Hi, We havea windos server 2003 active directory network running approx 100 windows XP clients. We recently tried connecting a windows vista (ultimate) and windows 7 machine to the network. However they would not receive ip addresses via DHCP. DHCP is provided via a windows server 2k3 server which is also a domain controller and dns server. A large number of 'bad addresses' started to appear in the list of DHCP leases until I unplugged the machines from the network. Both machines work correctly if I assign them static IP addresses.Any ideas on this one? I know there are problems if non-microsoft boxes are providing the DHCP but this does not apply to us.Thanks,Matt

Naybe some clues in here:Troubleshooting Windows Vista 802.11 Wireless Connectionshttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766215(WS.10).aspxor here:Troubleshooting Windows Vista Secure 802.3 Wired Connectionshttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766215(WS.10).aspx

Hi,We don't run a secured network environment so these documents aren't applicable I'm afraid. Has anyone else had problems connecting windows vista or 7 machines to a 2003 network?Thanks,Matt

Here's a Win Sercer 03 site that might help out:http://support.microsoft.com/ph/3198?sid=346

Hi, Thanks for posting in Microsoft TechNet Forum. Can computers installing Windows XP obtain IP address normally? If so, it indicates that the issue is mainly related to client network settings. I would like to share an articles with you in advance. On a Windows Vista-based client computer, you cannot obtain an IP address or options from the DHCP server http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942971 Meanwhile, please also refer to the following website for references. DHCP client may fail to obtain a DHCP-assigned IP address http://support.microsoft.com/kb/167014/EN-US/ Hope this helps. Thanks.

Hi,I found the problem with our Vista Clients - this was being caused by our Sonicwall Firewall/VPN box. When I disconnect this from the network then vista & windows 7 machines are able to receive ip addresses via dhcp as normal. I beleive there is a firmware update for the Sonicwall box which will fix this problem - https://forum.sonicwall.com/showthread.php?t=10054&highlight=vista+dhcp+duplicateThanks,Matt

Hi,Thanks for your sharing in this forum. It does a great help for community users who comes accross this similar issue. Have a nice weekend!Best Regards. Thanks.

0 down vote THIS WAS THE REASON FOR DNS NOT WORKING WITH DHCP ON WINDOW 7 IN MY CASE: After 2 days struggling, I suddnely notice that when I rebooted the router (after modifiyng some basic parameter) its date was probably reset to its BIRTHDATE (2005), so the lease it was giving was in the PAST and probably Windows 7 relies on the date given by the DHCP instead of its own... The result is that the lease is already over. Then 2 odd things happen, you can check them with "ipconfig /allcompartments /all" on Windows 7, for some reason : Always Window 7 doesn't undestand anyway the lease time: it declares isntead of 120 minutes more than 136 YEARS!!! If the lease is ALREADY OVER: Windows 7 ignores the DNS given!!! To summarize the SOLUTION in my case was: Setup the correct time on the DHCP server. On Windows 7 run "ipconfig /release". On Windows 7 run "ipconfig /renew". The DHCP WITH DNS shoud be UP and WORKING! So ALWAYS check the DHCP server date... Cheers!