Internet or Network wont connect. It says "Acquiring network address" and never gets an IP address. It shows an IP of 0.0.0.0 in the status of the network connection. If you try to repair the connection, you get an error saying "windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed, Clearing the DNS Cache". These steps should only be needed if you think you had or have a virus on your computer.

If you think you have a Virus on your computer. Click on the link and follow these steps from ASG to remove the Virus or Spyware.

If you think the virus is gone but you are still having the issue. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

If the issue happens again after you reboot your computer. You will need to take additional steps to hunt down the issue. Click here to jump to those steps.

How to fix the issue with Windows saying "Acquiring network address" after having a virus.

Windows XP, Vista and 7:

1. Click Start, then click Run. Type in regedt32 and hit enter to open the registry editor.
2. In the registry editor. Go to this location. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip
3. Under each folder, you want to right click and choose Permissions and be sure that the permissions are set. If the permissions are blank, we know that is the cause of your issue.
   
4. To fix it. Right click on the Folder called Tcpip. Choose Permissions. Click the Advanced button. Put a check in the box that says "replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects"
5. Click OK to apply the permissions. It will ask if your sure, choose Yes and OK again to apply the changes.
   
6. Then try to repair your Network Connection. It should work fine.
   

If the issue keeps coming back after Rebooting. Here how to track it down.

Windows XP, Vista and 7:

First you want to check MSCONFIG and see if any startup items are in there that maybe causing this issue. To be sure, you can just disable all startup items. Here are those steps.

• Click Start, Click Run and type MSCONFIG and hit enter.
• Click on the Startup Tab at the top.
• Click the "Disable All" button and reboot your pc. Then apply the fix to the registry again and reconnect to the internet. Then reboot your pc and see if the internet connection is broken again. If it is broken after rebooting, then follow the steps below to hunt for the issue.
  

Second you have to understand. If the issue was fixed and after you rebooted it was broken again. Then something is happening during startup. A file or program is running on startup that is breaking it again. We need to find that startup item and delete it.
Here are the startup locations for just about every Windows Computer. Check each folder location and make sure no mysterious files are in there. If you are unsure of a file. Please check with another Tech to be sure. Also if you cannot find one of these folders. That is OK, it will not harm your computers network connection. Then apply the fix to the registry again and reconnect to the internet. Then reboot your pc and see if the internet connection is broken again. If it is broken after rebooting, then follow the steps below to hunt for the issue.

• C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Documents and Settings\[your user name]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Documents and Settings\[any other usernames]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\WinNT\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\WinNT\Profiles\[your user name]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\WinNT\Profiles\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\WinNT\Profiles\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Windows\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Third you will want to check Registry Startup Locations. Those locations are listed below. Just like the second step, you want to remove any items that shouldn't be there. If you are unsure of something to delete. Please double check with another Tech so you dont damage your registry. Then apply the fix to the registry again and reconnect to the internet. Then reboot your pc and see if the internet connection is broken again. If it is broken after rebooting, then follow the steps below to hunt for the issue.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Run

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runonce

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runservices

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runservicesonce

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Policies\Explorer\Run
  

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\Windows

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Run

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runonce

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runonceex

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runservices

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\runservicesonce

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Policies\Explorer\Run

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\Windows

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\Winlogon

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\Windows\appinit_dlls

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Explorer\sharedtaskscheduler

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SharedTools\MSConfig\startupfolder

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SharedTools\MSConfig\startupreg

Forth option. You want to check common virus locations for the virus. Check the list of folders below for programs or files that shouldn't be there and delete them. Always double check with a Tech if you are not sure. Then apply the fix to the registry again and reconnect to the internet. Then reboot your pc and see if the internet connection is broken again. If it is broken after rebooting, then follow the steps below to hunt for the issue.

• c:\windows\system32\drivers
  c:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp
  c:\windows\system32
  c:\
  c:\windows\temp
  c:\windows
  c:\program files
  C:\windows\Downloaded Program Files

Firth option. You can use Autoruns to check for services and other Startup and Run locations in Windows. If this step fails, we recommend you either take you PC to a Professional Tech or Reinstall Windows.

1. Download and Install Autoruns from Microsoft.
2. Run the Program and look over all of the Areas and look for any items that maybe a Virus. If you are unsure please double check with another Tech.
3. Delete any virus items or items you know should not be there.