I've seen odd behavior like this with one of the software applications I
support.  In the past we have been able to solve it by ripping out the
entire suite of network protocols and services, then reinstalling.
Unfortunately, there have been times when this has happened that we've been
left with no other option than to rebuild the server.

On a purely anecdotal note, very odd behaviors can occur when messing with
network protocols and your login client.  Where I used to work we were using
Novell, and the Windows 95 and 98 workstations were using Novell's Client32
(all 10,000 of them).  When you install Client32, some portion of the
Windows based IPX/SPX files gets removed.  If you ever needed to remove
Client32 for some reason and log in using the MS client for Novell, you
could not do so if you had not retrieved the file that was deleted when
Client32 was originally installed (we had the file and instructions on a
network drive).  I can't remember if we had the same problem with Windows
2000 Pro or not.

I say all that to say this.  It is not at all inconceivable that a program
dependant on network connectivity will really mess with your network
settings or files.  Especially if the program was not developed with the
specific OS you are using in mind.

Kyle Elmblade
Distinct Computer Solutions
Sales - Upgrades - Training - Consulting
[log in to unmask]
"A closed mouth gathers no foot"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Whalen - The Computer Valet" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 6:00 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] TCP/IP is ... ahmm... broken?


> Hey folks,
>
> I ran across a Sony VAIO laptop today in a very odd situation. O.S.
> is WinXP Home.
>
> Essentially the end user complained that the laptop couldn't browse
> over the wireless network.
>
> After some amount of testing, I determined that TCP/IP was simply in
> an odd state.
>
> What happened was this:
>
> The WAP was set up to give an address over DHCP, but whenever the
> wireless card would request an address at boot up, the only one
> received was a APIPA address (169.x.x.x). (For those who aren't sure,
> this is basically a stock address that is assigned to an adapter when
> a DHCP server is unavailable.)
>
> Here's the kicker:
>
> When I tried to renew the adapter manually via IPCONFIG /RENEW, the
> received the following error:
>
> An error occurred while renewing interface local area connection: an
> operation was attempted on something that is not a socket.
>
> Wow. Ok, so the adapter is messed up, right? Nope. It turns out that
> _all_ adapters behave this way. (There is a wired NIC and 1394
> network card in this computer as well.)
>
> So, I asked the end user: "Have you changed anything recently." And
> they tell me they had installed ONTRACK's System Suite 4.0, but that
> it had made the system unstable so they uninstalled it.
>
> I then find this MSKB article, which says that when McAfee's Personal
> Firewall is uninstalled via Add/Remove Programs, TCP/IP functionality
> is broken.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q316522&
>
> On a whim, I reinstall OT's System Suite and activate the firewall.
> Suddenly, TCP/IP works. The adapters are pulling IP addresses. I
> uninstall OT and it's all broken again.
>
> I follow the notes in this MSKB article which explains how to reset
> TCP/IP via Netsh. I generate a log that proves to me that TCP/IP has
> been "reset," but this produces no joy. Works with OT's firewall,
> doesn't without.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q299357&
>
> For the moment, I've left the user's PC working with OT installed. I
> have put in a request to Ontrack to research this.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mike Whalen
>
>
> --
> Cheers,
>
> Mike Whalen
> The Computer Valet
>
> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
> Phone: (978) 670-5967
>
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