Reader to Reader: IP Address Conflict

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After I installed a new server with the DHCP service running, two of my Windows 9x PCs generated an IP conflict error message at startup. I tried using the release /all and renew /all commands to fix the problem, to no avail. Even after I rebooted each PC, both systems still generated the error message.

To resolve the problem, I gave the workstations a fixed IP address that I knew wasn't in use. I then rebooted the PCs and started the Control Panel Network applet. On the Configuration tab, I selected TCP/IP and clicked Properties. Finally, I selected Obtain an IP address automatically. This action caused each PC to use a DHCP-server-assigned IP address. When I restarted the PCs again, they acquired a new IP address from the new DHCP server.

—Dan Dritlein
[email protected]