Thursday, July 2, 2009

how to resolve windows socket errors

cannot browse internet or local network? displaying errors looks like one of below

  • " unable to initialize windows socket interface error code 0, IPMONTR.DLL failed to start with error code 10107 "
  • " An error occurred while renewing interface 'Internet': An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket "
  • " An error occurred while renewing interface Local Area Connection: the requested service provider could not be loaded or initialized "
  • " The page cannot be displayed "
  • " An error occurred while renewing interface local area connection: an operation was attempted on something that is not a socket. Unable to contact driver Error code 2 "
  • " The operation failed since no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation "
  • " The attempted operation is not supported for the type of object referenced "


the meaning of these errors are the Winsock registry keys are damaged or corrupted.

how to determine the winsock2 key is corrupted for windows xp, use one of the following methods.

method 1 - Netdiag tool

To use the Netdiag tool, you must install the Microsoft Windows XP Support Tools. To do so, follow these steps
  • Insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and then locate the Support\Tools folder.
  • Double-click the Setup.exe file.
  • Follow the steps on the screen until you reach the Select An Installation Type screen.
  • On the Select An Installation Type screen, click Complete, and then click Next.
When the installation is complete, follow these steps
  • Click Start, click Run, type Command, and then click OK
  • Type netdiag /test:winsock, and then press ENTER.
The Netdiag tool will return the test results for several network components, including the Winsock. For more details about the test, use /v at the end of the netdiag command: netdiag /test:winsock /v

method 2 - use the Msinfo32 program

note -
Use this method only if you do not have a Windows XP Setup CD and you do not have Support Tools installed.

  • Click Start, click Run, type Msinfo32, and then click OK.
  • Expand Components, expand Network, and then click Protocol.
  • You will have ten sections under Protocol. The section headings will include the following names if the Winsock2 key is undamaged:
    • MSAFD Tcpip [TCP/IP]
    • MSAFD Tcpip [UDP/IP]
    • RSVP UDP Service Provider
    • RSVP TCP Service Provider
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
    • MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...

    If the names are anything different from those in this list, the Winsock2 key is corrupted, or you have a third-party add-on, such as proxy software, installed.
If you have a third-party add-on installed, the name of the add-on will replace the letters "MSAFD" in the list.

If there are more than ten sections in the list, you have third-party additions installed.

If there are fewer than ten sections, there is information missing.

manual steps to recover from winsock2 corruption

step 1

to repair winsock in windows xp
  • go to the command prompt
  • type netsh winsock reset at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
  • Restart the computer after you run this command
step 2

deleted the corrupted registry key

This method contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully.

  • Click Start, and then click Run.
  • In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  • In Registry Editor, locate the following keys, right-click each key, and then click Delete:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
  • When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
note - Restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys. Doing so causes the Windows XP operating system to create new shell entries for those two keys. If you do not restart the computer after you delete the Winsock keys, the next step does not work correctly.

step 3

install TCP/IP

  • Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.
  • Click Install.
  • Click Protocol, and then click Add.
  • Click Have Disk.
  • Type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
  • On the list of available protocols, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK
  • Restart the computer.
If Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) does not appear, follow these steps:

Click Start, and then click Search
In the Search Companion pane, click More advanced options
Click to select the following three check boxes
  • Search system folders
  • Search hidden files and folders
  • Search subfolders
In the All or part of the file name box, type nettcpip.inf, and then click Search.
In the results pane, right-click Nettcpip.inf, and then click Install.
  • Restart the computer.

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