One of my users has an HP Pavilion dv6000 laptop, XP Media Center Edition, SP3, MS updates up to date. I cleaned the system from Viruses/malware/spyware/adware about 2 weeks ago and everything was working great--fast and efficent.the problem is:The users was using the laptop at home connecting to the internet through their cable company using DHCP, and the laptop had been working properly after I had cleaned it up two weeks ago. the user brought it back to the office and said that it will not connect to the internet. I plugged the laptop into the companies network and sure enough, it will not connect to the network. after running all the malware/virus/spyware/adware software to see if something was preventing the connection and they came up with zippo.since the laptop is set up for DHCP I figured let me try Static IP and it worked. I was able to connect to the internet, surf etc. i went back to DHCP and still getting Aquiring Network Address and won't connect to the internet.Any ideas as to why it won't connect through DHCP. All my computers in the office are working fine on DHCP. it is just the laptop that is having the issue... in our office and in his home.some added info:I was told that his son installed Skype on the laptop after I had cleaned up the computer a couple of weeks ago. that was the only software that was installed on the on laptop however the laptop was working fine after he installed Skype. Just for ha-ha's i uninstalled Skype and its tool bar utility to see if connecting to the internet would work with DHCP but it had no effect.There is a wireless adapter in the laptop which I disable and tried to get on the internet using DHCP, no luck.1 person needs an answerI do too

First, make sure your DHCP Service is running: Start -> Run -> "services.msc"Then locate the "DHCP Client" line and make sure its status is "Started" and Startup Type is "Automatic". Double-click on it to change.Second, make sure there is no firewall blocking port 67 or 68 needed for DHCP.Third, Try resetting your IP stack: "How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357 >Lastly, try one of the following repair programs: LSPFix: <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm >WinsockxpFix: <http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html >Hope this helps, JW

Thank you JW.Ok1) DHCP Services is set to Automatic however it was not started. I started it and was able to get onto the internet. however when i rebooted the laptop DHCP Client Services did NOT start up again. 2) Firewall is not blocking port 6 or 68 that i can tell.3) I reset the IP Stack4) LSPFix did not find any errors5) ran WinsockxpFIXafter running all that and rebooted the laptop DHCP Client Services did not start up again. It is set to Automatic.Any clue as to why DHCP Client Services would not start up? Thanks again for your help!

Your problem is obviously that your DHCP service is not starting.A quick look came up with this possibility... If the DHCP client tries to start up before the network adapter interface has started up, then the DHCP client might fail. Try looking in your System or Applications log for DHCP Client errors:Start -> Run -> "eventvwr.msc"Then open the System or Applications logs and look for appropriate errors.Also check this article:"How to delay loading of specific services"<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/193888 >HTH, JW

JW,Thanks for getting back to me. DHCP is working now. it was a rootkit that was causing the problem. I went to the following page and it helped out quite a bit.http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Rootkit-help-atapi-sys-t270282.html&p=1776132#entry1776132Thanks again. :)RI

I've been trying to figure out a solution to this same problem for about a week, while at the same time my wife's HP Pavillion running Vistas went to Blue Screen. After determining that the HP was going to need a new motherboard, I returned to my Dell Mini 9 running XP to work on the "Aquiring Network Address" problem.I had spoken to Verizon Fios who were great to deal with and spent a fair amount of time with me making sure everything was in order, in fact the tech went above and beyond the call of duty by helping me look more deeply into my system.I called Microsoft .... big surprise they were no help at all since the machine is running XP Sp3. Then I found your post......My DHCP Client was disabled, I changed it to Automatic.Then I reset the IP stack using the instructions on the link you provided..... I rebooted the Mini 9 and viola'.... Signal aquired.....Having a fairly happy Friday the 13th here....FMR

I am glad that you were able to get your system up and running. I try to post back solutions to issues that I have had to help others with the same issue. :) have a great week! RI