"Invalid IP Configuration" on most wireless networks.

Preface: I'm about intermediate tech-skill-level. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and maybe reply to this. Thank you.

Problem:
My work laptop will only connect to the wireless connection at work (when it does this it has a 172.xxx IP) but it will not connect to other wireless networks (when it tries, it has a weird 169.xxx IP). I get the error "Invalid IP Configuration."

Story:
I got a refurb Gateway NV53 laptop for work (wireless card is an Atheros AR5B93).
It didn't connect to any networks: work, home or coffeeshop.
I took it to the IT guy. He scratched his head and couldn't figure it out - then he gave my account admin rights and it connected to our work network. I took it home - same problem as when it had no admin rights.

I fiddled with IP settings for the last two hours. I tried various configurations of no IPV6, static IPs, and making sure my security settings were all correct. It's secured WPA2 (on the router it's WPA2 or WPA, automatic, but I tried both just WPA and just WPA2 on my laptop, no configuration works).

At the end of it all, what I learned is that if I set it to auto IP settings, my subnet mask and DNS server don't fill properly (my router is 255.255.254.0, and auto sets my laptop's to 255.255.0.0) and it gives me the weird 169.xxx IP address. If I set everything static and myself, matching up DNS and gateway and subnet and giving it any IP (I tried 192.168.0.109, 106, 2, and 192.168.2.1) it still will not connect correctly.

I've tried renewing/releasing the DHCP on the router itself, as well as running ipconfig commands.

I am pulling my hair out. (Especially because I wrote all this twice now, as I accidentally hit back in the browser…)

You can see the screenshots below from when I was tweaking the IP myself and when it is set to auto. There is one screenshot where it read 192.168.9.x, I know - I adjusted it to .0.x, that's just a typo. Another screenshot or 2 read 255.255.255.0 but that's another typo, I had them set to 255.255.254.0 when doing static. In my haste and frustration, I pounded the keys a bit without thinking, at times…

So, that tells you the story.

Thank you so much for being willing to help!

Screenshots:
(sorry for external links, G+ wouldn't work with the embed IMG code.

Auto IP Config (GUI)
http://plus.google.com/photos/101342...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Auto IP Config (cmd)
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Static IP Config (GUI)
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Static IP Config (cmd)
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Changing DNS Subnet warning
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

DNS Advanced Settings Issue?
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Router Active Sessions 192.x.x.x
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Router Active Sessions 169.x.x.x
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

Router Info
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA


Router settings:
IP Address*:
24.7.152.251
Subnet Mask*:
255.255.254.0
Default Gateway*:
24.7.152.1
DNS*:
75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76


Lastly, the original CNET thread I made before realizing I needed the expertise of the sevenforums crowd!
How resolve "Invalid IP Address" and "No Internet Access" - CNET Wireless Internet Forums

Okay - I will try that today when I can.

However - shouldn't the subnet mask match the one on my router: 255.255.254.0 (not all 255)?

Secondly, if it then fails to connect, do you know the process for changing DHCP settings on a DLink DIR-600L router?

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!! SUCCESS

You, sir, are a golden god!

Here you can see on my router:
Screenshot:
router info re: DHCP
https://plus.google.com/photos/10134...CPTov9XH0YvXDA

DHCP client for LAN is on.
DHCP is enabled for Wireless.

So it seems the numbers I was entering wrong were the DNS options (I had tried the 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 configuration once with no luck) but really the Default Gateway was way different.

Can you explain why?

Thank you so much, you really helped untie the knot in my stomach.

:)

That is your WAN subnet "255.255.254.0 given to you by your ISP. For you PC you need a LAN subnet.

255.255.254.0 is a subnetted network. They do this so you can get your IP address and be on a different subnet as someone else.

Something that a lot of people get messed up is the fact that you have 2 IP addresses. Your external IP address and your internal address. External = 24.7.152.251 - Internal = 192.168.0.X The only device that is concerned with your external address is your router, and each device inside your local network will have there own Internal IP address.

Your default gateway is going to be pointing to your router. You need to do this because 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 address range is a non route able address. Your router uses a technology called network address translation (NAT).

NAT takes the packets destined for the internet and substitutes a registered address for the computers private address.

Your lan should be running the defualt class C network of 255.255.255.0.

8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 are googles public dns server. I had you try them just to make sure your ISP dns was working correctly.

I have never setup a DLINK DHCP but if you provide screen shots of the page or pages I can walk you through setting it up.

If i helped dont forget to rep me.

Maybe this picture from my D-link router will help.

Looks to me like the incorrect static IP settings were being used here. The Op was getting his settings from the WAN page then applying them to the LAN settings.

I would think that the standard DHCP settings would work.

Nice work Parman carry on.

Thanks chev65
:)

Bahaha.

Took it to work.

Set everything back to auto config.

Wouldn't connect.

Asked IT guy for static IP settings for our office network, in case my laptop just can't do auto IP...
Legally he can't tell me.
He recommends using a wireless USB card.

You will have to remove you static entry's for DHCP to work at work. Once you get DHCP setup on your router at home you will be able to leave it as auto assign and be able to connection to both of them without any addition configuration settings.