Why is subnet mask changing automatically?

The problem is with a windows 98 machine receiving its network
information (IP, Subnet, Gateway) from a Windows 2000 domain
controller. The network connection hits 2 switches before reaching
the DC. Recently the machine started having connectivity issues and I
noticed that the subnet mask is 255.0.0.0 instead of 255.255.255.0(but
not all the time). Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Thanks.

Bill

There are several causes for this. Follow the following
procedure (assumming that all the network has fixed
network parameters).

First try disconnecting the computer from the network
(unplug cable) then adjust network parameters (IP,
Gateway, Subnet mask) and restart the computer. Verify
that the computer remains with these parameters after
several restarts. If it doesn't, then you have a hardware
problem. Try installing another network card.

If it does. Plug the network cable and restart the
computer, if it loses its configuration then a network
driver may be corrupted. Try reinstalling the network card
software.

If your network uses DHCP then you may need to review your
domain server parameters to asure that you do not have any
open parameters that may allow your clients to use
different subnet masks.

>-----Original Message-----
>The problem is with a windows 98 machine receiving its
network
>information (IP, Subnet, Gateway) from a Windows 2000
domain
>controller. The network connection hits 2 switches
before reaching
>the DC. Recently the machine started having connectivity
issues and I
>noticed that the subnet mask is 255.0.0.0 instead of
255.255.255.0(but
>not all the time). Has anyone seen anything like this
before?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Bill
>.
>