Networking Support – Repair Windows Winsock TCP/IP Corruption

Windows Networking Drivers Corrupted (Winsock)



I am getting an error message "limited or no connectivity" when I try to access the network. Or I have an IP address starting with 169.254.xxx.xxx. What is wrong?


One possible cause is that your computers Windows Winsock TCP/IP Stack (required for MS Windows networking) have become corrupted.

Note. This information is based on Windows XP operating system only.

This page gives further details on how to diagnose if this is the cause of your network problems and ways to repair the corrupted systems. This is a rare problem but has been found on many personal computers in Halls of residence. The problem can be caused by unsolicited spyware installations and by the removal of such spyware from the Microsoft Windows operating system using spyware removal programs. Microsoft have recognised this problem with Microsoft Windows XP and have issued some advice on their support website.

Diagnose Windows XP

The best way on windows XP of diagnosing this problem is to try to release and renew your IP address (Help on how to do this can be found on out IP help page, see related links). When you try to do this on a windows XP computer with a corrupted Winsock TCP/IP networking stack you will get the error message:

"An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket."

You will also probably be able to get a network connection but no IP address and Windows XP will state you have "limited or no connectivity".

Resolutions

This is a clear sign that Winsock corruption is the problem. The next stage is to refresh or reinstall your Windows Winsock TCP/IP stack. From Windows 98 you could do this manually from the "Control panel" and "Network Properties". However uninstalling the TCP/IP protocol in Windows XP is not restricted. The Microsoft support guides below are the best guidelines for reinstalling the TCP/IP stack, and you may also wish to read the information pages listed below as well:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892350 - WinXP service pack 2 fix.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817571 - WinXP service pack 1 fix.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259 - Recover and diagnose Winsock2 corruption.

http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=4625 - Other background information.

Important. Depending on which Service Pack version of Windows XP you have installed on your pc there are different methods of fixing this problem. To find out what version and service pack of Windows you have click right mouse button on the 'My Computer' icon and select 'Properties', then under the 'General' tab it will state the version, Service Pack 1 or 2 (as of 2005/2006).


Windows XP Service Pack 2

We advise following the Microsoft support guides when fixing this problem (especially when editing the Windows Registry). However the Windows XP Service Pack 2 version does have a built in Winsock reset system and there is a simple command that can fix this problem.
Open an MS-DOS command prompt window and type in the command:

netsh winsock reset catalog

Then restart your computer and your networking should be working again.


Windows XP Service Pack 1

Windows XP Service Pack 1 version is harder to fix. It requires deleting the corrupted Winsock registry entries an reinstalling the TCP/IP Protocol in your 'Local Area Connection Properties'. We strongly advise caution when editing your Registry Settings and to backup your computer before attempting it. There are also many automatic Winsock quick fix programs to be found on the Internet that claim to fix these registry items automatically at the click of a button. We cannot personally recommend any program in particular as we cannot ensure the safety or trustworthiness of the program. Microsoft's online guides http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817571 are the recommended ones to follow if you are confident you know what you are doing.



Other Possible Resolutions

If you suspect the use of spyware removal tools to be the definite cause of this Winsock corruption then you can try to 'Undo' the removal process for example in 'Ad-aware' (or which ever spyware removal tool you are using) and see if this restores the Winsock information. You will need to Restart your computer afterwards.

Another possible solution may be to repair Microsoft Windows with either the Windows System Restore function or with the Microsoft Windows repair facility on the Windows CD.

Upgrading from Windows XP service pack 1 to service pack 2 may also reinstall the Winsock TCP/IP stack.

Need more help?

If you are not sure and believe there may be a problem with the network point alone, then try plugging in another computer to your network point and see if that has the same problems.

This Windows problem is solely an issue with the users own computer software and not with our network service. We can offer advice in the form of this web page but are under no obligation to personally fix users personal computers.

In halls of residences there are Residential Computing Advisor (RCA) helpdesks (semester 1 only) in the stated halls of residences (see related links) who may be able to offer further personal advice if needed.

If you do believe their to be a genuine problem with your network point then please call iSolutions Service Line and report the issue.

Further information can be found on our Halls of Residence connections Advice and Support page (see related links).

The information or advice given on this page is provided only as help from our own experience and we advise getting support from a professional computer repair service if you are unsure of anything.