Help and Support

How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP

View products that this article applies to.
Article ID:299357
Last Review:February 8, 2008
Revision:7.1
This article was previously published under Q299357
For a Windows Server 2003 version of this article, see 317518 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317518/).
On This Page

INTRODUCTION

In Windows XP, the TCP/IP stack is considered a core component of the operating system, and you cannot remove TCP/IP. Therefore, when you view the list of components for a network interface, you may notice that the Uninstall button is disabled when Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is selected. In extreme cases, the best solution for this issue may be to reinstall the IP stack. But with the NetShell utility, you can reset the TCP/IP stack to restore it to its state that existed when the operating system was installed. This article describes how to use the NetShell utility for this purpose.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

Guided Help to reset TCP/IP

Guided Help
Guided Help is available to reset TCP/IP. Guided Help can automatically perform the steps for you.

The actions that this Guided Help performs cannot be undone after Guided Help is finished.
For more information about Guided Help, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
915092 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915092/) Description of Guided Help for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles

Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help

•You must be logged on to Windows by using a computer administrator account to install and to use this Guided Help.
•You must be running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help.
You must first download Guided Help. To start, click the following link.
Download Guided Help

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357/) To download Guided Help for another computer that does not have a working Internet connection, click Another Computer when you are prompted by Guided Help. Save the Guided_Help.exe file to a removable medium, such as a USB flash drive. Insert the removable medium in the other computer, and then run the Guided_Help.exe program file.

Manual method to reset TCP/IP

Note This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, see the Microsoft Help and Support contact information Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus)


The NetShell utility (netsh) is a command-line scripting interface for configuring and monitoring Windows XP networking. This tool provides an interactive network shell interface to the user.

In Windows XP, a reset command is available in the IP context of the NetShell utility. When you run the reset command, it rewrites pertinent registry keys that are used by the IP (TCP/IP) stack to reach the same result as the removal and the reinstallation of the protocol. 
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\ 
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCP\Parameters\

Command usage

netsh int ip reset [log_file_name]
To manually run the command successfully, you must specify a file name for the log where actions that are taken by netsh will be recorded. For example, at a command prompt, type either of the samples that are listed in the "Command samples" section. The TCP/IP stack will then be reset on a system, and the actions that were taken will be recorded in the log file, Resetlog.txt. The first sample creates the log file in the current directory, while the second sample creates a path where the log will reside. In either case, where the specified log file already exists, the new log will be appended to the end of the existing file.

Warning Programs that access or monitor the Internet such as antivirus, firewall or proxy clients may be adversely affected when you run the netsh winsock reset command. If you have a program that no longer functions correctly after you use this resolution, reinstall the program to restore functionality.

Command samples

netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

Sample Log File for NETSH INT IP RESET

The following is a sample of the log file that is generated by netsh when an IP reset command is issued. The actual log file may vary depending on the configuration of the system where the command is issued. When the TCP/IP registry keys have not been altered from their original configuration, there may be no actions logged in the file. 
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp\Parameters\Options\15\RegLocation
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\?\DhcpDomain
                SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TcpIp\Parameters\DhcpDomain

added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters\Interfaces\Tcpip_{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\NetbiosOptions
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters\Interfaces\Tcpip_{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\NetbiosOptions
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters\Interfaces\Tcpip_{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\NameServerList
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                10.1.1.2

deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters\EnableLmhosts
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\AddressType
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\DefaultGatewayMetric
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\DisableDynamicUpdate
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\DontAddDefaultGateway
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\EnableDhcp
            old REG_DWORD = 0

added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\NameServer
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\RawIpAllowedProtocols
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\TcpAllowedPorts
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{2DDD011E-B1B6-4886-87AC-B4E72693D10C}\UdpAllowedPorts
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\DisableDynamicUpdate
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\EnableDhcp
            old REG_DWORD = 0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\IpAddress
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                12.12.12.12

deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\IpAutoconfigurationAddress
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\IpAutoconfigurationMask
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\IpAutoconfigurationSeed
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\RawIpAllowedProtocols
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\SubnetMask
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                255.255.255.0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\TcpAllowedPorts
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{5B3675C3-6EB9-4936-B991-04DA31024C4E}\UdpAllowedPorts
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\AddressType
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\DefaultGatewayMetric
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\DisableDynamicUpdate
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\DontAddDefaultGateway
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\EnableDhcp
            old REG_DWORD = 0

added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\NameServer
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\RawIpAllowedProtocols
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\TcpAllowedPorts
added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BAA9D128-54BB-43F6-8922-313D537BE03E}\UdpAllowedPorts
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\DefaultGateway
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                10.1.1.2
                

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\DefaultGatewayMetric
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0
               

added   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\DisableDynamicUpdate
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\EnableDhcp
            old REG_DWORD = 0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\IpAddress
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                10.1.1.1
               

deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\IpAutoconfigurationAddress
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\IpAutoconfigurationMask
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\IpAutoconfigurationSeed
reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\NameServer
            old REG_SZ = 10.1.1.2,10.1.1.3

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\RawIpAllowedProtocols
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\SubnetMask
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                255.255.255.0
               

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\TcpAllowedPorts
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

reset   SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{BD2859BA-B26A-4E2B-A3FE-3D246F90A81A}\UdpAllowedPorts
            old REG_MULTI_SZ =
                0

deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DontAddDefaultGatewayDefault
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\EnableIcmpRedirect
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\EnableSecurityFilters
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\SearchList
deleted SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\UseDomainNameDevolution
<completed>

Back to the top

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
314067 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314067/) How to troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity with Windows XP
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
811259 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259/) How to determine and recover from Winsock2 corruption in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, and in Windows Vista
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
314053 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314053/) TCP/IP and NBT configuration parameters for Windows XP

If these articles do not help you resolve your problem, or if you experience symptoms that differ from those that are described in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com (http://support.microsoft.com/)
Type the text of the error message that you have received, or type a description of the problem in the Search field.

Back to the top

APPLIES TO
•Microsoft Windows XP Professional
•Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Back to the top

Keywords: 
kbacw kbhowto kbhowto kbacwsurvey kbenv kbnetwork KB299357

Back to the top

Article Translations

 

Related Support Centers

Other Support Options

  • Contact Microsoft
    Phone Numbers, Support Options and Pricing, Online Help, and more.
  • Customer Service
    For non-technical assistance with product purchases, subscriptions, online services, events, training courses, corporate sales, piracy issues, and more.
  • Newsgroups
    Pose a question to other users. Discussion groups and Forums about specific Microsoft products, technologies, and services.