Cannot connect to the internet [Resolved]

[LeoniAquila]

My latest XP Home SP3 nLite CD seems to work fine except that I can't connect to the internet. I've removed a bunch of functions and services, but I can't figure out which one that causes this problem. Besides, I'm not skilled in networking issues. All I know regarding my own connection is that my computer connects directly to a network, and the only Windows service I should need running for internet, is DHCP Client (I usually run only 7-8 services). I've connected on other Windows setups with this service only. Now, DHCP Client is set to Automatic but it refuses to start. What could it possibly depend on?

Below is a part of the session file. I would really appreciate if anyone could identify a potential issus that causes my lost internet connection. Thank you very much in advance!

LA

---

;# Hardware Support #

ALI 1535 SMBus Host Controller

ALI IDE Controller

ATM Support

Bluetooth Support

CMD PCI IDE Controller

Floppy Support

Gravis Digital GamePort

Infrared

Iomega Zip drive

Joystick Support

Modem Support

Multi-port serial adapters

Multi-Processor Support

PCMCIA

Ramdisk

Secure Digital host controller

Smart Cards

Sony Memory Stick

Teletext codec

Toshiba PCI IDE Controller

USB Video Capture devices

VIA PCI IDE Controller

Video Capture

Windows CE USB Host

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

;# Network #

Active Directory Services

Communication tools

Comtrol Test Terminal Program

Connection Manager

FrontPage Extensions

H323 MSP

Internet Connection Wizard

Internet Information Services (IIS)

IP Conferencing

MSN Explorer

Netmeeting

NetShell Cmd-Tool

Network Diagnostic

Network Monitor Driver and Tools

NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Protocol

Outlook Express

Peer-to-Peer

Share Creation Wizard

Synchronization Manager

TAPI Application Support

Vector Graphics Rendering (VML)

Web Folders

Windows Messenger

;# Operating System Options #

.NET Framework

Administrative Templates

Application compatibility patch

Auditing Resource Dlls

Blaster/Nachi removal tool

Certificate Management

Color Schemes

Command-line tools

Disk and Profile Quota

Disk Cleanup

Document Templates

DR Watson

Extensible Storage Engine (Esent97)

FAT to NTFS converter

File and Settings Wizard

Help and Support

IExpress Wizard

Input Method Editor

Manual Install and Upgrade

MS Agent

MS XML 2.0

Private Character Editor

Remote Installation Services (RIS)

Search Assistant

Security Center

Shell Media Handler

Symbolic Debugger (NTSD)

Tour

User account pictures

Web View

Zip Folders

;# Services #

Alerter

Application Layer Gateway

Automatic Updates

Beep Driver

COM+

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Error Reporting

Extensible Authentication Protocol Service

Fax Service

Health Key and Certificate Management Service

HTTP SSL

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service

Indexing Service

Messenger

Network Access Protection (NAP)

Network DDE

Performance Logs and Alerts

Protected Storage

QoS RSVP

Quality of Service (QoS)

Remote Registry

Removable Storage

Route Listening Service

RPC Locator

Secondary Logon

Service Advertising Protocol

Simple TCP/IP Services

System Event Notification (SENS)

System Monitor

System Restore Service

Terminal Services

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Volume Shadow Copy

Windows Time

Wired AutoConfig

Edited July 14, 2008 by LeoniAquila

[Ponch]

Now, DHCP Client is set to Automatic but it refuses to start.

...I would really appreciate if anyone could identify a potential issus that causes my lost internet connection.

So have you set your IP manually ? Or do you have no IP at all ? Is the network card correctly installed ? Can you ping anything ?

[LeoniAquila]

Thanks for your reply.

Now, DHCP Client is set to Automatic but it refuses to start.

...I would really appreciate if anyone could identify a potential issus that causes my lost internet connection.

So have you set your IP manually ? Or do you have no IP at all ? Is the network card correctly installed ? Can you ping anything ?

I never do anything to set my IP. After a fresh install, I install a software firewall, plug in the network cable and then the connection works. My IP is always the same.

I did remove some drivers, but none of them seem to be network related (well, ISDN and Modems are, but I've always removed the previously, without problems):

;# Drivers #

Cameras and Camcorders

Display Adapters

IBM PS/2 TrackPoint

IBM ThinkPad

ISDN

Logitech WingMan

Microsoft SideWinder

Modems

Portable Audio

Scanners

Serial Pen Tablet

Sony Jog Dial

Sound Controllers

Tape drives

Toshiba DVD decoder card

Didn't try ping.

Currently I've reinstalled a full copy of Windows over the nLited one, so I can't really try.

LA

Edited July 14, 2008 by LeoniAquila

[LeoniAquila]

Update:

As I was tweaking my XP (full, not the nLited), I managed to reproduce the problem with tests and a bit of luck. Here's the thing:

I couldn't start the DHCP Client service. The following message was returned:

"Could not start the DHCP Client service on Local Computer.

Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start."

I found out (probably no secret...) that it depends on NetBios over Tcpip. However, I've always had this service disabled, so why didn't DHCP Client start? The answer, or rather the solution, lies in Windows Worms Doors Cleaner 1.4.1. See attached image: chose "Yes" and DHCP Client will work. Chose "No" and DHCP Client will not work.

However, this all applies to a full installation of XP. So the real question is, how does this apply to my nLited XP? Could it possibly be "NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Protocol" under "Network"? Or anything else?

LA

EDIT: I kept NetBIOS, now it all works.

Edited July 14, 2008 by LeoniAquila