ipconfig = 169.254.etc

[Guest]

Hi. I'm getting this (169.254.x.x) as my IP when I go to command prompt. I
try ipconfig /renew but it says the DHCP server can't be contacted. I've had
this problem before (where I learned that 169.254 basically means something's
wrong), and as a final resort I reformatted my computer. Afterwards
everything was working fine again. Then yesterday this problem haunted me
back. I reformatted my computer but, unlike before, it didn't bring things
back to normal.
A little background: my laptop connects to a hub that connects to the cable
modem. There is a desktop that does the same, and it works perfectly fine. I
first suspected that the problem is my ethernet cable, so I borrowed the one
from the desktop and connected my laptop directly to the cable modem; it
still didn't have Internet access and gave the same IP.
Can anyone please help me with this? Also I've seen some posts that mention
"crossover cable" with networking with 2 home computers. The ethernet cable I
bought says "patch cable" but it's "CAT.5E" like the one this desktop uses.
What's the difference?

Thanks a billion in advance for any help.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

The most likely problem is that your ISP only allows one IP address for your
connection, and the use of a hub denies the second PC on the network a
connection. Get a router to replace the hub and all should be well.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Jim]

Hi. I'm getting this (169.254.x.x) as my IP when I go to command prompt. I
try ipconfig /renew but it says the DHCP server can't be contacted. I've
had
this problem before (where I learned that 169.254 basically means
something's
wrong), and as a final resort I reformatted my computer. Afterwards
everything was working fine again. Then yesterday this problem haunted me
back. I reformatted my computer but, unlike before, it didn't bring things
back to normal.
A little background: my laptop connects to a hub that connects to the
cable
modem. There is a desktop that does the same, and it works perfectly fine.
I
first suspected that the problem is my ethernet cable, so I borrowed the
one
from the desktop and connected my laptop directly to the cable modem; it
still didn't have Internet access and gave the same IP.
Can anyone please help me with this? Also I've seen some posts that
mention
"crossover cable" with networking with 2 home computers. The ethernet
cable I
bought says "patch cable" but it's "CAT.5E" like the one this desktop
uses.
What's the difference?

Thanks a billion in advance for any help.

Windows XP assigns an IP address in the range of 169.254.x.x when it cannot
find a DHCP server.

You need to compare the results from ipconfig/all on the two computers to
debug this problem.
Jim

 

[AJR]

Reformatting (if you actually did so - reinstall OS, etc.) was drastic and
unnecessary. A crossover cable is a cable with connections reversed on one
end - used to network two computer together (direct computer to computer) -
cable not the problem since it works with the desktop.
According to your post the setup has been working - somewhere, somehow, the
setting have changed.
Note Jim's suggestion re; iconic /all and post results.
Also did you originally do the setup yourself?

 

[Guest]

Dhcp enabled: yes
Autoconfiguration enabled: yes
These appear on both computers.

Desktop:
IP Address: 24.189.x.x
Subnet mask: 255.255.240.0
DHCP Server: 167.206.3.172
DNS servers: 167.206.3.172 and other numbers below it

Laptop:
Autoconfig IP Address: 196.254.x.x
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
No default gateway, etc.

Also I will follow Richard G. Harper's suggestion and get a router, and
hopefully that will solve the problem.

Thanks a lot for the help, I really appreciate it.

 

[BS & Paranoia]

Dhcp enabled: yes
Autoconfiguration enabled: yes
These appear on both computers.

Desktop:
IP Address: 24.189.x.x
Subnet mask: 255.255.240.0
DHCP Server: 167.206.3.172
DNS servers: 167.206.3.172 and other numbers below it

Laptop:
Autoconfig IP Address: 196.254.x.x
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
No default gateway, etc.

Also I will follow Richard G. Harper's suggestion and get a router, and
hopefully that will solve the problem.

Thanks a lot for the help, I really appreciate it.

You made the right decision since Richard is the only one in this thread
who told you exactly what your problem is and how to fix it.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Yes, those IP addresses clearly show your problem. The desktop computer is
getting a "public" Internet address, the laptop is getting a
private-autoconfigured address. The cure will be to get a router as I
recommended earlier.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Guest]

Ok, I got the router and the laptop's IP is 192.168.x.x. I still couldn't
connect to the Internet, however. So then I re-made my network between both
computers, and after that this computer couldn't connect as well. I kept
getting the "page cannot be displayed" message. I checked the IP for this
desktop and it also began with 192.168 (different endings). I managed to make
this post here by connecting directly to the cable modem, and the IP changed
back to the public one (24.189). Now this is online, but the other one still
isn't.
Perhaps somewhere, somehow, the settings indeed were changed. But that
should've been taken care of since I reformatted my computer that same day.
I'm completely stumped.
(I'll call my ISP after seeing what you guys say here first.)

Again, thank you so much!

 

[AJR]

Look guys - From the original post it appears his setup had been functioning
initially - "mithrandir" if you did the original configuration and it did
functioned- due to the probable confusion of these numerous responses, I
suggest you start "fresh" and do what you did at first setup.

 

[Guest]

It looks the your ISP in tracking your MAC address if it was the desktop you
plug into the modem. I would go into your router settings and spoof your MAC
addresss of the desktop to see if this will work. This should "trick" the ISP
in thinking that the router is only your desktop. Wish you the best and keep
us posted.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

You need to check that the router is in DHCP mode. You can check this
by logging in with a patch 5 cable (from your laptop to your router) and
in your browser type:

http://192.168.1.1

This should allow you to reconfigure your router to be in DHCP. Also,
if you are using a wireless connection then please encrypt your router
as there are people out there who have nothing else to do but to sit
outside your house and surf the porn sites and send spam messages!!!

hth

 

[Guest]

Things are back to normal now. I'm posting from my laptop. We called our ISP
and they reset the modem from their side, and after that everything is okay
now.

I really really appreciate all the help from everyone, you guys offered
comfort as well as technical help. Thanks!