How can I change Network Adapter Settings pre boot?

I have a locked laptop and I need to change the settings to automatic IP addressing, so I can connect to the domain and log in.

If the laptop's hard drive is fully encrypted, then you can forget about the info below.

The tool mentioned in option five of this tutorial also has an offline registry editor.
User Account - Reset Password in Windows 7

I have used it many times (but not for this specific task).

If need be, google for help on how to use that editor.



You can put that tool on a USB stick, boot to it and change EnableDHCP to a 0.

That EnableDHCP value name is located here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{Globally unique identifier}

You might need to look thru a few GUIDs before you find the one where EnableDHCP is currently set to 1.


There might be other settings that need to be changed too, but I doubt it. If need be, use Process Monitor on a similar laptop to see what all gets changed when you change to DHCP. I did that do find the info above. EnableDHCP exists in other places too. These other places get changed too, but they might not be needed. Test by changing just the one key/value.

Maybe other forum members have a simpler way to enable DHCP on a locked laptop that is a member of a domain.