ip address problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

spikebrdr · 02-05-2007, 04:19 PM

i recently got a new alienware computer and since most of the people in my house have laptops i decided to install wireless. everything worked great for a while but recently whenever i try to connect with my laptop (and the problem is only with my laptop) ive been getting a message saying that i cant connect to the internet because the router "failed to get a valid ip address" and when i go through the cmd prompt and run ipconfig my address comes up all zeros. yet when i shut my desktop down my lapto connect just fine. ive tried changing the ip address on the router and ive even gone through and reinstalled the drivers for my wireless adapter for my laptop. im really not sure where to go from here so any suggestions would be great.

Lasereth · 02-05-2007, 04:58 PM

I can't give you extremely detailed instructions because I don't know your router interface or your physical setup or the way that the other people in your house get their wireless connection. Anyway:

1. Some wireless networks limit the amount of people that can connect. I imagine that if this limit is capped, it wouldn't give you an IP. I'd look for that in the router settings.

2. Are you putting in the correct WEP/WPA key if there is one?

3. Did you release the IP on the laptop and renew it?

4. Are you positive DHCP is enabled in the router configuration?

Dilbert1234567 · 02-05-2007, 05:03 PM

are you sure its connecting to your router? some cards will connect to the strongest signal, if your neighbors is stronger, but has some weird settings, you could get the same result.

meanSpleen · 02-05-2007, 05:33 PM

Along the lines of DHCP from Lasereth's post, check to see that you do not have any static routes or preferred or reserved IPs for your computers. You want to make sure that you have not assigned both your laptop and your desktop to use the same IP address whenever they connect (i.e. both set to always use 192.168.1.15)

spikebrdr · 02-05-2007, 05:35 PM

yeah i figured it might be a cap but i have the problem still when im the only one in the house and online. ive entered the key many times and and all the settings are how they should be. and yes i am connecting to my network b/c ive named it and made sure it has security enabled and everything. could it be a problem with my laptop since it only happens with my laptop? ive set up the wireless for everyone else's laptop and no one else has had any problems.

skinbag · 02-07-2007, 01:18 PM

I'm assuming you have checked the "Obtain Address Automatically" box in the properties of your Wireless card? All zeroes almost sounds like by default the NIC is set to Static IP with all zeroes.. I bet you know this, but maybe you overlooked the most obvious answer. I've done it often enough to offer it up as a suggestion.
Also, I'll elaborate on the limiting of addresses: Go to the DCHP settings on your router and make sure the address range is at least the number of addresses you need for connecting computers plus one for the router. For example: On mine 192.168.0.1 is the router, and I have the range limited to 192.168.0.1 - 192.168.0.4 since I have a VoIP phone, one wired computer, and one wireless connection for the laptop. I hope this helps. I see you have tested it with other laptops, I'm just throwing out the stock advice, possibly for the benefit of others.

tfpfreak · 02-08-2007, 10:33 AM

I had somewhat the same problem with an old laptop tinker-toy. I didn't really care if I totally screwed it up or not so I just went in through device manager and deleted the NIC. Rebooted and went through the "New Hardware found" dance, installed all the drivers again and never would have thought it would work but it did. I haven't had a problem with it since. Everyone is giving great ideas so just keep trying and good luck.

guthmund · 02-09-2007, 09:10 AM

But it works just fine when the desktop is off, right?

I know on my router--and I assume on most routers--, I can reserve ip addresses for specific computers--identified via their MAC addresses--from the defined DHCP pool. Specific computers get specified IP addresses, which helps with port forwarding and such. Blah blah blah, right? The point is, if your router does the same, maybe your desktop and laptop have the same IP reserved. It is the only reason--that hasn't already been mentioned--that I can come up with.

Short of that, I don't know...skinbag is right in thinking the zeroed ip address doesn't sound kosher. In my experience, if the pc can't pull from DHCP it assigns a private address somewhere in the 169.xxx.xxx.xxx. range
I'd definitely check and double check the ip settings on the laptop, on the desktop and on the router. If there is no problem to be found, the router draws from a pool of ip addresses for DHCP, yes? I'd just assign the laptop a static IP from somewhere in that pool.

02-05-2007, 04:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
spikebrdr Upright	ip address problem i recently got a new alienware computer and since most of the people in my house have laptops i decided to install wireless. everything worked great for a while but recently whenever i try to connect with my laptop (and the problem is only with my laptop) ive been getting a message saying that i cant connect to the internet because the router "failed to get a valid ip address" and when i go through the cmd prompt and run ipconfig my address comes up all zeros. yet when i shut my desktop down my lapto connect just fine. ive tried changing the ip address on the router and ive even gone through and reinstalled the drivers for my wireless adapter for my laptop. im really not sure where to go from here so any suggestions would be great.

02-05-2007, 04:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	I can't give you extremely detailed instructions because I don't know your router interface or your physical setup or the way that the other people in your house get their wireless connection. Anyway: 1. Some wireless networks limit the amount of people that can connect. I imagine that if this limit is capped, it wouldn't give you an IP. I'd look for that in the router settings. 2. Are you putting in the correct WEP/WPA key if there is one? 3. Did you release the IP on the laptop and renew it? 4. Are you positive DHCP is enabled in the router configuration? __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

02-05-2007, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	are you sure its connecting to your router? some cards will connect to the strongest signal, if your neighbors is stronger, but has some weird settings, you could get the same result. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

02-05-2007, 05:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	Along the lines of DHCP from Lasereth's post, check to see that you do not have any static routes or preferred or reserved IPs for your computers. You want to make sure that you have not assigned both your laptop and your desktop to use the same IP address whenever they connect (i.e. both set to always use 192.168.1.15) __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

02-07-2007, 01:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
skinbag Registered User Location: Madison WI	I'm assuming you have checked the "Obtain Address Automatically" box in the properties of your Wireless card? All zeroes almost sounds like by default the NIC is set to Static IP with all zeroes.. I bet you know this, but maybe you overlooked the most obvious answer. I've done it often enough to offer it up as a suggestion. Also, I'll elaborate on the limiting of addresses: Go to the DCHP settings on your router and make sure the address range is at least the number of addresses you need for connecting computers plus one for the router. For example: On mine 192.168.0.1 is the router, and I have the range limited to 192.168.0.1 - 192.168.0.4 since I have a VoIP phone, one wired computer, and one wireless connection for the laptop. I hope this helps. I see you have tested it with other laptops, I'm just throwing out the stock advice, possibly for the benefit of others. Last edited by skinbag; 02-07-2007 at 01:43 PM..

02-05-2007, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
spikebrdr Upright	yeah i figured it might be a cap but i have the problem still when im the only one in the house and online. ive entered the key many times and and all the settings are how they should be. and yes i am connecting to my network b/c ive named it and made sure it has security enabled and everything. could it be a problem with my laptop since it only happens with my laptop? ive set up the wireless for everyone else's laptop and no one else has had any problems.

02-08-2007, 10:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
tfpfreak Crazy Location: MS	I had somewhat the same problem with an old laptop tinker-toy. I didn't really care if I totally screwed it up or not so I just went in through device manager and deleted the NIC. Rebooted and went through the "New Hardware found" dance, installed all the drivers again and never would have thought it would work but it did. I haven't had a problem with it since. Everyone is giving great ideas so just keep trying and good luck. __________________ Never grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be. ~ Clementine Paddleford

02-09-2007, 09:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	But it works just fine when the desktop is off, right? I know on my router--and I assume on most routers--, I can reserve ip addresses for specific computers--identified via their MAC addresses--from the defined DHCP pool. Specific computers get specified IP addresses, which helps with port forwarding and such. Blah blah blah, right? The point is, if your router does the same, maybe your desktop and laptop have the same IP reserved. It is the only reason--that hasn't already been mentioned--that I can come up with. Short of that, I don't know...skinbag is right in thinking the zeroed ip address doesn't sound kosher. In my experience, if the pc can't pull from DHCP it assigns a private address somewhere in the 169.xxx.xxx.xxx. range I'd definitely check and double check the ip settings on the laptop, on the desktop and on the router. If there is no problem to be found, the router draws from a pool of ip addresses for DHCP, yes? I'd just assign the laptop a static IP from somewhere in that pool. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.