How can two different computers have the same IP address?
When I try to access a particular public unsecured wireless network, I get an error message saying another computer using the network has my same IP address. This only happens at one restaurant in town; I have no problem connecting to different wireless networks. I'm running Windows Vista on a Dell Inspiron notebook. My laptop tries to change its IP address, but it's never able to.
Public Comments
- If two computers on the same network have the same IP address ... well, the results are unpredictable. It depends on how all the other equipment on the network handles the problem. In general it could be as bad as both machines not being able to communicate at all. More likely only one will not be able to, or perhaps there will simply be intermittent problems on both.
- One of the machines may be configured with a static address and the other machine is receiving that same address from DHCP. Check your settings to see that your machine is set up to obtain IP automatically.
