Many a time, the Windows XP ARP cache becomes corrupt and needs to be cleared. The first symptom which points to a corrupt ARP cache is that connections to web pages will time out and fail.
Occasionally, clearing the ARP cache will fail due to a bug in Microsoft Windows XP. When you try to use Microsoft Windows to repair the network connection, you will receive an error message that says:
Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following operation could not be completed:
Clearing the ARP cache
For assistance, contact the person who manages your network.
How To Solve The “Unable to repair ARP cache” bug in Windows XP
This bug occurs when Routing and Remote Access service of Windows XP is enabled. Routing and Remote Access service is almost unnecessary and can be turned off.
To disable Routing and Remote Access service:
- Click on the “Start” button.
- Click the “Run” button.
- Type “services.msc” and hit Enter.
- Scroll down to “Routing and Remote Access” under the “Name column”.
- Double-click “Routing and Remote Access”.
- Set the “Startup Type” to “Disabled”.
- Also make sure the service status is Stopped. If it is not Stopped, click the “Stop” button.
- Click the “OK” button.
- Close the services window.
Try clearing the ARP cache again. It will complete with no error messages. 
20 comments ↓
Thank you for this. I have just run into the problem and could not figure out how to fix it.
Glad to know it helped you.
Fixed it for me too!
^^
I’m having this same problem - but I do use Microsoft Remote Web Workplace.
Is it safe for me to attempt turning this routing and remote access process off?
I can open some web pages- not all, but it doesn’t always allow me to open links within, - I feel like I’m getting rerouted…??? I don’t know.
@ Kim - I don’t think, you should turn the service off if you are really using it. Ask your network admin to find out if you need the service.
Thanks. It helped me too
THIS IS A GOD SEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fixe my problem too. Many Thanks.
This is much quicker a fix than rebooting my computer Intranet ~ bloody XP.
Many thanx
And me lol
thank you this helped me out alot my internet was so slow
windows could not finish repairing because the following action cannot be completed.
Clearing the ARP cache
contact the network person
you’re my hero! thanks!
Thanx dude!
does this mean, now that its fixed (thankies btw!), i can turn it back on?
hi ,thx 4 assistance but u knoe what ,my platform is win server 2003 & im using it as a domain controler ,that means i cant stop the rras service ,how can i realy get rid of this bug ??????????????
thanks it worked for me too
Thanks guyz very helpful. Althou we gotta look 4 a way to make da 2 tasks work simultaneusly… i kno ya kno. Thumbs up!
Very helpful, thanks!
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