Troubleshooting MS Network Client 3.0 and DHCP

• Microsoft Network Client for MS-DOS, version 3.0

SUMMARY

This article provides basic troubleshooting tips for configuring the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) with Microsoft Network Client for MS-DOS.

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.

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

       - See section 16: Network Settings in SYSTEM.INI of the README.TXT file
         in the Microsoft Network Client directory.
   

       - Check the on-line help available in SETUP.EXE. Use the F1 key to get
         clarification on a specific option.
   

       - Query in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for the name of your specific
         network interface card (NIC).
   

3. Force Microsoft Network Client to recreate the hidden DHCP configuration file (DHCP.PRM):

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

         attributes.
   

   b. Delete the file.

   c. Quit and restart Microsoft Network Client to allow the file to be

         recreated.
   

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

4. Verify the IP is functioning correctly by using PING, NET VIEW, NET CONFIG, and NET DIAG on the client.

   For more information see:

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

            NET VIEW /?
   
         For PING help, type the command without any parameters.
   
       - The README.TXT file in the Microsoft Network Client directory. Check
         the table of contents for sections that pertain to your specific
         installation.
   
   

Troubleshooting Utilities

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

• Section 21: IPCONFIG.EXE and Controlling DHCP Leases, of the README.TXT file in the Microsoft Network Client directory.
• The following Knowledge Base Articles:

      -  Q94069: Microsoft TCP/IP Protocol Comparison and FAQ
      - Q123285: IPCONFIG Displays Invalid Results
      - Q130538: DHCP-Enabled MS-DOS Clients Do Not Resolve Host Names
  

• 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 README.TXT file in the Microsoft Network Client installation directory.
• Additional information may be available in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Query on the following words:

         DHCP and CLIENT and PRODTCP32 and 3.0