Err Msg: DHCP Client Unable to Obtain IP Network Address

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Internet Setup Wizard to set up a computer to access the Internet over a local area network (LAN), you may receive the following error message:

   This DHCP client was unable to obtain an IP network address from a
   DHCP server. Do you want to see future DHCP messages?

CAUSE

This error can occur if there is no DHCP server available.

RESOLUTION

Continue through the wizard as normal. When you are done, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network.

2. Click the TCP/IP protocol bound to your network adapter, and then click Properties.

3. On the IP Address tab, make sure the Obtain An IP Address Automatically option is not selected.

MORE INFORMATION

When you use the Internet Setup Wizard to set up a computer to access the Internet over a LAN, the TCP/IP network protocol is loaded dynamically after the necessary files have been copied. When Windows 95 loads TCP/IP, the default TCP/IP settings are used. By default, TCP/IP is configured to use DHCP. If there is no DHCP server available, you receive the error message stated above.