TCP/IP Troubleshooting (Windows XP)

Computing HelpDesk

This is a brief guide in troubleshooting calls related to TCP/IP Networking in Windows XP. These are some basic guides that will allow you to check basic network settings and configurations.

NOTE: To view/change any network configurations, the user must be logged into the workstation as the Administrator.

Using the ipconfig utility
Using the Ping command
Using the Tracert command
TCP/IP Settings

Windows XP: Using the ipconfig utility

On systems running Windows XP, use the utility ipconfig to obtain network information, simular to the winipcfg utility in Windows 9x. Run this utility from a command prompt. Click on Start->Run and type cmd to open a command window. At the DOS prompt type ipconfig to see basic adapter information (this includes the assigned IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway). There are also several switches that may be used with ipconfig:

ipconfig /all	Shows all information about the adapters. The most relevant information from this is the description of the adapter, the physical address, IP address, and if they have dhcp enabled for the adapter.
ipconfig /release	Release an IP address leased from a DHCP server
ipconfig /renew	If the client has DHCP enabled then it will renew an IP address from a DHCP server

TCP/IP Settings (Win XP)

**To view network settings, the user must be logged in as Administrator**

To check TCP/IP properties, first open the control panel by clicking Start->Settings->Control Panel->Network Connections. Then right-click on the Local Area Connection and left-click on properties.

In the Local Area Connection properties window, there will be 2 tabs: General and Advanced.

On the General tab, in the list of protocols, ensure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is installed. If not, click on Install and then Add the protocol. If it is installed, then select it by left-clicking on it. Then click on the Properties button. In this window, you will see the following tabs: General and Alternate Configuration.
- On the General tab, it should have the following settings selected:
  
  Obtain an IP address automatically
  
  and
  
  Obtain DNS server address automatically.
- Click on the Advanced button. You will see the following tabs: IP settings, DNS, WINS, and Options.
  
  On the IP settings tab, it should show DHCP Enabled and the Automatic metric checkbox should be checked.
  
  On the DNS tab, Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes should be selected and the checkbox next to Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix should be checked. Further, the checkbox to Register this connection's addresses in DNS should be checked. All else should be blank.
  
  On the WINS tab, a check should be in the checkbox next to Enable LMHOSTS Lookup and the NetBIOS settings should be set to Default. All else is blank.
  
  On the Options tab, select TCP/IP Filtering under settings and click the Properties button. In the new window, all settings should be set to Permit All.