One of the PCs on my home network suddenly starting picking up one of those crazy "169.xxx.xxx.xxx" IP addresses, even though my router address starts with "192.xxx.xxx.xxx".
I tried all the usual remedies on XP, including recreating the connection, running the network-wizard, replacing the NIC. Nothing worked.
Started checking forums and found the Microsoft Support solution of deleting WINSOCK entries in the Registry and resetting TCP/IP using "netsh". Of course, nothing.
I don't like running utilities that supposedly "fix" the registry but having spent hours and hours on the problem I finally downloaded WINSOCKFIX. Hey presto it worked! (I'm sending them a contribution).
Question: why couldn't the incompetent f**kers in Redmond (in my opinion) write such a utility? Of course, a better question is what kind of morons design an OS that allows it's core TCP/IP files to be overwritten?
Thankyou "Microsuck" for having this forum. I love you!