Can't Use TCP/IP-based Utilities Unless Connected to Internet

When you try to use a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol-based (TCP/IP-based) utility when you are not connected to the Internet, you may be unable to do so. For example, Personal Web Server and Telnet may not work correctly, and other TCP/IP-based utilities may generate error messages.

This issue can occur if your computer has a dynamically assigned Internet Protocol (IP) address from your Internet service provider (ISP). The TCP/IP stack is not loading correctly without a specified Web address.

To work around this issue, use either of the following methods:

Connect to Your ISP Before Using a TCP/IP-based Utility

Connect to your ISP before you want to use a TCP/IP-based utility

Temporarily Assign a Static IP Address to Your Computer

For information about how to temporarily assign a static IP address to your computer, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type ip addresses, click Display, and then double-click the "To assign a private IP address for a simple network" topic.

NOTE: After you temporarily assign a static IP address to your computer and you are no longer using a TCP/IP-based utility, you should return your IP configuration to its original state.

This behavior is by design.

This behavior is implemented to free up system resources (or system memory) by not loading unneeded network components.