Vista users in Swedish community can't get online

While certain folks in Sweden have absolutely no issues surfing the net at ridiculously fast speeds, an entire section of Swedes are apparently going without simply because they're using Windows Vista. According a local newspaper, Vista users in Lund can't connect to the internet due to a "bug" that prevents Vista from playing nice with their Linux-based ISP. Of course, the translation is sketchy at best, but it seems that these poor users are being forced to pause until the issue is resolved; however, considering that the ISP is blaming Microsoft for the flaw and refusing to change the configuration of its hardware in order to cope, who knows how long these citizens will be without their daily dose of the web.

[Via The Inquirer]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2007 2:19PM]

It's hard to find a router that can handle 200Mbps+ throughput (WAN LAN) without having to look amongst the really expensive ones :(

Besides, it works better without a router (well OK, maybe not in this case), so there is really no point in using a router.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2007 12:46PM]

I just read through the RFC.

Visa is the at-fault party here. When Vista sets the BROADCAST flag, it is stating that it will only work if the DHCP server gives it a non-standard answer. Vista is stating that it will not function if it receives the type of response that a DHCP server normally gives.

I wish I could understand the rationale behind Microsoft's choice to demand that DHCP servers send out broadcast packets unnecessarily. Extra broadcast packets on a network are annoying in small numbers, and in large numbers can be disruptive.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2007 2:10PM]

Actually russia has the highest suicide rate.. something like 38 for every 100,000 people. Switzerland was around 15-17. JEEZ! learn to WIKI.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate

[kalleboo Posted Sep 2nd 2007 2:20PM]

I live in Lund, and my neighbor just got a new PC yesterday and got hit with this. There's an easy Regedit fix documented on microsoft's site that fixes it: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233

[iPaul Posted Sep 2nd 2007 5:45PM]

crappy software - should carry a health warning

MS VITSA - Use at your own risk
"Do not use until we have SP2" 2 yrs from now

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2007 8:40PM]

We are witnessing the decline MS. RIP and good riddance!

[fourblades Posted Sep 2nd 2007 3:42PM]

that was the shortest news I've read so far from the Inquirer that engadget linked me to.

what's up with the XP screenshot and what the heck is that site for: intuitive?

[SH Posted Sep 2nd 2007 5:43PM]

FFAS. OS fanboys. What will they think of next?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2007 11:25PM]

This is generally caused by firewalls that are filtering packets that have the DHCP broadcast flag on. Vista turns this flag on (as allowed by the spec), while XP by default has it off. You can turn it back off in Vista either through the registry or by having the admins configure their firewalls correctly.

[Solipsism Posted Sep 2nd 2007 11:40PM]

This is because of the DHCP broadcast flag (WHICH IS PART OF THE SPECIFICATION) that Vista automatically enables. You can fix it by turning it off via the registry, or by having the guys running the servers actually set them up correctly instead of blaming other people.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 6:23AM]

I have a sister that live their, and has that problem, i simply told her to install firefox & works like a charm :)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 3:47PM]

You seem to have a fundemental lack of understanding of how an IP stack works and where within the OSI stack firefox actually sits.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 1:31AM]

I Had the Same DHCP Problem with A HP Laptop Running Vista Home Premium Connecting to A Microsoft Wireless router with Up to date Firmware on the router. The Regedit Hack fixed the Problem

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 5:36AM]

If they are anything like some of the Linux users that I know, they've probably added:

if(client.OperatingSystem == OperatingSystems.WindowsVista)
{
return;
}
else
{
ProcessRequest(EventData);
}

to their DHCP server themselves.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 2:42PM]

Lol. That is so true!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 1:47PM]

If they're running vista they only got themselves to blame ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 8:19PM]

I think this is a crappy admin thing, not a Vista / Linux thing. Right now I'm typing this on a Windows Vista connected to a Linux Server running DHCP3-server, works fine.