[Ham-Computers] RE: ipconfig.exe won't run

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Interesting setup, Robert.  I think I've discussed this with you before...forgive me if so.  Is the router configured to deny access to computers that don't fall in the DHCP IP address pool range - not many "simple" routers allow this type of filtering.  Have you tried to configure your PC to an IP address in the same subnet, but with an IP address "outside" the DHCP range of the router?  For example, if the router is configured with a DHCP scope of xxx.xxx.xxx.1 to xxx.xxx.xxx.50, how about assigning your PC a static address of xxx.xxx.xxx.51 (or anything but 1-50)?

Also check to see if the router supports DHCP lease reservations.  Using DHCP reservations, a DHCP server will always assign the same "reserved" IP address to a device based on it's hardcoded Media Access Control (MAC) address.  For example, if I create a reservation for xxx.xxx.xxx.51 for MAC address 01:23:45:67:89:0A, then whenever the device with this MAC address requests an IP address from the DHCP server, the server will *always* offer xxx.xxx.xxx.51 to the device.  Just something to look into to eliminate the "guess work".

As to the IPCONFIG problem, sounds like you're running IPCONFIG from Window's "run" line.  Try opening a Command Prompt and then typing IPCONFIG.  What happens is that the "run" line does not keep the program window open when the app terminates - it assumes the app knows what it's doing and is closing the window intentionally.  Unfortunately, for DOS apps, the window closes and you don't see the output of the DOS app.  So, when you open a Command Prompt, you have full control of the "console" and need to exit it manually.  Thus, when a DOS app terminates, you'll still be able to read the output as the console window stays open.

I'm thinking the IP stack in Windows is corrupted and needs to be reset.  This is not uncommon when un-installing "security" apps as they hook into the IP stack and sometimes leave things behind (like empty pointers).  If IPCONFIG comes back "blank", then try typing this at a Command Prompt:

  "netsh int ip reset c:\reset.log"

This forces Windows to reset all TCP/IP settings and reset the IP "stack".  Resetting the IP stack removes all "hooks" to the IP stack so it runs as if you just installed Windows.  Then run IPCONFIG again - it should respond as expected.

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:43 AM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] ipconfig.exe won't run

Group,

My main computer must have a specific (static) IP address in order for my Xerox scan-to-file system to work.  But connection through the router to the cable modem requires setting the thing to dynamic.  I achieve this by temporarily setting it to static and then back to dynamic whereupon the router gives back the correct IP address but as dynamic.  In order to check this I run ipconfig.exe.

This morning I finally got around to uninstalling everything Norton (the subscription for NIS 2005 is about to expire) and installing McAfee (free from Comcast).  After doing that and rebooting the machine several times, I knew it was smart to check the IP address as it probably wasn't correct.  But when I try to run ipconfig it pops up momentarily and then disappears.  Anyone have any suggestions?  OS is W2K (another reason for switching to McAfee - new versions of NIS won't run).

Robert Downs - Houston
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