If you have an Ethernet cable connected to your laptop or computer, chances are that you’ve stumbled upon this common error; “Ethernet does not have a valid IP configuration”. It seems to be occurring on many computers that are operating Windows 10.
However, the problem doesn’t arise from your operating system, but rather, from your internet router or computer. Fortunately for you, I have a resolution for this issue! In this article, I will elaborate on the cause of this issue, and what you can do to fix it.
What Can Cause This Issue?
This issue can occur when your IP address is not being recognized by the DHCP – this means that your IP address is invalid. In most cases, the issue is caused due to a faulty driver or network configuration, in which circumstance, the resolution is straightforward.
However, if the issue is within the hardware, you may have to replace your computer’s NIC – a defective NIC cannot be recognized by your computer and as a result, it does not connect to the internet.
How To Fix This Issue?
If you want to attempt to fix this issue, I’ve mentioned some methods that you can use to do so. If everything fails, I would recommend that you consult an expert before doing anything to your computer.
Below are a few methods that you can use to resolve the “Ethernet does not have a valid IP configuration” issue
Update Or Reinstall Network Adapter Drivers:
It is one of the more straightforward solutions to this issue, however, effective if you have an old NIC or if you haven’t updated the drivers in a while. Even though Windows automatically downloads any required drivers, I would still suggest that you update your computer’s network adapters manually to fix this issue.
- Open Device Manager on your computer, and at the same time, press WIN+R on your keyboard to open Run.
- In Run, type “hdwwiz.CPL”, and press ENTER on your keyboard.
- In Device Manager, click on Network adapters and then right-click on your NIC, and update the adapter drivers from there.
- You can choose to automatically search for the updates to the required drivers, and Windows will update the network adapter drivers to the latest version.
If you want to reinstall the network adapter drivers;
- In Device Manager, uninstall the drivers instead of updating them.
- Once uninstalled, click in the Action tab in the Device Manager, and click on Scan for hardware changes – Windows will detect your computer’s NIC and install the missing drivers to the latest version.
- You can also download/install the latest drivers manually from your NIC manufacturer’s website.
- Once everything is done, restart your computer and the issue should be resolved.
Run The Windows Network Diagnostic Tool:
If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to wait for the resolution, one of the quickest methods is to use the built-in Windows Network Diagnostic Tool. It can assist you in troubleshooting the issue and resolving it without you having to do anything!
- Go to Settings on your computer and from the menu, click on Network & Internet.
- From there, click on Network troubleshooter. You can also do this by right-clicking on the Ethernet/Wi-Fi option at the bottom-right corner of your screen and clicking on Troubleshoot problems.
- From there, Windows will diagnose your computer for any issues with the connectivity. If it detects it, it will prompt an option to resolve it.
- Once everything is done, close the troubleshooter and restart your computer.
Restart Your Computer:
Yes, you heard that correctly! Sometimes, the most effective method is to simply restart your computer – this will refresh everything, thus, resolving minor issues with the connectivity.
I’ve used this method multiple times; whenever I would reboot my internet and my computer wouldn’t detect the connection. It might work for you too!
Flush Your Computer’s Dns/Cache:
Sometimes, your computer can become overpowered with cache memory and that can prevent connections between the computer and the internet router. It might seem hectic to remove all that unnecessary cache memory, but it’s stress-free.
- Open Command Prompt on your computer by searching for it in the Search bar. You can also open it by opening Run on your computer and typing “cmd” in it.
- Once open, type the following commands and press ENTER on your keyboard, consecutively;
netsh Winsock reset
ipconfig / release
ipconfig / flushdns
ipconfig / renewal
NOTE: these commands are case-sensitive, so type them exactly as mentioned above.
- Once you’ve done this, your computer might need a restart for the issue to be resolved.
Check Network Adapter Settings:
If the issue persists, there is a chance that it is due to incorrect settings of your computer’s network adapters. In this case, you will need to ensure that your computer automatically receives the IP addresses and DNS servers – a common setting in NICs.
- Press WIN+R on your keyboard to open Run.
- Type “ncpa.CPL” and press ENTER.
- In the Network Connection window, right-click on your computer’s NIC and click on Properties.
- In the Ethernet Properties window, click on Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4), and then click on Properties.
- Ensure that your NIC is automatically obtaining an IP address.
- Ensure that your computer’s DNS server address is automatic.
Conclusion
I hope this article assists you in resolving the “Ethernet Does Not Have A Valid IP Configuration” Issue with your computer’s Ethernet connection. If you’ve tried all of the above methods and the problem persists, I would recommend replacing the NIC. As always, do not attempt anything on your computer without consulting an expert, as it can damage your computer even further.
If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to leave them below, and I will respond to you as soon as possible!
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