Error: Could not start the DHCP Client Service on local computer

DHCP Client Service may not automatically. When you attempt to start the Service manually, the following error may be displayed:

Error: Could not start the DHCP Client Service on local computer

Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start.

Resolution

The DHCP Client Service in Windows XP, depends on these three components:

• AFD
• NetBios over Tcpip
• TCP/IP Protocol Driver

If one of the above drivers fail to start, then the DHCP Client Service may not start.

Step I - Make sure that the three driver files are present

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder. Make sure that the following files are present in the folder:

• afd.sys
• tcpip.sys
• netbt.sys

If one or more of the above driver files are missing, extract them from the Windows XP CD-ROM or from the ServicePackFiles\i386 folder, whichever is the latest version.

If any other additional drivers or Services are mentioned in the DEPENDENCIES section, you need to remove them via the registry. Follow these steps:

• Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
• Navigate to the following branch:
• Backup the branch to a REG file

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ Dhcp

• Double-click DependOnService value and set its data as follows:

Tcpip
Afd
NetBT

• Close Regedit.exe

Step III - Verify that the Dependency Service / components are running

Next step is to verify that the three dependency components are running. Follow the steps below:

• Click Start, Run and type DEVMGMT.MSC
• In the View menu, click Show hidden devices
• Double-click Non-Plug and Play drivers section
• Double-click the entry AFD, and click the Driver tab
• Set the Startup type to System.
• Start the service. Note down the error message if any.
• Similarly start the two other drivers namely:

• TCP/IP Protocol Driver
• NetBios over Tcpip

• Close Device Manager and restart Windows.