Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP

configuration in Windows 10 [Fix]

 By: EDWARD HUDSON
 ▪ October 13, 2017 ▪
17 minute read

windows 10 fix

Home » Windows » Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration in Windows 10

[Fix]
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If you’ve previously encountered a networking issue that

says Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration, then something is
wrong with your Network Interface Card. The NIC is connected to your
router or modem via the Ethernet cable. The problem arises if it fails
to obtain a valid IP address.

A valid IP address is necessary for a computer to communicate with

the router and operate in the web. Once a certain router or NIC
becomes faulty or in case of incorrect IP address designation, an error
occurs. The following solutions provide a fix to various problems
related to IP address configuration. Keep in mind to follow the
following steps in exact order.

Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration, how to fix

it?
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration
TP Link, Netgear – This problem can affect
almost any type of network hardware, and many
users reported this problem while using TP Link
and Netgear devices.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration
Powerline – Powerline is the simplest way to set
up a network, however many users that use
Powerline adapters experienced this issue
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration
router – In most cases this kind of problem can
appear if your router isn’t properly configured. To
fix it, you might have to make a few adjustments to
your router’s configuration.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP query – This is
just a variation of this error message, and in most
 cases you can fix it by applying the same
solutions.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration Unidentified Network –
Sometimes this error comes with Unidentified
Network message. This is a variation of this error,
and it can be fixed by using the standard solution.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid connection – This
type of error usually indicates that there’s a
problem with your network connection. To fix it,
you just have to adjust your configuration a bit.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid config – This
message might appear if there are any
inconsistencies with your network configuration.
Fortunately, you just need to make some minor
tweaks to fix the issue.
 Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP address – This
is another variation of this error that might appear
on some PCs. If this error appears, usually there’s
an IP address conflict that needs to be resolved.
 Ethernet doesn’t work – In some serious cases,
your Ethernet connection won’t work at all. Users
reported that they are able to use Wi-Fi but not
Ethernet connection on their PC.
 Ethernet doesn’t work on laptop – Just like
many other errors, this one can affect both
desktop PCs and laptops. Many laptop users
 reported that Ethernet isn’t working at all while the
Wi-Fi works without any issues.
 Ethernet doesn’t have IP configuration – In rare
occasions it can happen that your IP configuration
is completely missing. This isn’t a major problem,
but you’ll have to manually configure your IP
address.
 Ethernet doesn’t connect to Internet – Another
type of problem that can occur is the inability to
connect to Internet using the Ethernet connection.
However, users reported that they are able to
connect to the Internet by using the wireless
connection instead.

Solution 1 – Reboot the system

Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration error can be caused by
Fast Startup feature. To fix this error, you need to follow these steps to
disable Fast Startup:
1. Press Windows Key + S and enter control panel.
Now select Control Panel from the list of results.

2. Select the Power Options from Control Panel.

3. In the left pane, click on Choose what the power
button does.

4. Select Change settings that are currently

unavailable.

5. Uncheck the box beside Turn on fast startup

(recommended) near the bottom of the window to
turn off Fast Startup.
 6. Select Save changes.

7. Reboot your computer.

Solution 2 – Check the Network Adapter Settings

The router works to designate the IP address automatically. This is the
default setting, though you can still choose to assign a specific IP
address. In that case, you ought to set the IP address to automatic
first and check the Internet Properties for the correct settings once it is
connected. Follow the instructions below:

1. Hold the Windows Key and press R.

2. Enter ncpa.cpl in the input field and click OK.

3. Right click your Network Adapter in the Network

Connections window and select Properties.

4. From the Ethernet Properties window,

select Internet Protocol Version 4
 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.

5. You will then see the Internet Protocol Version 4

(TCP/IPv4) Properties window. Enable the
following options:
 Obtain an IP Address Automatically
 Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically
 READ ALSO: How to fix Windows network
error 0x800704cf

If obtaining the IP address and DNS automatically doesn’t fix the

problem, you might want to consider setting both your IP address
and DNS manually. To do that, follow these steps:
 1. Open your connection properties, select Internet
Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click
on Properties.
2. Now select Use the following IP
address and Use the following DNS server
addresses. Fill in the data like on the screenshot
below. After you’re done, click OK to save
changes. To see the necessary information such
as Default gateway and Subnet mask, you can just
check connection properties on any other device
that can connect successfully to your network.

Keep in mind that we changed our DNS to Google’s DNS in our

solutions. According to users, it’s not mandatory to change both IP
address and DNS, but if setting the IP address manually doesn’t help,
be sure to change your DNS as well.

Solution 3 – Restart the router and check Ethernet cable

After performing the steps above, turn off your router or modem and
switch it back on after five minutes. Now check if your PC has the
valid IP configuration. If it still does not work, connect your router to
your PC using a different Ethernet cable.

Otherwise, you may need to use a different router. If connecting to

other routers won’t solve the problem, then there is an issue with your
network card. Perform a factory restore to your network card, and if it
does not help, replace it.

Solution 4 – Reinstall your Network Adapter

After completing the steps above, you must uninstall and reinstall your
network adapter. Here is how:

1. Hold the Windows Key and press R.

2. Type hdwwiz.cpl in the input field and click OK.
 3. Expand the Network Adapters, right click on your
Ethernet card, and choose Uninstall device.

4. When the confirmation dialog appears, click

on Uninstall.

5. Reinstall your network adapter using the driver

accompanying the hardware.

If reinstalling the Ethernet card does not solve the problem, you
should reinstall the network interface card using the latest version of
the driver from the manufacturer’s portal.

Solution 5 – Use Command Prompt

If you can’t access Internet due to Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error message, you might be able to solve the problem
by using Command Prompt. According to users, you can solve this
problem simply by running a couple of commands. To do that, follow
these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + X and choose Command

Prompt (Admin) from the menu. If Command
Prompt isn’t available, feel free to
 use PowerShell (Admin) instead.

2. When Command Prompt opens, enter the

following commands:
o netsh winsock reset
o netsh int IP reset

After running these commands, you just have to restart your PC in

order to apply the changes. Once your PC restarts, the problem
should be resolved and you’ll be able to access the Internet without
any issues.

Many network issues are caused by malware, various scripts and

bots. You can secure yourself by installing NordVPN , a leader in
the VPN market. It protects your PC from attacks while browsing,
masks your IP address and blocks all unwanted access.

Solution 6 – Disable IPv6

Several users reported that they fixed the problem simply by disabling
IPv6. According to them, their IPS didn’t support IPv6, so they
disabled it. If you’re having Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error, you need to disable IPv6 by following these steps:

 READ ALSO: How to fix network error

0x8007003b in Windows 10
1. Open Network and Sharing Center. You can do
that quickly by right clicking the network icon in the
systray and choosing Open Network and
Sharing Center from the menu.
2. When Network and Sharing Center opens, click
on Change adapter settings in the left pane.

3. Locate your network connection, right click it and

choose Properties from the menu.
 4. Locate Internet Protocol Version 6
(TCP/IPv6) and uncheck it. Click on OK to save
changes.

After doing that IPv6 should be disabled. Now you just have to restart
your PC and check if the problem is resolved.

Several users are recommending to disable IPv6 using the Registry

Editor. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
1. Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
Press Enter or click OK.

2. When Registry Editor opens, in the left pane

navigate
to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentCo
ntrolSetServicesTcpIP6Parameters. Right click
the empty space in the right pane and
choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Enter DisabledComponentsas the name of the
 new DWORD.

3. Double click DisabledComponents to open its

properties. Set Value data to ffffffff and
click OK to save changes.

After doing that, IPv6 should be completely disabled on your PC. Now
you just have to restart your PC in order to apply the changes. If you
want to enable IPv6, just delete DisabledComponents DWORD from
your registry.
If you don’t feel comfortable modifying your registry, Microsoft
developed a tool that can disable IPv6 for you. Simply download
Disable IPv6 tool and follow the instructions on the screen. If you want
to enable IPv6 again, you just have to download and use this tool.

Keep in mind that IPv6 is a core component of Windows and disabling

it can cause certain problems to appear. If you experience any
additional network problems, you might have to enable IPv6 again.

 READ ALSO: Mapped network drives: How to

delete them on Windows 10

Solution 7 – Disable Microsoft Kernel Debug Network

Adapter
According to users, sometimes unknown network devices can appear
in your Device Manager. These devices can interfere with your
Internet connection and cause Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error to appear. To fix this problem, you need to find and
remove unknown network adapters from Device Manager. You can do
that by following these steps:
1. Press Windows Key + X and choose Device
Manager from the list.

2. When Device Manager opens, go to View and

check Show hidden devices.
3. Locate Microsoft Kernel Debug Network
Adapter in Network adapters section. Right click
the adapter and choose Disable device from the
 menu.

4. A confirmation message will now appear. Click

on Yes to disable the adapter.

Once you disable Microsoft Kernel Debug Network Adapter, check if

the error message still appears.

Solution 8 – Assign a MAC address to your network card

Every network device has its own unique MAC address, and many
users reported this problem because their MAC address wasn’t set in
Windows. To set a network address for your network adapter, you
need to do the following:
 1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. When Command Prompt opens, enter IPconfig
/all and press Enter to run it.
3. List of information will now appear. Locate your
network adapter and look for Physical
Address value. The address is represented by six
pairs of numbers and letters separated by dashes.
This is your MAC address, write it down since
you’ll need it for future steps.

Now that you know your network address, you need to assign it to
your network adapter. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Network and Sharing Center and

open your network connection’s properties. We
showed you how to do that in Solution 6, so
check it for extra information.
2. When the Properties window opens, click
on Configurebutton.

3. Navigate to Advanced tab. Now you should see a

list of properties. Select Network Address from
the list. Select Value option and enter your MAC
address in the field next to it. Your MAC address
doesn’t use dashes, so don’t enter them. Once
you enter your MAC address, click OK to save
 changes.

 READ ALSO: ‘Please check your network

settings and try again’ Skype error

After changing your MAC address, the problem should be completely

resolved. Several users reported they fixed this error by combining
previous two solutions with this one, so be sure to try them all.

Solution 9 – Enable DHCP

DHCP is a component of Windows that automatically assigns the IP
address to your PC. If you’re getting Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error message, it might be because DHCP isn’t enabled.
To fix this problem, users are suggesting to simply run network
troubleshooter. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Simply right click the network icon in your sysbar

and choose Troubleshoot problems.

2. Troubleshooting window will now appear and

check for problems.

Users are also recommending to run additional troubleshooters. To do

that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly

by pressing Windows Key + I button.
2. When the Settings app opens, navigate to Update
& securitysection.

3. Choose Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.

Now select all network troubleshooters and run
 them one by one. To do that, simply select the
desired troubleshooter and click Run the
troubleshooter button.

4. When the Troubleshooter window appears, follow

the instructions on the screen to complete it.

After running all network troubleshooters, check if the problem is

resolved. If the troubleshooters can’t fix the problem, you might have
to restart DHCP service manually from Windows. To do that, follow
these steps:
1. Press Windows Key + R and
enter services.msc. Now press Enter or click OK.

2. When Services window opens, locate DHCP

Client on the list and double click it to open its
properties.

3. Set the Startup type to Automatic and make sure

that the service is running. Click
on Apply and OK to save changes.
 4. Now right click DHCP Client and
choose Restart from the menu.

5. Confirmation message will appear. Click on Yes to

proceed.
 READ ALSO: Microsoft Network Realtime
Inspection Service: How to validate and
disable the module

Once you restart the service, check if the problem still appears. If the
issue still persists, you might have to restart your PC and check if that
solves the problem.

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It’s worth mentioning that your router also allows you to configure
DHCP. If you’re familiar with network hardware, you might want to
check your router’s configuration and see if the DHCP is enabled on
your router.

Solution 10 – Install your drivers in compatibility mode

In order to avoid network problems, it’s important to keep your drivers
up to date. However, sometimes you might not be able to download
the latest drivers. In that case, it’s recommended to install a driver for
Windows 8 or Windows 7 in compatibility mode. To do that, follow
these steps:
1. Download the latest drivers for your network
adapter.
2. Locate the setup file, right click it and
choose Propertiesfrom the menu.

3. When Properties window opens, go
to Compatibility tab. Now check Run this
program in compatibility mode for and
select Windows 8 or Windows 7. Now you just
 have to click on Apply and OK to save changes.

After setting a compatibility mode, run the setup and install the drivers.
Keep in mind that you might have to try several different compatibility
modes until you find the one that works for you.

Solution 11 – Perform a chkdsk scan

Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration error message can also
appear due to file corruption. Sometimes your system files can
become corrupted and that will cause this problem to appear. Several
users reported that they fixed the issue simply by using
a chkdsk scan. To do that, you just need to follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. When Command Prompt opens, enter chkdsk
c: /f and press Enter to run it. You’ll be asked to
schedule disk checking. Type Y and press Enter.

 READ ALSO: Network printers fail to install on

PCs running the Creators Update [FIX]

After doing that, a chkdsk scan will be scheduled. Now you just have
to restart your PC and the schedule will start automatically. Once the
schedule is complete, the corrupted files will be fixed and your
problem should be resolved.

Solution 12 – Disable your network connection and change

your adapter properties
According to users, you might be able to fix the problem simply by
disabling your network connection. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center and navigate

to Change adapter settings. Now locate your
network connection, right click it and
 choose Disable.

2. Right click your network connection and

choose Properties. Now click
on Configure button.
3. Navigate to Power Management tab and
uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this
device to save power option. Now click on OK to
 save changes.

Some users are also recommending to reinstall your network adapter.

To see how to do that, check Solution 4. Once you’re done, the
problem should be resolved and you’ll be able to access the Internet
again.

Solution 13 – Turn off your PC and unplug it

If you’re having Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configurationerror,
you might be able to solve it simply by turning off your PC. Several
users reported that this solution worked for them, so feel free to try it.
Once you turn off your PC, disconnect it from the power outlet and
wait for a couple of minutes. Now reconnect your PC and turn it back
on.

This is a simple workaround and it works according to users, so we

encourage you to try it. Keep in mind that this might not be a long-term
solution, so you’ll have to repeat it if the error occurs again.

Solution 14 – Connect your PC directly to your router

If you have several network devices such as switches or repeaters in
your network, you might want to try connecting your PC directly to
your router. Sometimes other network devices might not be properly
configured, and that can cause this and many other errors to appear.
To check if other network devices are the problem, connect your PC
directly to the router. If the error message doesn’t appear, it means
that your network hardware isn’t properly configured so you might
want to check it.

 READ ALSO: Unidentified Network error on

Windows 10/8/7 [FIX]

Solution 15 – Update firmware on your network devices

Several users reported Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error due to problems with their firmware. Sometimes
outdated firmware can cause the issue to appear, and in order to fix
the problem, you need to update it. We have a short guide on how to
update your router firmware, so you might want to check it out for
instructions.
We have to warn you that firmware update is an advanced procedure
and if you don’t do it properly you can permanently damage your
router. If you decide to update your firmware, keep in mind that you’re
doing that at your own risk.

In addition to your router, other network hardware can also cause this
problem. Users reported that the issue was resolved after updating
firmware on their repeater, so if you have other network devices, you
might want to consider updating their firmware as well.

Solution 16 – Disable your network adapter and use

Command Prompt
According to users, you might be able to solve this issue simply by
disabling and enabling your network adapter. To see how to do that,
check Step 1 from Solution 12. After you disable your network
connection, wait for a few seconds and turn it back on. If the problem
still persists, you might want to try the following:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. When Command Prompt starts, enter the following
commands:
o IPconfig /release
o IPconfig /flushdns
o IPconfig /renew

Once the commands are executed, check if the problem still appears.
If so, restart your PC and the problem should be resolved.

Solution 17 – Reinstall TPC / IP

If you’re frequently getting Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error, you might be able to fix it by reinstalling TCP/IP.
To do that, you just need to follow these steps:

 READ ALSO: “Network resource unavailable”

error on Windows 10 [Fix]
1. Open Network and Sharing Center and go
to Change adapter settings.
2. Now locate your connection, right click it and
choose Properties from the menu.
3. Select Client for Microsoft Networks and click
on Install.
 4. Choose Protocol from the list and click on Add.

5. Now you just have to select Reliable Multicast

Protocol and click on OK.

After doing that, check if the problem with Ethernet connection still
appears.

Solution 18 – Disable your antivirus

Your antivirus software can frequently interfere with your network
connection and cause this and many other problems to appear. To fix
this issue, you might want to try disabling certain settings in your
antivirus and check if that solves the problem. If that doesn’t help, try
to disable your antivirus completely.

In some more serious cases disabling the antivirus doesn’t work, so

you’ll have to temporarily uninstall your antivirus software. To
completely remove your antivirus and all files associated with it, we
recommend to download a dedicated removal tool for your antivirus.
After removing the antivirus software entirely, the issue should be
resolved. Now you just have to install the latest version of your favorite
antivirus or switch to a completely different antivirus solution.

Solution 19 – Make adjustments to your registry

According to users, if you’re getting Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error, you might be able to fix it simply by making a few
changes in your registry. To make the necessary changes, do the
following:

1. Open Registry Editor. We showed you how to do

that in Solution 6, so check it for detailed
instructions.
2. In the left pane, navigate
to ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEM
 CurrentControlSetControlNsi.

3. Expand the Nsi key. You’ll see a several subkeys

available. Expand the first subkey. In our example,
the subkey was {eb004a00-9b1a-11d4-9123-
0050047759bc}, but it might be slightly different on
your PC. Now locate the 26 subkey, right click it
 and choose Permissions.

4. When Permissions window opens, check Full

Control in Allow column and click
 on Apply and OK to save changes.

5. Optional: Some users are recommending to repeat

the steps from Solution 5 after making these
changes, so you might want to do that as well.

After making the necessary changes, restart your PC and check if the
problem is resolved.

 READ ALSO: “Unidentified network” message

on Windows 10 [Fix]

Solution 20 – Disable QoS on your router

If you’re frequently getting Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP
configuration error, it might be due to your router’s configuration.
Several users reported that QoS feature on your router might cause
this problem to appear. To fix the issue, you need to open your router
settings and disable QoS.

Keep in mind that not all routers support this feature, so before you
change anything, we strongly advise you to check your router’s
instruction manual.

Solution 21 – Connect your Powerline adapter to a different

outlet
Many users use Powerline adapters to create a network in their home.
However, Powerline users also reported Ethernet doesn’t have a valid
IP configuration error. If you’re using a Powerline adapter, be sure to
connect it to a different power outlet and check if that solves the
problem. Several users reported that connecting the adapter to a
different outlet fixed this error, so be sure to try that.

Solution 22 – Sync Powerline adapters one by one

If you’re having this problem while using three or more Powerline
adapters, you might want to try syncing them one by one. Users
reported this error while trying to sync all adapters at the same time.
To fix the problem, you need to sync adapters one by one and the
issue should be resolved.

Solution 23 – Update your BIOS

Several users reported they fixed this issue simply by updating their
BIOS. Your built-in network adapter might not be fully compatible with
your router or network hardware, and that can cause this issue to
occur. To fix the problem, you just need to update your BIOS. We
have to warn you that BIOS update is an advanced procedure, and
you can cause permanent damage to your PC if you’re not careful.
Before you update your BIOS, we strongly advise to check your
motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration error will prevent you

from accessing the Internet, but we hope that you managed to solve
this problem by using one of our solutions.