Default IP on Windows

[DanF]

A client got Dreambox and the Dreambox guy told the client that he must get a switch in order to be able to connect the PC and the Dreambox at the same time.

Long story short the client just went to an electronics shop and got a TP-LINK router/switch. He tried to set the network but messed up the whole thing. He then called us to set it up, cause his son didn't manage.

I went to the client, connected the router and set everything up. PC works OK, my laptop works OK, client's mobile devices all work OK... client's laptop won't get an IP. Apparently, this is the laptop the client used to set up the router.

Wired works OK, wireless doesn't. It sets itself to the default Windows IP 169.xxx.xxx.xxx. I tried to reset everything I could imagine, and at some point I was getting an IP from the router but strangely it seems that it was not recognizing the DNS servers (so I was getting the nice exclamation mark on the connected network). At some point in time it decides to go back to the 169.xxx.xxx.xxx address. Since it was very late at the time, I took his laptop with me, and on my network it works fine.

What do you think is causing this? I think the only thing I haven't tried is a system restore.

EDIT: It also has Avira installed (the full suite), and tried to disable the firewall.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If the laptop was used to setup that new router...perhaps something got messed up or changed with that SSID that was setup, so try removing/deleting that existing entry in the wireless networks it was configured for. So you're starting from scratch next time it tries to latch on.

 

[DanF]

Unfortunately I've tried that already.

 

[Xander]

When you were on-site, what IP did you get when you tried to connect one of your own devices (phone/laptop) to his wireless network? Point being, are you absolutely sure that the problem is with his laptop and not his router?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Unfortunately I've tried that already.

Does this have a 3rd party wireless manager? If so, check in there too?

 

[Martyn]

A client got Dreambox and the Dreambox guy told the client that he must get a switch in order to be able to connect the PC and the Dreambox at the same time.

Long story short the client just went to an electronics shop and got a TP-LINK router/switch. He tried to set the network but messed up the whole thing. He then called us to set it up, cause his son didn't manage.

I went to the client, connected the router and set everything up. PC works OK, my laptop works OK, client's mobile devices all work OK... client's laptop won't get an IP. Apparently, this is the laptop the client used to set up the router.

Wired works OK, wireless doesn't. It sets itself to the default Windows IP 169.xxx.xxx.xxx. I tried to reset everything I could imagine, and at some point I was getting an IP from the router but strangely it seems that it was not recognizing the DNS servers (so I was getting the nice exclamation mark on the connected network). At some point in time it decides to go back to the 169.xxx.xxx.xxx address. Since it was very late at the time, I took his laptop with me, and on my network it works fine.

What do you think is causing this? I think the only thing I haven't tried is a system restore.

EDIT: It also has Avira installed (the full suite), and tried to disable the firewall.

If it is just wireless try a later driver or a usb plugin device with the latest technology. I always carry an Edimax usb to quickly breakdown the fault area

 

[DanF]

It's a Dell, and honestly couldn't find a wireless network manager (or at least, if there is it wasn't running). It connects fine to our network, and other networks.

I think it got 192.168.0.5. The other devices got a host ID of .2 to .4. Net ID is obviously 192.169.0.1, and has a range of 99 IPs to choose from.

It's sitting here on the desk, and just did the usual 'tweaking' stuff like updating the driver, clearing caches, etc... Don't know what else I can do, since it connected fine.

According to the Event Viewer, several services could not connect to their server due to DNS error (for instance, Malwarebytes couldn't connect to its update server due to DNS error, and so on).

 

[DanF]

Martyn, but why is it only one wireless network? And why do I have to install a USB device for just one network on an almost brand new laptop?

Just trying to understand what's causing the issue

 

[Martyn]

Martyn, but why is it only one wireless network? And why do I have to install a USB device for just one network on an almost brand new laptop?

Just trying to understand what's causing the issue

Sorry didn't read it was new I've had old wireless drivers give problems. What if you give it a fixed ip?

Just re-read again. Uninstall the Avira Suite rather than disable the firewall.

 

[DanF]

Tried that to. Also put the router as the DNS server, and also tried to input the DNS servers directly from the TCP/IP settings.

 

[Martyn]

At this point I would put on Wireshark and see what is happening.

Edit. hmm wired is working.

 

[DanF]

Martyn -

I will let you guys know what it does onsite. Maybe it decides to work. Whta I will also try is maybe change the SSID (cause the client's son created the SSID himself... so maybe it has something to do with the laptop's relation to that particular SSID - although I've deleted the connection multiple times).

 

[bertie40]

Am I missing something here.

The original post mentioned a dreambox, which is a network enabled satellite receiver.

I've seen no mention of the network settings configurable from within the dreambox. Dhcp etc.

 

[DanF]

Each and every PC (including the Dreambox) is getting an IP through DHCP, no problems with that. The laptop is the only problem.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Maybe your easiest fix if you can admin that router would be to let it pass out ips 10-99 and just give the laptop a static ip and be done. Maybe try uninstalling wifi card in device manager and reinstalling it?

 

[AndyM]

Did you turn the security off on the laptop?

Did you check to see if the router remembers the MAC address of the laptop, and if so, then just flush it?

Did you do a factory reset of the router?

Andy

 

[DanF]

Looks like it was something to do with the router's firmware as the problem disappeared as soon as I've updated to the latest one. I've also checked the changelog and one of the updates fixed an issue with the hosts having issues recognizing DHCP and DNS servers.