169 ip address won't release

[WebPages]

I have 2 computers networked to a hub. I am using Win 2000 pro on both computers. One (let's call it Comp1) is working fine to get on to the internet through a cable isp, but the other one (let's call it Comp2) threw a fit and now will only show a 169 ip address and will not get on the internet on drive C.
Hooking Comp1 up directly, I have no problem.
Changing Comp2 to drive D and hooking up directly, I have no problem.
When I hook up Comp2 directly using drive C, it will not go to the internet and shows ip address of 169.xxx. When I try to release the ip address at the command prompt, I get "all adapters bound to DHCP do not have DHCP addresses. The addresses were automatically configured and cannot be released. Can anyone give me some direction on what to try next. Thanks.

[John Prophet]

I think the problem is that you cant hook it up that way.

In other words you cant just take a hub and try to split a cable internet connection.

You need a router for that. Your ISP is giving you ONE IP address and that hub is trying to give it to both comps and it aint gonna fly like that. (thats why one at a time will work no problem)

You either need a router...OR...a second network card in one of the comps to use ICS (internet connection sharing)

My advice is to just get a nice little home router with 4 port switch built in..like a Linksys Befsr41 (the switch is just a smarter version of a 4 port hub) http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...prid=20&grid=5

They are really easy to set up and get going.

They will take that one "public" IP from the ISP and that will be for the router and then the router just makes as many "Private" IP addresses as you need (up to like 253, lol)

Plus, in the process your computers will be lots safer because the router is also functioning as a hardware firewall....harder for someone to hack you....the way you are now you are wide open probably....yikes!


JP


PS when you see a "169" IP..that is known as an "apipa" address...apipa= "automatic private IP addressing"..that is what windows defaults to when it cant reach a dhcp server to get an IP from.

[WebPages]

Sorry about taking so long to answer, but I was away for Thanksgiving with no internet access. Good thing I love my family!

Anyway, thanks for the information but I am not worried about getting the internet access to work, what I cannot do right now is release and renew the IP address on my "D" drive. Even after 2 days of being offline it is still showing 169.xxx. I want to reset the IP address so it goes back to something like 24.xxx. so that I can get back to the internet.

Thanks for any help.

[jmichna]

Disconnect (temporarily) the computer that is able to connect to the internet, from your hub. With only the "169.*" PC connected to the hub, reboot, release if necessary, then you should get an assigned "24.*" IP address. Your hub cannot share a single IP address... it just doesn't work that way... only one IP address per PC. That is why John Prophet mentioned a router (or a switch).

Different drives (C:, D:, etc.) within a single PC do not get different IP addresses, unless you are running a dual/multiboot system, in which case the "D:" drive contains the active OS, and "may" get a different IP address assigtned by the router or switch when the hardware is booted up.