You can configure Windows 98 to automatically release all Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease information at shutdown by modifying the registry.
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve
problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own
risk.
Add the following registry items to cause Windows 98 to automatically release all DHCP lease information at shutdown:
Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\DHCP
Value name: ReleaseLeaseOnShutdown
Type: DWORD
Value data: 0x00000001 (1)
Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Shutdown
Value name: FastReboot
Type: STRING
Value data: 0
NOTE: The first value (ReleaseLeaseOnShutdown) is not present by default and must be added. The second value (FastReboot) is set to 1 by default.
The fast shutdown feature must be disabled for this method to work correctly. If it is not disabled, Windows 98 cannot process the command to release the DHCP information before shutting down.
When Windows 98 obtains TCP/IP configuration information from a DHCP
server, it creates registry entries to store that information. If
there is a problem contacting the DHCP server the next time the computer is
started, the necessary TCP/IP configuration information is already stored.
However, this may not be the optimal behavior in some network environments.