Windows XP Documentation

When you connect your computer to the network, you can use the ipconfig command to verify you have received a network address.  To use the ipconfig command, click on the Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

At the prompt type the following, then hit the Enter key

 ipconfig /all | more

This gives a summary of all adapters that are present (previous adapters that were never deleted may still be listed).  The result looks something like:

Windows IP Configuration
      Host Name . . . . . . . . . : test
      Primary DNS Suffix  . . . . : 
      Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
      IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
      WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
 
      Media State . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
      Description . . . . . . . . : Dell TrueMobile 1400 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card
      Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-90-4B-23-73-44
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
      Media State . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
      Description . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller
      Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-10-4B-FE-BE-57
PPP adapter NdisWan5:
      Description . . . . . . . . : NdisWan Adapter
      Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00
      DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
      IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
      Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
      Default Gateway . . . . . . : 

 In the example above, most of the parameters (such as IP address and Default Gateway) are blank.   Once you obtain a network address, these fields should have numeric values.

If your network card is not present using ipconfig (the only option available is "PPP Adapter"), the TCP/IP protocol may not be "bound" to your card.  Click on the Start Menu, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, Network Connections, Local Area Connection, Right-click, Properties.  If TCP/IP is not present, click on the Install button.  Select protocol in the next dialog box.  Click on TCP/IP, then on the OK button.

Also verify that TCP/IP version 6 is not installed.  If it is present, click on the text of "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" and click on the Uninstall button.

When you connect your computer to the school's network, you may receive an error message that the computer name you specified is already in use on the network.  To remove this message, click on the Start Menu, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System.  Click on the Computer Name tab, then on the Change button.  Enter your name in the Computer Name field (such as MarySmith.)  Then click on the OK button.

Sometimes when an individual connects to the school's network and tries to launch Internet Explorer, the computer tries to dial out using the modem.  If you verify using the ipconfig command that you are receiving a network address correctly, the problem may be with the Internet Connection Wizard.  Launch Internet Explorer and click on Tools, Internet Options.  Click on the Connections tab and verify the option "Dial whenever a network connection is not present" is enabled (as the screen below.)  If the "Always dial my default connection" option is enabled, the computer may try to dial an ISP via a modem instead of using the Ethernet network connection.

Click on the LAN Settings button and verify no options are turned on.

If a computer is connected to the network and Internet applications are not working, or if the machine is moved from one port on the campus to another, one option would be to use the commands below.  Additional information about the ipconfig command can be found at Microsoft's web site.

Click on the Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

At the prompt type the following, with the Enter key after each command.

 ipconfig /release *

 ipconfig /renew *

Click here to view information concerning the feature of a Network Bridge with Windows XP.  Click here to view documentation on troubleshooting TCP/IP with Windows XP.

Some new laptops have a default configuration power management option that turns off the internal network card when the battery is the only power source.  The screens below were taken from a Dell laptop.  To disable this feature on this particular Dell model, a shortcut was present under the Control Panel.