An ADSL router may restart occasionally after you install Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista

Consider the following scenario:

• An ADSL router is connected to a Windows-based computer.
  
  Note An ADSL router is also known as a DSL modem.
• You install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) or Windows Vista on the computer.

In this scenario, the ADSL router may restart occasionally.

This problem may occur when Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista sends out DHCP packets that contain Option 43 data. (This data includes Microsoft vendor-specific information.) Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and earlier versions do not send out these DHCP packets. Additionally, the DHCP packets that contain Option 43 data are incompatible with the ADSL router.

Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, use a static IP address, and upgrade the ADSL router firmware. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
3. Under Tasks, click Manage network connections.
4. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
5. On the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) under This connection uses the following items, and then click Properties.
6. On the General tab, click Use the following IPv4 address, and then assign a unique static IP address in the range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254. For example, you can assign the following static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway:
   IP Address 192.168.0.2
   Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
   Default gateway 192.168.0.1
7. Click OK, and then restart the computer.
8. Download the updated ADSL router firmware from your ISP or from the router manufacturer's Web site.
9. Upload the updated firmware to your ADSL router.
10. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
11. Click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
12. Under Tasks, click Manage network connections.
13. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
    
    
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    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
14. On the Networking tab, click Obtain an IPv4 address automatically.
15. Click OK, and then restart the computer.

Windows XP SP3

Method 1: Remove Windows XP SP3, and upgrade the ADSL router firmware

To upgrade the ADSL router's firmware, remove Windows XP SP3, upload the updated firmware to your ADSL router, and then install Windows XP SP3. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
3. In the Currently installed programs list, click Windows XP Service Pack 3, and then click Remove.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the removal process.
5. Download the updated ADSL router firmware from your ISP or from the router manufacturer's Web site.
6. Upload the updated firmware to your ADSL router.
7. Reinstall Windows XP SP3.

Method 2: Use a static IP address, and upgrade the ADSL router firmware

1. Log on to the computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.
4. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
5. On the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) under This connection uses the following items, and then click Properties.
6. On the General tab, click Use the following IP address, and then assign a unique static IP address in the range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254. For example, you can assign the following static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway:
   IP Address 192.168.0.2
   Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
   Default gateway 192.168.0.1
7. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click OK, and then restart the computer.
8. Download the updated ADSL router firmware from your ISP or from the ADSL router manufacturer's Web site.
9. Upload the updated firmware to your ADSL router.
10. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
11. Click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.
12. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
13. On the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) under This connection uses the following items, and then click Properties.
14. On the General tab, click Obtain an IP address automatically, and then click OK.
15. Restart the computer.