Assign an IP address or let Windows assign one?

Hi, is it better for a Win 98 computer to be assigned an IP address or is it
better to let Windows assign one?
One of my computers is set so that it is automatically assigned an IP
address which is 192.168.0.2. For some reason one of my other computers has
to have an IP address set for it because if it is allowed to pick it's own
address it picks 169.254.239.115 . My third computer picked the address
192.168.0.32. So how can I get my rogue computer to pick an IP address in
the correct range or should I just leave it with the assigned address of
192.168.0.01.

And why does it do that anyway?
Thanks Jackie

If a computer "picks up" an address in the 169.254.xxx.xxx range, that means
that it's not seeing the network correctly and not getting a correct
address, so it's assigning itself one in the private address range. This
could indicate a hardware problem with that PC's network connection or
network card - but if it behaves when you manually set the IP address then
it's more likely a problem with the configuration of the network settings
instead.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP Win9x) (E-Mail Removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies to the newsgroup so all may
* benefit from the discussion. Private mail is usually not replied to.
Help US help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Jackie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bm7bhm$jnkmg$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, is it better for a Win 98 computer to be assigned an IP address or is
it
> better to let Windows assign one?
> One of my computers is set so that it is automatically assigned an IP
> address which is 192.168.0.2. For some reason one of my other computers
has
> to have an IP address set for it because if it is allowed to pick it's own
> address it picks 169.254.239.115 . My third computer picked the address
> 192.168.0.32. So how can I get my rogue computer to pick an IP address in
> the correct range or should I just leave it with the assigned address of
> 192.168.0.01.
>
> And why does it do that anyway?
> Thanks Jackie
>
>

"Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OGPW$(E-Mail Removed)...
> If a computer "picks up" an address in the 169.254.xxx.xxx range, that
means
> that it's not seeing the network correctly and not getting a correct
> address, so it's assigning itself one in the private address range. This
> could indicate a hardware problem with that PC's network connection or
> network card - but if it behaves when you manually set the IP address then
> it's more likely a problem with the configuration of the network settings
> instead.
>
> --
Hi, What network settings could be configured incorrectly?
Jackie

Sometimes gateways, DHCP server or just deep down internal problems. I've
had a problem like this, it was a hardware or driver problem.

I've had better performance with using static IP addresses. If you do
decide to use static, make sue your routers DHCP is off.

- Jordan
"Jackie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bm7eil$j712c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:OGPW$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > If a computer "picks up" an address in the 169.254.xxx.xxx range, that
> means
> > that it's not seeing the network correctly and not getting a correct
> > address, so it's assigning itself one in the private address range.
This
> > could indicate a hardware problem with that PC's network connection or
> > network card - but if it behaves when you manually set the IP address
then
> > it's more likely a problem with the configuration of the network
settings
> > instead.
> >
> > --
> Hi, What network settings could be configured incorrectly?
> Jackie
>
>

Right off the bat I'd make sure the default gateway is set correctly, it
should be set to the address for your router. Turn off any settings present
for DNS or WINS resolution unless your network actually has these servers
running.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP Win9x) (E-Mail Removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies to the newsgroup so all may
* benefit from the discussion. Private mail is usually not replied to.
Help US help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Jackie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bm7eil$j712c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:OGPW$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > If a computer "picks up" an address in the 169.254.xxx.xxx range, that
> means
> > that it's not seeing the network correctly and not getting a correct
> > address, so it's assigning itself one in the private address range.
This
> > could indicate a hardware problem with that PC's network connection or
> > network card - but if it behaves when you manually set the IP address
then
> > it's more likely a problem with the configuration of the network
settings
> > instead.
> >
> > --
> Hi, What network settings could be configured incorrectly?
> Jackie
>
>