Please help, network connection problem

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Hi,

Booted up my computer today (Win XP Pro SP2) to find that my internet wouldn't work and my LAN connection no longer had an IP address. Tried pinging the router but got a message in the command prompt 'Unable to contact IP driver, error code 2'.

Had a quick dig around and think it is to do with a problem with the TCP/IP stack. So I tried various programs/methods for fixing Winsock 2 and the TCP/IP stack with no joy.

Also tried re-installing the card but that didn't work.

I looked in device manager, enabled viewing hidden devices and found that TCP IP had a yellow ! mark by it. So I uninstalled it and restarted and tried re-installing again from the .inf in the WINDOWS folder. Still no joy.

I even tried the netsh command.

I am lost as to what to do. I know it is a problem specific to my Windows (XP) installation because I dual boot with Ubuntu and everything works fine here.

Help me before I format !

Thanks,

aaazza
 
Could try driver rollback, I'm off out in a minute so I'll have to try it in the morning.

System Restore is a no no because I disabled it thinking I was above it, obviously not.

Thanks for reply,

aaazza
 
Alright mate prob talk to you tomorrow but thought i would post this anyway. Again no doubt you have seen/tried this but found it on a forum give it a try.


Step #1
Full uninstall of TCP/IP ... no bull****.
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These steps are copied from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325356
11. Locate the Nettcpip.inf file in %winroot%\inf, and then open the file in Notepad.
12. Locate the [MS_TCPIP.PrimaryInstall] section.
13. Edit the Characteristics = 0xa0 entry and replace 0xa0 with 0x80.
14. Save the file, and then exit Notepad.
15. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties.
16. On the General tab, click Install, select Protocol, and then click Add.
17. In the Select Network Protocols window, click Have Disk.
18. In the Copy manufacturer's files from: text box, type c:\windows\inf, and then click OK.
19. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
Note This step will return you to the Local Area Connection Properties screen, but now the Uninstall button is available.
20. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Uninstall, and then click Yes.
RESTART

succesfull uninstallation of TCP/IP will remove numerous keys from the registry including
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/tcpip
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/dhcp
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/dnscache
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/ipsec
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/policyagent
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/atmarpc
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/nla
These represent various interconnected and interdependant services.

For good measure you should delete the following keys before reinstalling TCP/IP in step #2
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/winsock
HKLM/system/CurrentControlSet/services/winsock2

Step #2
Reinstall of TCP/IP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Following the above substep #13, replace the 0x80 back to 0xa0, this will eliminate the related "unsigned driver" error that was encountered during the uninstallation phase.

Return to "local area connection"> properties > general tab > install > Protocol > TCP/IP

You may receive an "Extended Error" failure upon trying to reinstall the TCP/IP, this is related to the installer sub-system conflicting with the security database status.

to check the integrity of the security database
esentutl /g c:\windows\security\Database\secedit.sdb

There may be a message saying database is out of date
first try the recovery option
esentutl /r c:\windows\security\Database\secedit.sdb

this did not work for me, I needed the repair option
esentutl /p c:\windows\security\Database\secedit.sdb

rerun the /g option to ensure that integrity is good and database is up to date.

Now return to the "local area network setup"
choose install > protocol > tcp/ip and try again
 
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