"DHCP server unreachable" error message.

[Rasu]

Could you please help me?

I have a crossover cable between my laptop and my home PC, with my laptop as the main computer. I have the laptop IP set to 192.168.0.1, and the Home PC to 'Obtain and IP address Automatically'.

This set up actually worked for some time. Sometimes, when I open up the command prompt and type in 'ipconfig', it gives me a 168.xx.xx.xx address, and I just type in 'ipconfig /release' and 'ipconfig /renew' and after a minute of waiting, I used to get a 192.168.0.XX address. After this, I was able to share the Internet Connection between the 2 computers, the files etc.

But of late, I have not been able to get this 192 IP address. After typing in 'ipconfig /release' and 'ipconfig /renew', after a minute of waiting, I get a "DHCP server unreachable" error message.

I have tried restaring the PC etc etc, but I continually get this same message. I can ping 192.168.0.1 from the Home PC if I put in a 192.168.0.2 address on the Home PC, and I can even share files.... but I am NOT able to share the Internet connection!!

Please suggest what needs to be done. Thank you!!

Any help at all is welcome.

[Iman74]

From your description you do not have a DHCP to get an address so your computer is just defaulting to an address. So take those two addresses and change the last number on one of them so you have:
192.168.0.1
192.168.0.2

I believe (correct me if I am wrong) the subnet needs to be 255.255.255.0

Lastly keep them on the same Workgroup.
After that they should see each other.

Oh, assigning the address makes them static which is what you need to do unless you have them plugged into something that will provide IP for them (DHCP, Router, et...)

Also if I am wrong about any of this, or to double check, or take this further go to http://www.homenethelp.com/ and that will have all your answers when it comes to basic networking.

[bonzai]

I am assuming that you saying your laptop is the main computer, means that you have 2 connections going with the laptop - one to your home PC, and the other two the Internet.

The reason why you were able to obtain an IP address automatically with your home PC when connected to your laptop is because you had Internet Connection Sharing enabled on your laptop. Hence, you were able to use the Internet on your home PC.

Most probably, Internet Connection Sharing has been disabled on your laptop, so your home PC is no longer able to automatically obtain an address, nor is it able to access Internet.

Solution: Keep the IP address at your laptop that is connected to home PC as 192.168.0.1, and also enable Internet Connection Sharing on the laptop. You should be able to obtain an address automatically at your home PC now.