Your portable computer cannot renew its IP address from a DHCP server after you remove the computer from a docking station

A portable computer may not be able to renew its Internet Protocol (IP) address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server after you remove the computer from a docking station or from a port replicator. Additionally, no errors are recorded in the system log, and this problem still occurs after you disable and then re-enable the network adapter.

This problem occurs because the computer cannot reach the DHCP server. Windows 2000 uses the Media Sense feature to remove protocols that are bound to a network adapter that is sensed as "down" or "disconnected." In the scenario that is described in the "Symptoms" section, the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) send request returns a Pending status, Media Sense removes the TCP/IP protocol, and the network adapter is not detected because there are no protocols bound to the network adapter.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

To work around this problem, prevent your network adapter from detecting the link state by modifying the registry to disable the Media Sense feature for TCP/IP. To do this, follow these steps.

Note NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI) and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) do not recognize the Media Sense feature.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value
5. Type DisableDHCPMediaSense as the name of the new entry, and then press ENTER.
6. Double-click the new DisableDHCPMediaSense entry, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

Note The DisableDHCPMediaSense value controls DHCP Media Sense behavior. If you set this value to 1, DHCP clients and non-DHCP clients ignore Media Sense events from the network adapter. By default, Media Sense events trigger the client to take an action, such as to try to obtain a lease when a connect event occurs, or to invalidate the network adapter and routes when a disconnect event occurs. For more information about how to disable Media Sense for TCP/IP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the terminology that is used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: