Unable to obtain IP address automatically

[EricZ]

I have Roadrunner cable modem/router and 2 USB wireless LAN adapters. O/S Win98SE. Machine#2, same as #3, works fine. WLAN config on #3 matches #2. "Link Quality=92% Signal level=100%"
Cannot get third machine to connect to internet. Auto ip gives me an address of 169.254.241.190. Lease obtained date but no Lease expired date. Will not release/renew. Get ERROR msg: DHCP Server unavailable:Renewing adapter '"'. Tried to manually config IP to 192.168.0.12, subnet:255.255.255.0, DNS server 24.93.1.119. (These are the settings that show up on machine #2 except IP address is 192.168.0.11.) When I go to Release/Renew the buttons are no longer active.
When I try to connect to internet via IE I get "Page cannot be displayed"
Is this an ISP problem or am I missing something in machine #3? Tried a couple of checks I found in Forum Archive but got confused about the Winsock thing.

[glc]

Let it get the auto IP - then open a dos box and ping 127.0.0.1. Does that work? If yes, the hardware is okay. If it times out, try reinstalling the nic driver, still no good, try a different nic. If that works, try a different router port, then a different patch cable. If all this is still no good, Google for "winsockxpfix" and run it (it will fit on a floppy). If all this still doesn't work, remove and reinstall all networking components. Best way to do this is open add/remove programs, Windows Setup - communications, uncheck dialup networking. Go into network properties (right click network neighborhood or use the networks applet in control panel) and remove all components. Reboot, then run INETWIZ and set it up for lan connectivity.

EDIT - ohhhhh......*wireless*........does the computer have a hardwired NIC you can try? How many instances of TCP/IP are in network properties? I think 98 is limited to about 5 - and if you ever installed AOL on that computer, there will be a ton.

[EricZ]

Thanks glc. Pinged results: 4 packets sent 4 recieved 0 lost <10ms TTL=128.
No hardwire NIC. Network properties has one TCP/IP which is now blank...used to have LAN Express802.11 USB adapter

[glc]

If that's your only lan adapter, it will be blank and there will not be any more instances. I've always used static IP's with Win98 wireless, DHCP is not very reliable because it will time out before the adapter fully associates with the AP.

Put the static IP back in. Look in your router's setup and see what the DHCP range is, and assign a static IP outside that range. For example, a Linksys router is 192.168.1.1, and the DHCP range is from .100 to .199. So, I'd assign statics from .200 up in that case.

Then, reboot it and see if you can ping the router's IP address.

[EricZ]

By static IP you mean go to NETWORK properties and type in the address?
Put in address as 192.168.0.2. Ping timed out.
All release/renew buttons in winipcfg are now inactive. No lease obtained or expired dates.
FYI: Ran WINSOCKXPFIX. Thanks for that tool.
All is well

[glc]

There is no lease to release or renew when you assign a static IP, that's why the buttons are grayed out - you no longer have DHCP.

[EricZ]

Thanks glc. After running WINSOCKXPFIX all worked well except I have another issue. If I shut the machine down overnite I loose the network connection. Unplug/replug the USB and it comes back. Suggestions?
Checking hardware issues.
Thanks again for your time.

[glc]

That's typical with Win98 - the DHCP times out before the adapter associates. That's why I always use static IP's with wireless in 98. USB networking is flaky enough without this to add to the hassle.

[EricZ]

Can't thank you enough glc and all the other contributors!!!! This is a GREAT site! Because of the info available I have been able to revive my "at work" system(which isn't supported by a pd. tech as are the rest in the bldg.) and get back online. I'm telling everybody about your tremendous support. Hope you don't mind.
Thanks again, glc for your fixes for my home NET!!!