When everything else is not working for you to connect to the internet, try these Windows command line utility tools - ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
The Internet Protocol Configuration (IPConfig) in Microsoft Windows is a console application that displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol DHCP and Domain Name System DNS settings (source).
One time I woke up early in the morning, I noticed that I was not able to connect to the internet. I cleared the private data cache of my browser, used CCleaner to clean all crap and unwanted computer files. Unfortunately, nothing seems to work. Then I thought of using these ipconfig tools and presto! my internet is back.
Here's how to do it.
For Windows XP/2000 and NT:
1. Open command prompt; go to Start Menu > Run and type "cmd" (without the quotes).
2. Type "ipconfig /release" to release the IP address for the specified adapter. Note that there is a space between those lines.
3. Next, type "ipconfig /renew" to renew the IP address for the specified adapter.
Other IPConfig options for Windows XP/2000 and NT are:
- "ipconfig /all" - To display full configuration information
- "ipconfig /flushdns" - To purge the DNS Resolver cache
- "ipconfig /registerdns" - To refresh all DHCP leases and re-register DNS names
- "ipconfig /displaydns" - To display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache
- "ipconfig /showclassid" - To display all the DHCP class IDs allowed for adapter
- "ipconfig /setclassid" - To modify the dhcp class id
For Windows Vista:
1. Type "cmd" in the Search Box under the Vista Start Menu and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter in order to launch the command prompt administrative privileges.
2. To release both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, type "ipconfig /release" and then when done type "ipconfig /release6"
3. To renew both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, type "ipconfig /renew" and then when done type "ipconfig /renew6"
Other options for IPConfig in Vista:
1. Type "cmd" in the Search Box under the Vista Start Menu and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter in order to launch the command prompt administrative privileges.
2. To release both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, type "ipconfig /release" and then when done type "ipconfig /release6"
3. To renew both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, type "ipconfig /renew" and then when done type "ipconfig /renew6"
Other options for IPConfig in Vista:
- "/?" - Full configuration
- "/allcompartments" - All compartments
- "flushdns" - To purge the DNS resolver cache
- "registerdns" - To refresh DHCP leases and reregister DNS names
- "displaydns" - To reveal the contents of the DNS resolver cache
- "showclassid" - To display the DHCP class IDs for the adapter
- "setclassid" - To modify the DHCP class IDs for the adapter
If you have a similar experience as written above, or this tip helped you, please don't forget to leave a comment or two.