Troubleshooting Windows For Workgroups and DHCP

Last reviewed: July 24, 1997
Article ID: Q132246
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SUMMARY

This article provides basic troubleshooting tips for configuring the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) with Microsoft Windows for Workgroups.

MORE INFORMATION

Troubleshooting Tips and Techniques

  1. Clean boot your computer by removing terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs, and third party utilities from your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT configuration files. Remove or minimize the use of memory managers. Add back functionality until you discover the utility or combination of utilities that is creating undesirable effects.

    See the SETUP.TXT file included with Windows for Workgroups.

  2. Verify that the clients PROTOCOL.INI and SYSTEM.INI files reflect your configuration. For more information:

        - See section 9: Using Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with TCP/IP of
          the NETWORKS.WRI file in the Windows for Workgroups directory.
    

        - See the DHCP Automatic Configuration section in the README.TXT file
          included with Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups.
    

        - See the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 Help file (MTCPIP32.HLP) included with
          Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups. See the "Dynamic Host
          Configuration Protocol (DHCP)" section under Overview of Microsoft
          TCP/IP and the section titled "Configuration Settings in SYSTEM.INI
          and PROTOCOL.INI" under More Information On.
    

        - Check the Network Adapter Card Setup Help file (WFWCARD.HLP) included
          with the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit. You can also query in
          the Microsoft Knowledge Base on the name of your network interface
          card (NIC).
    

  3. Force the Windows for Workgroups client to recreate the hidden DHCP configuration file (DHCP.BIN):

    a. Use the ATTRIB command to remove the hidden and read-only file

          attributes.
    

    b. Delete the file.

    c. Quit and restart Windows for Workgroups to allow the file to be

          recreated.
    

    The client automatically creates the DHCP.BIN (a hidden binary file) in the installation directory.

  4. Verify the IP is functioning correctly by using ARP, PING, NBTSTAT, NETSTAT, TRACERT, and NET VIEW on the client computer.

        - The on-line help available for each command by typing "/?" (without
          the quotation marks). For example:
    

             NET VIEW /?
    
           For PING and TRACERT help, type the command without any parameters.
    
        - The Microsoft TCP/IP-32 Help file (MTCPIP32.HLP) included with
          Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups includes specific
          instructions on using these tools. The help file also contains
          general troubleshooting tips in the "Troubleshooting with TCP/IP
          Diagnostics Utilities" topic in the Utilities and Services
          Reference section.
    
    

Troubleshooting Utilities

You can run IPCONFIG on the client computer to check the client's IP configuration. For more information:

  • Review the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 Help file (MTCPIP32.HLP) included with Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups. The help file includes specific instructions on using IPCONFIG in the "Troubleshooting with TCP/IP Diagnostics Utilities" topic in the Utilities and Services Reference section.
  • Query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

          DHCP and WFW
    

You can run DHCPADMN on the Windows NT Server to check the DHCP Server Configuration. Use the Scope Active Leases option to verify that leasing is occurring. For more information see:
  • The Microsoft Windows NT Server TCP/IP manual, Chapter 4, Installing and Configuring DHCP Servers.
  • Knowledge Base article Q169289 titled "DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Basics."

Troubleshooting Resources

  • Check the Microsoft Windows NT Server Comprehensive Index for information on Clients.
  • Review the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups NETWORKS.WRI and SETUP.TXT files.
  • Review Microsoft TCP/IP-32 Help (MTCPIP32.HLP), included with Microsoft TCP/IP-32 for Windows for Workgroups.
  • Review the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups README.TXT file.
  • Review the Network Adapter Card Help (WFWCARD.HLP), included with the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit.
  • Additional information may be available in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Query on the following words:

           DHCP and WFW and CLIENT and 3.11
    


Additional query words: 3.11 wfw wfwg
Keywords : kbnetwork ntprotocol
Version : 3.11
Platform : WINDOWS


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Last reviewed: July 24, 1997
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