What is a common issue if a computer cannot establish an IP address due to network media connection issues?

When a computer cannot establish an IP address due to network media connection issues, the absence of a network cable connection is a common cause. In a wired network configuration, a physical connection via an Ethernet cable is essential for communication between devices and the network. If the cable is disconnected, damaged, or improperly connected, the computer will not be able to send or receive data, which includes obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server.

Without that connection, the network interface on the device may show that it is disconnected or may indicate a self-assigned IP address, typically within the link-local address range (169.254.x.x). This scenario confirms that the device cannot interact with the network infrastructure that assigns IP addresses.

Other issues, such as incorrect DNS settings or misconfigured routing tables, predominantly affect network resolution and data routing once a device has an established connection and an IP address. Meanwhile, a disabled network interface would prevent the device from attempting any connection at all but is a different issue from a physical disconnection.