I have tried for months to figure out what's wrong with my dell laptop. It started when I download a few games from ares p2p. This cause my computer to not be able to access the internet. I deleted the games and even reinstalled windows xp on it but it still continues to be unable to connect to the internet. It is connected to a d-link ethernet router which is only connected to my desktop and my xbox which I swap with my laptop. Help any suggestions...

Call your internet provider and pick their brains. They should be able to help you.

How did you reinstall Windows? Did you try using the Restore CD?

How did you reinstall Windows? Did you try using the Restore CD?
Yes. This is another reason why I want to know what is wrong with it even more because I paid 130$ for windows xp and reinstalled it and activated it and I still get the same prob but thanks for the suggestion

Did you do a clean reinstall?

Post the results of "ipconfig /all" from the cmd window while it's connected.

Did you do a clean reinstall?

I don't know what a clean reinstall is, but it sounds like erasing all of the computer data and reinstalling it. Im not sure how to do this. I just symply inserted the disk and chose reinstall windows xp and not repair or add any components.

Post the results of "ipconfig /all" from the cmd window while it's connected.

I tried you're method and the only prob I have seen is that it tells me that my autoconfiguration ip address is 169.254.9.203. Im not sure but I was told that 169 ips are bad but thank you for your suggestion and help further if you could.

The 169.254.. addresses occur whenWindows cannot find a DHCP server. These addresses occur randomly and will allow two machines to communicate with one another with just a ethernet to ethernet connection, no router. It could also occur if you don't have a link light.

There is a lot of info on IPCONFIG /ALL than just the IP address. Copying and pasting is possible, but it has too many steps. At a minimum it's left click on the top of the window bar, Left click- edit/mark. Left click edit/select all. Return

You may need edit/properties/ Quickedit checked on for it to work.

Then you can copy into a WIndows application.

Alternatively, I you can re-direct the output with a ">" sign a space and a file name. This will preserve spaces.

Something is amis with NAT and/or DHCP in the router or the connections.

Although your not wireless, not having the proper WEP key will generate the same error.

Since you stated that the problem is with a laptop, I would assume it has wireless? How are you connecting your laptop to the router? If it is a wired connection, DISABLE your network adapter for the wirless connection. If your connection is wireless, then disable the other adapter. Also, as a precaution, disable the Firewire adapter as well.

This sometimes happens when more than one network adapter in the computer is trying to obtain a network address. It attempts to set up two network connections to the same router. And even if your router did support Spanning Tree Protocol, your computer does not.