Message came up with, "Windows has detected another computer with the same IP address on this netework."

A message came that said, Windows detected another computer with the same IP address. "... or similar message to one, that could just be the functioning of the laptop for the wireless?

MurrayJoe:

> Mean someone has or may have access to my PC or laptop?

You mentioned a wireless laptop. Do you get this message at home (when your laptop is in communication with your own wireless router), or that you get this message when in a public hotspot?

If at home, then I would be not too concerned (what security options enabled in your home router?).

If you get the message while using a public access point, this does not necessarily your computer has been hacked... but it is a warning that you should not ignore. In general, I would not go to any site that has my financial data, or any other sensitive data, a public hotspot. There are too many ways that a public hotspot may be compromised.

Your original post said that "a message came that said, Windows detected another computer with the same IP address.

There are several reasons this could happen... some innocent people and some not so innocent.

If your network is configured for the most common way, then your router uses a feature called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). You can read about DHCP here...

http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol

Basically, when a device on your home network needs an IP address, he asks your router and your router assigns an IP address... technically, "rents" the router address for a given period (one day). Once this period has elapsed, the device must 'renew lease'.

DHCP stops you from the hassle of having to assign a static IP address to each device on your network and then don't forget to retrieve that meet if/when a device are removed from your network.

Sometimes the process DHCP can be confused and assign the same address on multiple devices. If/when this happens, communication between devices on your home network may be confused. Windows is smart enough to detect that another device on your home network has the same address as the computer where Windows is currently running..., but Windows can not solve the problem.

You can determine the IP address of the computer that is running Windows (and posted the message you saw)... by entering "ipconfig" (without the quotation marks) at a command line prompt. Then you can check the IP addresses of all devices on your network until you find the other devices with the same IP address. Then you could say either every device to get a new IP address of the router (or restart the device). Alternatively, you can try just stating the computer that is running Windows to get a new IP address (by first entering "ipconfig/release" then "ipconfig / renew" in the command-line invite him... all orders without the quotes).

But since you said that you are not very tech savvy, my first suggestion was the easiest... just shut everything in your network, and then restart one at a time by starting with your ISP device, router, and other devices. If the problem persists after that, then more troubleshooting (as described in the previous paragraph) would be necessary.

I hope this helps to clarify the issue for you. If you have any questions, please post them and I'll try to answer.

Tags: Windows

Similar Questions

Maybe you are looking for

  • Phone number of Firefox browser

    I have an urgent need contact number Firefox browser. Please, it's really urgent.

  • Sound does not play in Youtube videos.

    When I look at a Youtube video in Firefox, there is no sound. The same video has sound if I watch it in Chrome. Also, other types of videos make it sound in Firefox. This started happening a few weeks ago. So far, the sound worked fine. I have Window

  • LabView program in command prompt

    Hi all! First of all, here is my config: -Dev PC: Win 7 32-bit -Target PC: Windows XP - 32 bit -LabView 2009 - 32-bit I need to design a program which one will be interfaced with an ERP. So it should not have a GUI and must be controlled by sending t

  • Updated simple indicators in a clustor?

    So I thought that I had this figured out but apparently not quite... This is probably a simple solution, but when I update the items in a clustor, I have other elements to reset to the default values. Does anyone know why this may be? For example, I

  • Find by default for folders in windows XP.

    A change has been made to my computer and I need to get back to default but cannot locate.  When I open a folder, it opens another window and shows as a research fellow.  I want to be able to double-click a file and immediately see the content; Inste