How do I disable DHCP on my computer?

[The_Ryz_Factor]

I have a router that works perfectly fine on my good computer. (The one you see in my sig) But on an old PII 300 Mhz computer, it does not. Both are running Windows 98 Second Edition. Every time I get the router to work on the PII, eventually it always uses the DHCP of IT and I don't know why. I don't want it to do this. It gives it an IP that starts is 169.254.xxx.xxx. I looked up DHCP in Windows help, and it says that is how the DHCP in Windows gives its IPs, starting with those numbers. But I want to always be using the DHCP server of my router, not the computer itself. How do I disable the DHCP server on my PII running Windows 98 SE? Thx in advance.

[dugans]

I'm a little bit confused: the only way I know of that Win98se can be a dhcp server is with a proxy software running (ICS, etc) but you have a router running.

I'm assuming that your router is providing dhcp services for internet access. One setting on my Linksys tells it how many computers are using the dhcp service: if this is set to 1 it could cause the problem you describe. Set it to 2 (or more) and it should be ok.

Hope I got things right: if not, straighten me out on exactly what your setup is and I'll do what I can (as will others:D )

[The_Ryz_Factor]

Well, I have that setting for how many computers it is using set to 2. The IP of this computer I am on now is how it should be, 192.168.xxx.xxx. But on the PII it is still 169.254.xxx.xxx. In Windows help it tells me that the 169.254 is the default first 2 numbers for a DHCP server. Here is what the help says, I'll copy and paste it... it's long so bear with me.:eh?:

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Overview of assigning automatic private IP addresses for a simple network

With Windows 98, Microsoft TCP/IP provides a new mechanism for IP addressing, called automatic private IP addressing. If you have a small network, without a DHCP server, you can assign a unique IP address to your network adapter using the "LINKLOCAL network" IP address space. LINKLOCAL network addresses always begin with 169.254 and have the following format:

169.254.X.X

LINKLOCAL network addresses are used only for private, internal address and are not valid for host computers that are visible on the Internet. They can not be used for computers linked by Internet Connection Sharing. For more information on setting IP addresses for Internet Connection Sharing, click Related Topics.

After the network adapter is assigned a LINKLOCAL network IP address, computers can communicate, using the TCP/IP protocol, with any other computer on the network that uses the same addressing.

A Windows 98 computer that is configured for automatic private IP addressing can assign itself a private IP address if either of the following applies:


If the computer is not configured as a laptop, it can assign itself an automatic IP address at startup if the computer does not have a valid DHCP lease and no DHCP server is found on the network.
If the computer is configured as a laptop, it can assign itself an automatic IP address if no DHCP server is found on the network, regardless of whether it has a DHCP lease.
Notes

Automatic IP addressing allows the IP address to be configured automatically. This method decreases administration time and allows the reuse of IP addresses. It is recommended for all sizes of networks that do not have a direct Internet connection or the DHCP service available.
Static IP addressing allows you to manually enter a permanent IP address. Using this method is not recommended except as a last resort.
If a DHCP service is later found, the computer stops using the automatic IP address and uses the IP address assigned by the DHCP service. A DHCP IP address will not override a static IP address, and it must be changed manually.
If a computer is moved from a local area network (LAN) with a DHCP service to a LAN without a DHCP service, you can use the IP configuration utility (WINIPCFG) to release the assigned DHCP address. You can then have the computer automatically assign a private IP address. For more information, see Related Topics.

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I don't understand why my computer is fine while the other one keeps getting the 169.254.xxx.xxx IP. I thought I had it fixed when I removed all those network setting things (TCP/IP, etc.), and then put them back, and it was ok for a few days, but now it is back to 169.254.xxx.xxx again... I have no idea what I am doing wrong now, I will maybe call up Linksys I guess, but usually you people here can help me better than any company can.:D

[dugans]

ok, I understand now. Its Win9x junk screwing it up! Partly, anyway: sounds like there may be a nic or cable problem as well perhaps.

Can you ping the other devices from both pcs?

Try setting the problem pc to static ip: if you aren't familiar, do it like this:use the same ip as the first pc, only the last digit goes up one(192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.3) subnet address 255.255.255.0
and use the routers ip as the gateway and dns server address.

Try connecting that way.

[The_Ryz_Factor]

OK it is restarting as I type but I am confused only on the DNS part. I see the DNS tab, do I need to enable it? If I do, what do I put in host, domain, DNS server search order, and Domain Suffix Search Order? For DNS Server Search Order, do I put in the IP of the router, or the IP of the DNS servers that I see on winipcfg on my computer?

[The_Ryz_Factor]

When I did everything but that DNS part, I was able to go into the router finally, but I could not connect to the internet. There was no lease, no DNS servers, and a few other things were blank in winipcfg. So I filled out the DNS server thing as I think it should be and it is restarting again. We'll see if it works now. ::crosses fingers:::beer:

[dugans]

I am looking at a win98 pc as I type:

enable DNS, and enter the ip of your router in dns server search order.
Press ADD.

Then go to the Gateway tab, and enter the same address, hit add again.

That is the static config I use with my Linksys.

Good luck!

[The_Ryz_Factor]

Alright! It works! I am connected to the internet now.:beer: Thanks so much rogerdugans! :D Now it is guaranteed not to mess up anymore I hope! :cool:

[dugans]

:D :D
Cool! Lets hope it doesn't anyway!

BTW: I use static ip on all my pcs- they boot just a bit faster, and I don't have enough to make ip management a pain.