Windows 95 Does Not Send DHCP Request Packet (162948)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q162948
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you are using Windows 95 with a DHCP server to assign an IP address, you may be unable to connect to or view network resources using TCP/IP.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the DHCP key in the registry contains eight MAC address entries. When this occurs, a new one cannot be created for the current session.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

Obtain and install the Windows 95 Windows Sockets 2 Update. This update is available at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/wuadmintools/s_wunetworkingtools/w95sockets2/default.asp

For additional information about the Windows Sockets 2 Update, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base

182108 Availability of Windows Sockets 2.0 for Windows 95

Method 2

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

Use Registry Editor to remove all the keys except for the Dhcpinfo00 key from the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\DHCP

After removing the keys, restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows stores the MAC addresses for each individual network adapter under the DHCP key in the registry. The key for the MAC address (and other information) is stored in a key in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\DHCP

When eight of these keys have been created (DhcpInfo00-DhcpInfo07), Windows 95 does not create a new key and does not send a DHCP Request packet to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. This problem primarily affects laptop computers that are routinely plugged into different docking stations with network adapters.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/8/2002
Keywords:kbDialUp kbnetwork KB162948
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.