Continuously “Acquiring Network Address”
I was facing this problem intermittently – my wireless network connection would get stuck on “Acquiring Network Address” even though I hadn’t changed anything in network settings. Typically, this would happen after coming back from Standby. I use Windows XP Professional and the wireless router is D-Link DI-524. The only solution I knew would be to reboot the machine.
When even a reboot wouldn’t fix it, I would go to My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager > Network Adapters and uninstall the wireless adapter. Rebooting would install it back and the connection would work.
Today, I got stuck as none of these approaches would fix the problem. So I went out Googling and found the following solution that worked for me:
- Start
Control Paneland selectAdd or Remove Programs - Select
Add/Remove Windows Components - Select
Networking Services - Click
Detailsbutton - Uncheck
Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client
Save these settings and restart the system.
I have not seen the problem again since making this change.
want to leave a comment before i reboot my machine, if it works i won’t be back, so thanks again…just used your java bypass in “Can’t set WPA-PSK on DI-524 D-Link Router?” and that works great. congrats on your layout and presentation, as well as the content!
back for a quick visit, fix did not work for me. figure the DHCP is slow probably due to using wpa-psk, so i have manually configured the wired and wireless ethernet on the LAN. cheers.
sorry, another naysayer here…didn’t work in my particular ‘acquiring network address’ situation—guess I’ll be calling my ISP.
Thanks anyway!
Having this issue on only 1 of my 3 PCs on my wireless network which makes me suspect that it’s truly a problem with just the PC itself. I’m going to try your solution when I get home and see if that works – hopefully it will and I’ll post here. If not, mine actually does correct itself if I go in and select “Repair Network Connection”, but the issue is I have to do this every time I get onto the PC which is annoying to say the least. Here’s hoping that your fix works!
Your fix did not help me either.
Here is my problem:
I am having a problem that is driving me nuts.
I am loosing my internet connection intermittently. Time Warner/ Roadrunner replaced all the cabling to my house and inside up to the dsl modem. Linksys has replaced my WRT54GS router. Dell has replaced my Intel Pro wireless lan 2100 card in my computer.
I have a Dell laptop using Windows XP SP2.
Here is what happens: if I download more than 1 meg, then the system looses the connection to the internet. As you know, in the task bar on the right side there is a one monitor indicator that lights up when there is internet activity. There is also an indicator for the signal strength for the wireless card.
At http://performance.toast.net/ there is a download performance tester. When I download any of the files larger than 1 meg (even with an excellent signal on both the one monitor indicator and the signal strength) a little red “X” appears on the one monitor and then little dots radiate from the one monitor with the message “acquiring the network address”. So my computer is loosing the network address when downloading large files.
If I download the 4 meg file once, it will usually do it okay but if I immediately download again, at the same place each time, the little red X appears and the network address is lost.
Here is the analogy that appears to be about the way things are happening. Imagine a bucket and every time the bucket is filled once and then half again, the system looses the network address.
At my office, using a different router and cable modem and different ISP, I do not have these problems. At home, no problem if I connect directly to the modem. And my wife’s Dell laptop does NOT have the problem at home; just my computer.
Does anyone have any ideas? Dell is getting to the point that i may have to erase every thing and reinstall Windows due to corrupted files. That I really do not want to do if there is any other way.
Thanks,
Chuck
GREAT advice!!
Worked like a champ.
Don’t know exactly what or why, just know it worked first time.
THANKS
Hadnt heard of the device uninstall, but i tried that and that worked.
not really the advice you were trying to convey, but it worked!
After several hours searching the net I came accross your solution, I know my problem was with the encryption key, because whenever I disabled the encryption on my router, the connection would establish with no problem I tried your solution and it worked like charm, I don’t know why or how but it worked. You have my gratitude. thanks
Your solution worked for me. I didn’t even have to restart the system and it worked. I’m running a Dell D830 with XP SP2.
Thanks!
Steve
did not work for me threw away computer and bought a new one that worked
Did not work for me…
Your solution worked for me, thanks a lot!
It worked for me!!! Thanks for the help!!
hi, i have been having this problem for sometime. i have an acer netbook, which is giving me the problem, and two other laptops in the house which are working fine with the router. the message “acquiring network address” only shows at home, i pick up internet on my acer at libraries, coffee shops and school just fine. so i dont think there is anything wrong with my computer. i dont know enough about computers to troubleshoot this but i would assume it would have to do with the settings for that particular router in my acer. i have tried to remove it from my preferred networks and reset it up but that doesnt do anything. when i look up the ip address it shows all zeros. but my settings are to auto acquire the ip address. which must work since i can connect other places besides my house.
i tried the first suggestion of going to add/remove programs etc. and it did nothing. i would really appreciate some ideas.
oh, i am running XP 2002 home edition.
The inconsistent behavior that you describe makes it really tricky. In my experience, reinstalling the drivers has been helpful, in general, with network issues. You could look for the latest drivers for your laptop from http://www.acersupport.com/notebook/.
I have met this problem. I try to reinstalling the driver, but still on that status. until I try to activated DHCP client on Services, and it’s going connect again. but Thanks for your info.
This worked for me on a Dell Inspiron B130 laptop. Thank you very much.
after 3 days of f acquiring network address and many hours talking to my server , I decided to have a go myself. It was so simple. i disabled windows control and allowed intel proset/wireless to take over ,,, hey presto, it worked immediately… Hope this helps u guys
Hey – tried bunches of solutions but this one worked!!! going to do some more diagnostic stuff but at least can access the net. Thanks
no dice. thanks anyway.
I have been toying with this same issue for weeks, followed your simple advice and I am off and running. thanks
This did nothing for me ):
i have a fujitsu lifebook t series and my computer switches forom acquiring network address and not connected, i am getting very annoyed since i just got the computer today ):
Thank you so much! I brought a Dell Mini today in replace of my old advent which decided to stick two middle fingers up at any reboot the tech guys tried! Anyway brought the mini duer to uni being in 4 days and was horrified when the internet wouldn’t work, Ive been on the net for hours trying to fix my problem and yours did, you have my gratitude, once again thank you so much!
Nice posting… It helped me a lot…
This worked for a Dell Inspiron 9400. Thanks.
Thank you so much. I was about to give up and just cry. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You don’t know how much you helped.
Hey, I just tried this too, and so far (last 28 minutes), it’s working! My old Toshiba laptop has been giving me the “acquiring network address” forever, and the only way to fix it was to reboot. And sometimes that didn’t even work. I have the Intel 2200BG network adaptor, which has lots of other problems. This is our backup computer…time to get a new one! By the way, we have 2 Toshiba laptops and they’ve been great.