Topic: Is DHCP stalling XP startup?

[bibbity]

Hello

Since I got ADSL installed onto my Windows XP PC I've found that my startup is slower.  The initial XP Welcome screen/user logon screen (we have multiple user accounts set up) displays just as quick as always.  But when a user attempts to login for the first time after a PC reboot there is a considerable delay of between 30s and 1 minute before any applications begin to respond.  

If, for instance, I logon and try to launch say MS Word or Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer, the PC will just sit there and ignore me (considerably frustrating).  Then a minute or so later all the programs I tried to start will appear.  

In my system log I see the following entry at about the same time as I login:

This ERROR is displayed...
Your computer was not assigned an address from the network (by the DHCP Server) for the Network Card with network address xx4553547777.  The following error occurred:
The operation was canceled by the user. . Your computer will continue to try and obtain an address on its own from the network address (DHCP) server.

Followed by this WARNING...
Your computer has detected that the IP address 218.166.xx.xx for the Network Card with network address xx4553547777 is already in use on the network. Your computer will automatically attempt to obtain a different address.


I can appreciate that this error is not a disaster.  But it is severely taxing our collective patience.  Is there a way to prevent this long delay from happening?

Many thanks
BibbityBobbityBoo

* Adept munged the IP addresses to avoid security problems for BBB[/color]

[TR]

BibbityBobbityBoo  

I also have the same problem when I boot up BibbityBobbityBoo, but unlike you I dont have adsl.

When the PC boots the splash screen appears with users names, log in ok then for 1-2 mins nothing happens, then everything kicks into life.

I hope someone has an answer to our problem BibbityBobbityBoo


Hookstar

[Clive]

Hi Bibbity and    One of our techies will be along shortly to help answer both your questions.

[Clive]

I think Hook rather likes your nickname BibbityBobbityBoo.  

[TR]

Does seem to roll of the tongue very easy Clive  .

Forgot to say hi and welcome before BibbityBobbityBoo.


Hookstar

[Adept]

You'll need to tell us a little more about how this PC is connected to the Net BBB.

Could you let me know how you connect to the Net. Do you have an USB or Ethernet ADSL modem or a router? Do you have a network?

Your PC is set to use DHCP to obtain an IP address. I think the delay happens because there isn't a DHCP server on your network.

You will find that the delay goes away if you assign your PC a permenant (static) IP address.

What this static IP is depends on your answers to the questions above

[Michelle]

Just wanted to say Hi BibbityBobbityBoo  

[Camstop]

Hi Bib.... ...Are you any relation to that other Bobbit guy..

Have fun and fix your pc at the same time.. ...BUT remember...

[bibbity]

Hello all. Everyone here is so welcoming. Thank you all for that.

Adept, in answer to your questions:

>Could you let me know how you connect to the Net. Do you have an USB or Ethernet ADSL modem or a router? Do you have a network?

I connect to the internet via an ISP using an ADSL modem (i think it's ethernet...).  


>Your PC is set to use DHCP to obtain an IP address. I think the delay happens because there isn't a DHCP server on your network.

I think that you are right: at the time that XP is trying to get the IP address, I think there is no DHCP server on the network because I'm not yet connected to a network.  I can only open the connection to my ISP after XP has finished all her doings.  

Can I still assign my PC a static IP?  
Will my ISP then deliver a dynamic IP when I connect to them?


Thanks for your brainpower.

BibbityBobbityBoo.

[bibbity]

hayelp!  is adept around?  if not can anyone else offer some input on this?  thank you kindly.

[Sandra]

Hi Bibbity, Sorry for the delay in replying I didnt notice that this hadnt been answered yet  
Do you know if your ISP uses a static or a dynamic IP ?
You can only put a static one in your connection settings if they assign a static one to you otherwise when it changes the IP you wouldnt be able to access it  

[Adept]

Hi BBB,

I thought I had replied :-[

I'm pretty sure your modem should be detecting the ISP-assigned IP address and assigning it to your network card.

Are you sure you have an ethernet modem? If you have, it will plug directly into your network card.

[Clive]

I usually look for unanswered threads too and flag them in to those who know how to answer them.  Somehow I missed yours BBB.  :'(   Please accept our apologies and we promise to be more vigilant in future.

[bibbity]

 la!  responses, and 3 of them!  thanks guys.

errr.. the modem is plugged into the network card.  when i start up my computer the connection with the isp has not yet been established.  i think xp wants to try and talk to the dsn server (pretty sure we're using dynamic ip's) but it can't, so it just waits to timeout.  

oh what to dooo...

[Adept]

I've done some reading since your last post BBB.

It would appear that the XP DHCP timeout is fixed at between 45 and 60 seconds. This default value is not modifiable

The only thing I can think of doing is to "hardwire" the addresses for your dns server in the connector for the modem.

Either that, or arrange for your modem to keep you permanently connected to the Internet