[ders]

I am new here so might not be placing this in the correct place~bear with me as I learn how you do things here.
I have a couple of concerns but will take one at a time ... the first is an error message that I get on my computer ... it is as follows

Another computer on this network has the same IP address as this computer. Contact you network administrator for help resolving this issue. More details are available in the Windows System event log

When this happens, I lose my internet access and either have to re-boot my computer or unplug the modem box and plug it back in. I contacted my internet provider - they said it wasnt their problem, but my computers?

I ran the SysInfo utility and the results are below

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.1
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium , Service Pack 1, 64 bit
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 250u Processor, AMD64 Family 16 Model 6 Stepping 2
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 3839 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430, 256 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 598089 MB, Free - 560693 MB;
Motherboard: eMachines, MCP61PM-GM, ,
Antivirus: AntiVir Desktop, Updated and Enabled

[cwwozniak]

Hi ders, and welcome to TSG.

I've asked a moderator to move this thread to the Networks forum for now.

Other than your computer, what other devices are connecting to the modem? This would include other computers, networked printers, game consoles. Digital video recorders, Blu-ray players, HDTV with networking capabilities, etc. If the modem has WiFi networking include any devices that connect to it wirelessly.

While your computer has a working connection, run the DOS / Windows command screen. Enter IPCONFIG /ALL at the prompt. Then mark and copy the entire set of results to the Windows clipboard and then paste the results into a new post in this thread.

[ders]

I have a MicroCell tower so that my ATT cell has signal in my home and my daughter gets wireless from my server for her laptop computer

to run the DOS/Windows command screen ... do I catch that when my computer is first booting up?? Forgive my ignorance ... some things I am knowledgeable about, others I am not

[TerryNet]

do I catch that when my computer is first booting up??

Please show the ipconfig /all twice--for when you don't have internet access and for when you do.

The MicroCell tower is the "modem box" you mention in your initial post?

[ders]

The AT&T 3G MicroCell tower is something AT&T had me get so that I could get my cell phone to work in my home. It acts like a mini cellular tower and has to connect to my internet service in order to work. If you need to know more about that, you can go HERE and read

The modem is the box the phone company connects to my computer and phone line so that I can have DSL

Please tell me how to get to my DOS/Window command screen

[cwwozniak]

Originally Posted by ders

Please tell me how to get to my DOS/Window command screen

For Windows 7, click the "Start" button. Select the All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt . That should open a black command screen.

[ders]

this is with internet connection

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\der>IPCONFIG/ALL
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : der-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain.invalid
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 44-87-FC-CA-79-1A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a084:e3ed:311b:97bc%10(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.1(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, July 23, 2011 4:05:52 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, August 29, 2147 11:06:18 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 241193024
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-13-C7-2F-E3-44-87-FC-CA-79-1A
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Tunnel adapter isatap.domain.invalid:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:ca6:1599:52a8:cb91(Prefe
rred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::ca6:1599:52a8:cb91%11(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

this is without internet connection

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\der>IPCONFIG/ALL
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : der-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain.invalid
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 44-87-FC-CA-79-1A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a084:e3ed:311b:97bc%10(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.1(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, July 23, 2011 4:05:52 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, August 30, 2147 1:49:19 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 241193024
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-13-C7-2F-E3-44-87-FC-CA-79-1A
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Tunnel adapter isatap.domain.invalid:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:140f:10d6:52a8:cb91(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::140f:10d6:52a8:cb91%11(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

[cwwozniak]

I did not notice anything out of the ordinary for your Ethernet adapter settings.

Do the same IPCONFIG /ALL command on your daughter's computer when she is on line. Look for the section for the wireless hardware and see if DHCP is enabled and what her IPv4 Address is. The address should be different than yours. You may also want to check her wireless network settings to see if any type of encryption is being used for the wireless. No encryption or easily hacked WEP encryption could allow someone nearby to tap into your wireless network and they could be causing the conflict.

The next time you get the "same IP address" error, use the IPCONFIG /ALL command on both computers to see if you two have the same IP address. If they are different, you may have a conflict with the MicroCell device.

Just to confirm, the only things connect to the modem in any way are your computer, your daughter's computer, and the MicroCell device.

EDIT: I just saw your additional information, If your daughter is on line, check her DHCP setting and IP address

[ders]

Ok .. I will be able to check my daughters computer tomorrow and let you know what I find out there and will also check things when I get the 'error' message again. ( it doesnt happen everyday - about 3 times this past week, so it may be a bit before I am able to check that. ) Also, that error message is not something that happens just when my daughter and I are on our computers at the same time, in fact, more often than not it has been when my daughter has not been on hers. Not sure that matters but thought I would throw it out there.

The only things connected to my modem are my computer and the MicroCell device .. my daughters computer is not connected.

Might I ask ... if someone is tapping into the wireless network ... are they tapping in to my computer as well???

[cwwozniak]

If you are getting the error message when her laptop is turned off or no where near your wireless router then I would have to say that here laptop is probably not part the IP address conflict problem.

I am not at all familiar with the MicroCell device. Do you have a way of logging into it to check its network settings for things like its IP address, if DHCP is enabled, etc.?

If someone is accessing your wireless network then there is a possibility that they could be accessing your computer. That would depend on what, if any software firewall or other anti-intrusion software was running on your computer vs. the hacking skill level and determination of the person trying to hack into it.

Your first line of defense would be to make sure that your wireless router is using some form of WPA encryption with a long and not easily guessed pass-phrase or encryption key. WEP encryption would keep honest people from accidentally connecting to your network but can easily be defeated by a beginner hacker in a few minutes. No encryption leaves your wireless access wide open to anyone nearby that wants to use it.

[ders]

okay ... I did the IPCONFIG/ALL on my daughters laptop ...

this is connected to the internet

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Owner>IPCONFIG/ALL
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Owner-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain.invalid
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-D2-13-04-EF
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::f4e1:af5d:edee:950%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, July 24, 2011 8:32:30 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, August 31, 2147 3:12:49 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 301998435
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-11-08-35-D6-00-1E-33-98-03-D4
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.254.254
192.168.254.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast Ethern
et NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-33-9F-8A-26
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:2090:1d8d:3f57:1fd(Prefe
rred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2090:1d8d:3f57:1fd%13(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 28:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{B0F31E43-512B-499E-AAA1-E7828F7C5
D43}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 13:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{B0F31E43-512B-499E-AAA1-E7828F7C5
D43}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Users\Owner>

and this is with no connection

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Owner>IPCONFIG/ALL
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Owner-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-D2-13-04-EF
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast Ethern
et NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-33-9F-8A-26
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 28:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{B0F31E43-512B-499E-AAA1-E7828F7C5
D43}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 13:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{B0F31E43-512B-499E-AAA1-E7828F7C5
D43}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Users\Owner>