Problem with Static IP settings in Vista

[montecarlo]

I was trying to configure my uncle's laptop with static IP settings, but everytime I disconnected and reconnected, Vista was losing the settings and going back to DHCP. I was logged in as Admin when doing that, yet I was not able to save the settings (there was no error message from Vista when I applied the settings). Any ideas of what might be wrong? Thanks.

[NooNoo]

What was the error message that Vista gave when you tried to apply the settings?

[montecarlo]

There was no error message. It appeared to behave normally. When I disconnected and reconnected, it was reverting to DHCP. Saving and restarting also resulted in the same problem.

[NooNoo]

Check the registry settings here. (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/928233) and see whether you are using the keys shown in this fix or not.

[montecarlo]

Will try that and get back. Thanks

[timnorvel]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having the same problem.

Thanks,
Tim

ps I don't see how that MS support page is relevant... was it?

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers timnorvel

It's relevant because there are two different ways of getting an IP from a DHCP server. Given the oddness of the situation, I wanted to know which way Vista had been set.

The event viewer needs also to be checked for any networking related errors.

It may simply be that Vista is automatically detecting a DHCP server and is responding to that rather than the static settings supplied... why it's doing that would be the next question.

Have you tried turning off the DHCP server on your network?

[montecarlo]

I have not yet been able to visit my uncle to try that fix. But I have already tried turning off DHCP on the router. In this case, there was no IP address allocation at all. Whatever I did, I couldn't get the static IP settings to remain static!

[NooNoo]

Well next time you go, see what the event viewer has to say.

[montecarlo]

Sure thing.

[timnorvel]

just in case it helps anyone.... i found my problem. There was a 3rd party app that managed network "profiles". The profile that was used when the laptop was docked was set to dhcp, so that over-rode (is that a word?) the network interface settings. I turned off the 3rd party app, as profiles are not needed for this user.

Thanks,
Tim

[montecarlo]

Thanks for the update Tim. I will check if there is any other app controlling it. But as far as I know, there was nothing else installed which controlled the network settings. Also, in XP, you can either allow Windows to control the wireless settings or the 3rd party app, but never both. Isn't it the same in Vista too?

[NooNoo]

Is this wired or wireless?

useful netsh commands (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905084.aspx#bkmk_lanShowInterfaces)

http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/Services/Wired_AutoConfig.htm]check the status of wired autoconfig service (and the wlan).