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Windows Sockets interface

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by kaisersose

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OS: Windows 95
Hardware: Dell Latitude CPX
NIC: 3Com Megahertz 10/100 3CCFE574BT

Everytime I try to ping an IP address or even the loopback address (127.0.0.1) I get an "Unable to initialize Windows Socket Interface, error code 6" error. Also if I run winipcfg I get a "Failed to initialize Winsock" error. I'm able to map network drives to Shares on our NT 4 network but can't ping anything.

I've uninstalled TCP/IP and reinstalled it to no avail - Also I've uninstalled all network components (TCP/IP, NIC, Client for MS Networks, etc.) and reinstalled them to no avail. I changed the NIC for another one to illiminate that as the cause but that doesn't solve my problem either.

I installed DUN 1.3 update as this includes Winsock 2 butthis made no difference either.

Any suggestions??

5 replies

by syscokid

Maybe this: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q246/7/27.ASP

(should be no spaces in the URL)

Error Message: Unable to Initialize Windows Socket Interface Code

SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to browse Internet sites with InternetExplorer, you may receive the following error message:

The page cannot be displayed.
Also, when you use the ping command at a command prompt, you may receive the following error message:
Unable to initialize Windows socket interface, error code 6

The article is too long to post in its entirety. Check it out.

by kaisersose

Sorry Boss,

The article you directed me too wasn't the soln. - I'd already done what it asked and got not joy.

Thanks for your efforts though!

by parbo

Not sure what the art. says but from experience i know that if you cannot even ping your loopback address you have problems with your drivers. So here's what to do. Just remove all the network components in network neighborhood and make sure you also remove the network driver if it requires a different uninstall. Once ALL the components are removed close the windows and restart. During reboot it should detect you nic again and start loading the driver. once that is finished and your back in windows make sure all your settings are ok and all required components are installed. Once done and the system has rebooted after all the changes ping 127.0.0.1 again. If that works you're in business. If still not there could be a problem with the winsock files and you can delete the old winsock files and extract new ones from the W95 CD.

by kaisersose

At this stage I've reinstalled the laptop after wiping it completely. This obviously solved the problem - The drivers weren't the problem as I'd reinstalled them a few times to no avail. Also Winsock was deleted and reinstalled both from the 95 CD and through DUN to no avail so it didn't seem to be the problem.

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