I'm using XP Pro, and when I try to ipconfig /renew I get this error: An error occurred while renewing interface Local Area Connection: The system cannot find the file specified. I read to try to restart the DHCP service manually (My Computer->Manage->Services and Applications->Services->DHCP Client->start), but when I do this, I get yet another error: Could not start the DHCP Client Service on Local Computer. Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start. I'm connected to my cable modem directly through an ethernet connection, and although I do have Zone Alarm installed, it is currently shutdown. No connection to the internet really sucks. Anyone have any solutions? Thanks!

You don't need to restart the DHCP service locally unless you are running a server handing out addresses. It sounds more like you are just connecting to an internet provider who issues DHCP assigned IP addresses which is the norm. It maybe wise to verify your cable connections. Power off the cable modem, reseat the ethernet connection at the modem and you pc, then power on the cable modem. Check your internet connection! From the error it sounds more like you have either the adapter disabled or have disabled TCP/IP. I would goto network properties and verify that you card is enabled first (right click on it and choose enable if it has a red X on it). If that is ok then verify TCP/IP protocol is still installed and set to automatically obtain an address. Next I would go back to the command line and issue the ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew. At that point I would try to ping the default gateway or just anything with an IP address. YOu can get your default gateway using the ipconfig /all command.

Try going back to the services and double click on the dhcp client service. Click on the dependencies tab. Look where it says "This service depends on the following system components" and make sure none of the services listed are disabled. Hope this helps

Are you logged on as "Administrator" Siri

I am logged in as Administrator, and none of those system components are disabled. My Ethernet card is enabled (integrated actually, on Soyo Dragon Ultra Mobo) and when I do ipconfig /all, the IP address, subnet mask, and DHCP server all say 0.0.0.0. Also, there is nothing displayed for the Default gateway. And I still get the error when I try /renew. To make things even more crazy, I used an USB adapter to test the connection, I still get the same problems. So I don't believe the problem is with my ethernet port. I tested and checked all connections, everything looks to be in order. I appreciate your help, guys. If I can't figure something out, looks like I'm gonna have a visit from the reinstall fairy. =>

The NIC cards have diagnostic LED's at the back - check whether the "Link" LED is on. Siri

Guess what everybody... I had Systemworks installed, and everytime I tried to view my stats on Antivirus, it gave me an "not valid windows image" error. I guess somehow, the files got corrupted. So I completely uninstalled Systemworks, and voila!! Everything went back to normal. Don't know what it is...if somebody knows about this particular software conflict...let me know. Thanks for everybody's help!