need to change subnet mask..

[animeal]

One of my computers has 255.255.255.0 sbunet mask, while the other one has 255.255.0.0 mask. They were assigned that automatically. I am wondering if there is a way that I can assign a mask for a specific computer myself? ONLY mask, not IP address. You see, if I assign subnet mask and IP address to both computers, I can share files between 2 computers, but I cant go online on LAN! College Lan that is! Interent Explorer just wont work! :(

[sm8000]

Somebody on your network may have a DHCP server screwing things up for you....They may be using a router, or a computer with an OS such as Win2k Server, or running Internet Connection Sharing, or a proxy that leads nowhere :p You may want to ask your school's tech support to investigate this possibility.

[animeal]

Ok, here is how it is. the one with the subnet mask 255.255.0.0 ir an xp comp , DESKTOP. the one with 255.255.255.0 is laptop win98. I take sometimes 98 to the computer lab to go online and stuff and do some school work. however, if i want to lan 2 computers together, i wont be able to cause the subnet masks are diff. I dont want to change the ip addresses manually, cause than I wont be able to go online without changing them back to "automatic detect". Too much hassle, so I guess my only problem is this subnet mask which is diff. I wonder why my comp. desktop is living out the 3rd set of 255 (255.255.xxx.0) and sticking it with a 0.

[Midknyte]

what IPs are you using in both locations? if there are different dhcp servers using different IP classes, there's not much you can do about it. When you get home, just do a winipcfg release and renew. that should pick up an ip that is in the same group as your desktop.

[animeal]

hmm, nooby here when it comes to video cards and networking. Any chance u could explain that more thouraly? What exactly is winipcfg release and renew? and what is dhcp servers ? i sen that name before in networking control panel when i was messing around and try to find out what was wrong, but have no clue what it does or how to check for what.. :( plz help

[Midknyte]

dhcp - dynamic host configuration protocol. this automatically assigns an IP, SM, etc. to the client.

winipcfg - the windows 9x ip configurator. start-run-winipcfg. you should see all your ip configuration info there. there are buttons to release and renew your ip. try that both at home and on campus. see what you get

255.255.255.0 - this indicates a class C ip
255.255.0.0 - this indicates a class B ip

you might want to check with the school admins about their DHCP configuration.

for more network info:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

for specific terms:
http://www.webopedia.com/

[animeal]

First of all, desktop is XP, and winipcfg doesnt work. :( Second of all, the desktop is at my house, not school, and this desktop contains the 255.255.0.0 subnet mask.
plz help again :confused: :)

[Disk11]

For win 2k and xp, I think it is start-run-ipconfig. I think it brings up a command line prompt and type /help for a list of commands. Type in the command for release and renew then try your home network again.

If this doesnt work , try these settings for your computers thru network neighborhood or simalar icon:
For one computer, manually set the ip to 192.0.0.1
For the other one, set it to 192.0.0.2
For both, the subnet mask should be set to 255.255.255.0
When you take your notebook to school, you will have to reset these settings or it wont work.

[sm8000]

Close. For WinXP, go to Start->Run->cmd (also for Win2k)

C:\>ipconfig

That will give you your basic info. ipconfig/all gives you more complete details. ipconfig/release and ipconfig/renew will perform those actions.

I didn't realize your desktop was at home. Are you using a router?

To change your ip addresses and subnets it will be in TCP/IP properties for both machines. However if you are using a router at home you may have to let it know you want your laptop to connect.

To get Winipcfg.exe for Windows XP/2k go to this link: (Thanks BpB)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/wntipcfg-o.asp

Download and install, then go to the folder C:\Program Files\Resource Kit, copy Wntipcfg directly to C:\ and rename it to Winipcfg. Then it will work like on a 9x machine.

[Midknyte]

it looked like you had a problem with the laptop, not the desktop since the laptop was moving between networks.

do you have a router at home? are you using ICS? did you set your ips manually?

[animeal]

well, no, its the desktop problem. You see, doesnt everyone supposed to have a default 255.255.255.0 subnet mask? I checked few of my friends computers, and they have that subnet mask. HOwever, my default desktop subnet mask is 255.255.0.0, which is kinda weird, i was just wondering how u can change or reset the subnet mask, and ONLY the subnet mask.
By the way, im using 2 nics cards and a crossover cable to share files between 2 computers. No hubs no routers :)

[Midknyte]

you don't necessarily have to have a 255.255.255.0 subnet. that is the SM for a class C IP. It depends on how your ISP is subnetting. you might want to double-check with them first. How are you obtaining an IP? is your computer set to obtain IP automatically? if so, then the dhcp server is sending you the IP, SM, Gateway, etc. That is all automatic and cannot be changed. If you want to write down all the ip info and manually enter it, you can do that too. however, you may run into IP conflicts if the dhcp server leases out that IP to someone else.

go to a command prompt and run ipconfig /all. that should show you all the IP info you need.

[Midknyte]

just saw your edit. why didn't you say you were using a crossover in the first place? what are the IPs you are getting? If you are getting a 169.254.x.x, then the SM is 255.255.0.0. This is APIPA because you do not have dhcp.

Are you trying to share an internet connection? if so, then you would need to run ICS or get a router/switch.

[animeal]

actually the desktop doesnt have internet at all. So im getting the IP between this desktop and my laptop. :) and yes, it was the 169.254.xxx.xxx ip:t

[Midknyte]

so you just want to connect the 2 systems to do file transfers then? APIPA (automatic private IP addressing) is ok for that. If windows cannot find a dhcp server, it will assign itself an ip using 169.254.x.x SM 255.255.0.0. 169.254.x.x is a class B IP, so the SM is correct.

You see, if I assign subnet mask and IP address to both computers, I can share files between 2 computers, but I cant go online on LAN! College Lan that is! Interent Explorer just wont work!


what was your laptop IP? your laptop has a class C IP probably because it picked it up from a DHCP server (school?). if you release and refresh the IP, the laptop would also get APIPA. which system has the problem with the college lan?

[animeal]

hehe, im just confusing u here. the laptop is fine, and i can go online at school and it has subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 which is perfect. the desktop is the only one thats giving me problems because of subnet mask thingy where its different than every computer out there. I also tried to do the refresh and renew, but it didnt work. :( oh well, guess will just have to get myslef another comp. :)

[Midknyte]

you still didn't say what your laptop IP is. The problem is that there is no dhcp server to configure your desktop for you. That is why you keep getting the 169.254.x.x IP with SM 255.255.0.0.

You can copy the settings on your laptop and just increase the IP by 1. so if your laptop is 192.168.1.53, then the desktop could be 192.168.1.54.

[sm8000]

It seems to me that if you're getting a 169.254.etc..... IP address, you're probably getting nothing in the "Default Gateway" line, which means your desktop isn't connecting to the internet at all. If this is the case, and release and renew didn't work on it, then try uninstalling your network card drivers and re-installing them. Make sure they are the Windows XP drivers. Also be sure you're not using your crossover cable to connect to the internet - you'll have to switch it for a patch cable. Once you've done hat, be sure TCP/IP is installed and configured correctly (Network properties). Set it to auto-detect and see what you get (ipconfig), If you have a gateway you have a good start. If your subnet is not to your liking then do what Midknyte suggested above - copy your laptop settings and use a 192.168.x.etc address with a different number in the last octet than your laptop. Make it just one number away.

[animeal]

Hey thnx, that might actually work and actually i was thinking about doing the same thing. :) and u were right, gateway line was empty. thnx for all ur help guys! :t