - and click Disconnect, then Yes), then reconnect (select the
appropriate network from the list [which refreshed itself when I
disconnected] and click Connect, then again on the password screen which
appears]), it goes back to Acquiring ..., for ever. If I turn it back to
automatic (because disconnecting told me it'd turn that off), by
selecting "Change the order of preferred networks", selecting the
appropriate one, Properties, Connection, Connect when ... on range
(which turns it back to automatic), it does the same, i. e. sits at
Acquiring ... for ever.

I can't "ping" 10.0.0.2 from a command prompt, or access it from a
browser. (When connected, I can.)

And yet if I reboot, it'll connect fine. (It's just tedious having to do
so, of course.)

Samsung NC-20 netbook; "Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter" it
says, and also "This device is working properly"; "This connection uses
the following items" has them all ticked. (Besides, it's been working
for years.)

Final thought - I see under Configure ... Advanced that "Power Save
Mode" is set to Normal (the choices being Maximum, Normal, or Off); I
could try turning it to Off (I use the machine on external power
anyway), but (a) surely if it did power down it ought to reconnect when
needed (b) why has it just started happening?

Remember:
o machine next this one has identical connection that works continuously
o hardware is receiving (signal strength, and can see networks)
o hardware is transmitting (appears in MAC list)
o reboot cures all, possibly for days

a puzzling one!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

So, Heresy be damned (well, it would be, wouldn't it?).
Radio Times 24-30 July 2010 (page 24)

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
The problem is back, sort of.

This machine so far has usually connected to the wifi router on a
reboot, which connection then remains sound for ages (hours, or a day or
two); I then suddenly find the connection has gone, and the tray icon
that normally shows a little computer with ")))" next to it is instead
showing the little computer with a yellow circle jumping right to left.
If I hover over this icon, I get a popup showing

Wireless Network Connection (SSID) [the correct SSID]
Speed: 54.0 Mbps
Signal Strength: Excellent [it's only about 3 yards!]
Status: Acquiring network address

This is what I normally see while it's establishing connection; but that
normally resolves to "Connected" after a short time, and the tray icon
goes to ))) (radio waves). It's currently staying at "Acquiring ..."
indefinitely.

1. The router/MoDem is working fine; I can access outside web pages via
another computer next to this one. (This computer is also connected via
wifi, not cable.)
2. The wifi hardware in this machine is receiving, I presume, otherwise
I wouldn't get the signal strength reading. (It can see other nearby
networks, too. And I don't think any of them are the problem: I'm less
than 3 yards from my router.)
3. The wifi hardware in this machine is transmitting: if I access the
router's status pages (via 10.0.0.2) on the other machine, I can see
this machine's MAC listed in the list of devices connected (there are
only two, this machine and the other one), which disappears and then
reappears if I manually disconnect and then (attempt to) reconnect this
machine.

So it seems to me, it's something at a higher level - part of XP -
that's "gone peculiar"; the hardware seems to be both receiving and
transmitting.

Any suggestions as to how to prod it, other than rebooting? (Or ideally
fix the problem, of course, but I'd live with having to do a prod.) It's
very odd; if I disconnect (right-click on tray icon, View Available
Wireless Networks, click on the one - which is showing Acquiring network
address - and click Disconnect, then Yes), then reconnect (select the
appropriate network from the list [which refreshed itself when I
disconnected] and click Connect, then again on the password screen which
appears]), it goes back to Acquiring ..., for ever. If I turn it back to
automatic (because disconnecting told me it'd turn that off), by
selecting "Change the order of preferred networks", selecting the
appropriate one, Properties, Connection, Connect when ... on range
(which turns it back to automatic), it does the same, i. e. sits at
Acquiring ... for ever.

I can't "ping" 10.0.0.2 from a command prompt, or access it from a
browser. (When connected, I can.)

And yet if I reboot, it'll connect fine. (It's just tedious having to do
so, of course.)

Samsung NC-20 netbook; "Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter" it
says, and also "This device is working properly"; "This connection uses
the following items" has them all ticked. (Besides, it's been working
for years.)

Final thought - I see under Configure ... Advanced that "Power Save
Mode" is set to Normal (the choices being Maximum, Normal, or Off); I
could try turning it to Off (I use the machine on external power
anyway), but (a) surely if it did power down it ought to reconnect when
needed (b) why has it just started happening?

Remember:
o machine next this one has identical connection that works continuously
o hardware is receiving (signal strength, and can see networks)
o hardware is transmitting (appears in MAC list)
o reboot cures all, possibly for days

a puzzling one!

Say, for example, DHCP was blocked. You could be "Acquiring network address"
for some time, if the router won't give you an address, or the
Firewall prevents it.

http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussio...ddress-174797/

Signal strength excellent, but higher parts of the stack
can block completion.

Your job is to figure out the mechanism, and even which piece
of hardware is actually doing it (could be local Firewall,
could be router). The router needs a large enough DHCP pool,
to hand out addresses to everyone.

Even something as simple as MAC address filtering on the router,
then (somehow) the MAC address value gets changed, could stop
communications. Just keep building a bigger and bigger list
of reasons :-)

Paul

In message , Paul
writes:
[]
Say, for example, DHCP was blocked. You could be "Acquiring network address"
for some time, if the router won't give you an address, or the
Firewall prevents it.

http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussio...is-stuck-acqui
ring-network-address-174797/

I thought, "I'll have a look at that" - but it's gone again! This is
getting tedious. (It had stayed up some hours after last reboot.)

Signal strength excellent, but higher parts of the stack
can block completion.

But why, after working fine for years (machine turned off during day, on
when I get in from work, mostly remained fine until turned off next
morning, and from Saturday evening to Monday morning if I didn't go out
Sundays), but has now started this dropping out!

Your job is to figure out the mechanism, and even which piece
Yup, I'm trying ...
of hardware is actually doing it (could be local Firewall,
could be router). The router needs a large enough DHCP pool,
to hand out addresses to everyone.

Only local firewall is software one (Avira) in this machine, plus
whatever's in the router (not any firewall I'm aware of, though I think
it does do NAT).

Even something as simple as MAC address filtering on the router,

Whitelisting? As it happens I do have it set up that way ...

then (somehow) the MAC address value gets changed, could stop

.... but it seems very odd (I've never heard of it happening) that this
machine's MAC could spontaneously change - actually, no, it isn't even
doing that, because when I look at the MACs connected (or trying to) on
the modem/router's status pages via the other machine, I can see this
one appearing - and it hasn't changed. (But good call!)

communications. Just keep building a bigger and bigger list
of reasons :-)

I'd like to be able to _start_ the list! But everything I've thought of
so far, I think I've been able to rule out.

Paul

OK, another restart coming up, so I can have a look at that webpage you
suggested (and of course send this post ...)

It seems most _likely_ that some hardware has gone peculiar, since I'm
not aware of having changed any software setting recently - and I could
easily buy an external dongle; however, (a) no point in wasting money
however little, (b) if it _isn't_ that, I'll be no better off.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

DOS means never having to live hand-to-mouse.

In message , "J. P. Gilliver
(John)" writes:
In message , Paul
writes:
[]
Say, for example, DHCP was blocked. You could be "Acquiring network address"
for some time, if the router won't give you an address, or the
Firewall prevents it.

http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussio...is-stuck-acqui
ring-network-address-174797/

I thought, "I'll have a look at that" - but it's gone again! This is
getting tedious. (It had stayed up some hours after last reboot.)

I now have looked at the page. I don't _think_ it's relevant:

o it says if you
disable the firewall/ICS
disable your LAN
enable your LAN
it'll get stuck in "Acquiring". I wasn't doing any of that.
o it says eventvwr.exe, System area should show an event id of 7023; I
don't have any 7023 under System.
o the KB it links to seems to be for XP SP2; this machine was SP3 when
I bought it new. And of course
o this has just (last few days) started happening.

Signal strength excellent, but higher parts of the stack
can block completion.

But why, after working fine for years (machine turned off during day,
[]
could be router). The router needs a large enough DHCP pool,
to hand out addresses to everyone.

I haven't changed anything in the router - and the only things connected
to it are this machine and the W7 machine next to it (which isn't
suffering any such problem, even though it spends a lot more of its time
asleep since I hardly use it - it's almost only on in case my blind
friend Skypes me).
[]
OK, another restart coming up, so I can have a look at that webpage you
suggested (and of course send this post ...)

Been up about three-quarters of an hour so far, still connected ... (-:

It seems most _likely_ that some hardware has gone peculiar, since I'm
not aware of having changed any software setting recently - and I could
easily buy an external dongle; however, (a) no point in wasting money
however little, (b) if it _isn't_ that, I'll be no better off.

Event Viewer|System _does_ have quite a lot of _Warning_s source "Dhcp",
but no errors. (I see it has an "Export List" facility; I could send you
a dump?) I'll admit most of what's in Event Viewer is above my head.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. -Abraham
Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S (1809-1865)

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

(snip)
It seems most _likely_ that some hardware has gone peculiar, since I'm
not aware of having changed any software setting recently - and I could
easily buy an external dongle; however, (a) no point in wasting money
however little, (b) if it _isn't_ that, I'll be no better off.

Event Viewer|System _does_ have quite a lot of _Warning_s source "Dhcp",
but no errors. (I see it has an "Export List" facility; I could send you
a dump?) I'll admit most of what's in Event Viewer is above my head.

Many laptops have an internal wifi card that plugs in (mine all did).
You could try re-seating it.

In message , Paul in Houston TX
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

(snip)
It seems most _likely_ that some hardware has gone peculiar, since I'm
not aware of having changed any software setting recently - and I could
easily buy an external dongle; however, (a) no point in wasting money
however little, (b) if it _isn't_ that, I'll be no better off.

Event Viewer|System _does_ have quite a lot of _Warning_s source "Dhcp",
but no errors. (I see it has an "Export List" facility; I could send you
a dump?) I'll admit most of what's in Event Viewer is above my head.

Many laptops have an internal wifi card that plugs in (mine all did).
You could try re-seating it.

Thanks; I might indeed end up trying that. Though it being loose
wouldn't explain (to me, anyway) why it appears to be working - i. e.
both transmitting [it can see networks] and receiving [I can see it is
there when I look at the router's status page from another computer] -
but not connecting. Nor why a reboot should make it go.

Nearly two hours since last reboot - still connected ... (-:
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Thankfully, I know where the bodies are buried (the abandoned Television
Centre, in the /Blue Peter/ Garden), ... - Eddie Mair, RT 2015/4/25 to 5/1

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Paul in Houston TX writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

(snip)
It seems most _likely_ that some hardware has gone peculiar, since I'm
not aware of having changed any software setting recently - and I could
easily buy an external dongle; however, (a) no point in wasting money
however little, (b) if it _isn't_ that, I'll be no better off.

Event Viewer|System _does_ have quite a lot of _Warning_s source "Dhcp",
but no errors. (I see it has an "Export List" facility; I could send you
a dump?) I'll admit most of what's in Event Viewer is above my head.

Many laptops have an internal wifi card that plugs in (mine all did).
You could try re-seating it.

Thanks; I might indeed end up trying that. Though it being loose wouldn't explain (to me,
anyway) why it appears to be working - i. e. both transmitting [it can see networks] and
receiving [I can see it is there when I look at the router's status page from another
computer] - but not connecting. Nor why a reboot should make it go.

Nearly two hours since last reboot - still connected ... (-:

Most of the industrial equipment we work on is plug-in modular and somewhat
similar to ordinary computers, just bigger and more durable.
Oxide sometimes develops on the contacts and prevents correct communication.
Sometimes the tcp/ip stacks develop an oxide layer on the contacts and we
can see and communicate with the stacks but the stacks can't send the
serial data to the other modules, or the reverse. Sometimes they partially work.
Cleaning the contacts and re-seating the parts gets them going again for a while.