DHCP System Error causing crashes..

[bort]

Hi,
Having problems with my PC (It's been a bit ropey on HG on and off for a while now).
I thought perhaps someone both knowledgeable and helpful would be so kind to offer some advice in solving (what appears to be) the current cause of my computer crashing fairly regularly (but not predictably).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

Here's the Error Event Report from the system log (seen via Event viewer in Win XP). This error appears in the log at the same time my computer crashes, every time it crashes. It only crashes when playing nwn (which is only ever on HG).

Warning - (date) - (time) - Dhcp - None - 1003....
Your computer was not able to renew its address from the network (from the DHCP Server) for the Network Card with network address 00115006C25A. The following error occurred:
The operation was canceled [/i](sic) by the user. . Your computer will continue to try and obtain an address on its own from the network address (DHCP) server.

The computer is connected to a broadband router via a wireless network card. I also play nwn off my laptop via a wireless network card with no problems, so I don't think it's router related..

I'm running Sygate Personal Firewall and Avast Anti virus with web shield disabled (with the intention of avoiding any potential clash). Perhaps it's something I've blocked in my firewall?
This also seems somewhat unlikely as the crash seems to appear almost at random.. but with windows' many foibles, who knows

[fusa]

do you have dhcp server enabled in your router configuration? And DHCP type set to dhcp server?

[fusa]

also could be you're trying to connect to the router using an ip thats already in use by another computer or device

[bhao]

try renewing the ip manually to see if that works or what errors that produces...
open a cmd prompt and type:

ipconfig /renew

the workaround, although that only removes the symptom, but not the underlying problem, would be to set your ip to static.

[Ironfang]

I had similar problems with a flaky network cable and ended up locking the network card from auto-detect to 10baseT full duplex until I could crimp new ends on the cable. 10baseT is more forgiving than 100baseT with faulty hardware.

[bort]

Thanks for all the responses.

fusa said:

do you have dhcp server enabled in your router configuration? And DHCP type set to dhcp server?

Yeah DHCP is enabled on the router, should I switch it off and go with manual ip assignment for all clients?
There's no option for DHCP type on the router as far as I can see...or is that a client setting?

fusa said:

also could be you're trying to connect to the router using an ip thats already in use by another computer or device

Could well be; that's where manual ip assignment would help, I think..
Thanks Fusa.

bhao said:

try renewing the ip manually to see if that works or what errors that produces...
open a cmd prompt and type:

ipconfig /renew

the workaround, although that only removes the symptom, but not the underlying problem, would be to set your ip to static.

Thanks, another thing to try.

ironfang said:

I had similar problems with a flaky network cable and ended up locking the network card from auto-detect to 10baseT full duplex until I could crimp new ends on the cable. 10baseT is more forgiving than 100baseT with faulty hardware.

I'll try it, thanks.

[bort]

bhao: No errors with manual renewal. Not sure that will have any permanent effect though.
@ Ironfang: Is it possible to do this with a wireless network card? I couldn't find the option..

[bort]

Windows firewall was on (unknown to me, forgot to switch off after wipe and reinstall) - just got a message saying would i like to continue blocking NWN
Hell no!

Windows firewall is now OFF.

[bhao]

try increasing the dhcp server's lease time, if possible to infinite. if not, maybe to a day or so. that way, windows would not try to renew the lease in the middle of your nwn game. windows usually starts trying to renew the lease when half the lease time has passed. a lease of a day should give you at least 12 hours.

you can check when your dhcp lease expires with

ipconfig /all

it should be the last line

[bort]

Thanks again Bhao, i'll look into it.

[bort]

"Lease Expires..............................:19 January 2038"
;D