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I have a client PC (with Windows 98SE) that is connected to my network with a WRE54G range extender. It connects to the network, but not the internet - the IP is a 169. number rather than a 192. number. I've tried using winipcfg to release and renew but it comes up with an error. Is there another way to renew the IP so that it will connect properly?

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— because the XP laptop works through the expander while the 98SE machine only sees the LAN part, the next steps should isolate whether this is a DHCP/adapter-binding problem, a wireless-driver/crypto mismatch, or something the expander is doing. 's suggestion to check the router DHCP/MAC table is a good start; the following focused tests will zero in on the cause.

First, try a temporary static IP on the 98 box (pick an unused address in the router's LAN range, mask 255.255.255.0, gateway = the router LAN IP, and a public DNS like 8.8.8.8). If the desktop gets Internet with a static address, DHCP is the issue (either the extender or the router). If it still fails, the problem is local to the client (driver, binding or firewall).

If DHCP looks to be at fault, remove and re-add the TCP/IP binding that belongs to the wireless adapter on the 98 machine: Control Panel -> Network -> highlight the TCP/IP entry tied to the wireless card -> Remove -> Reboot -> Add -> Protocol -> Microsoft -> TCP/IP -> bind to the wireless adapter -> Reboot. Also boot 98 into Safe Mode with network support (or disable any third-party wireless utility) and retest — some vendor wireless managers override Windows settings and block DHCP.

Finally, check adapter/expander compatibility: confirm the wireless card driver on Win98 supports the encryption the extender uses (older Win98 drivers may not support WPA/WPA2). Temporarily disable wireless encryption or put the expander in a pure bridge/AP mode for a quick test. If possible, plug the desktop directly into the main router to see if it gets DHCP; check the router DHCP lease list after each test and report whether the client appears.

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Member Avatar for John A

I have a client PC (with Windows 98SE) that is connected to my network with a WRE54G range extender. It connects to the network, but not the internet - the IP is a 169. number rather than a 192. number. I've tried using winipcfg to release and renew but it comes up with an error. Is there another way to renew the IP so that it will connect properly?

If WinIPConfig fails, then there's something wrong. Try restarting your router. If that doesn't help, open up the router's config page (usually you type into the web browser). You should also see if you can access the router config page from that computer. Do you have the TCP/IP protocol installed on Win98? You have to do so from the Network section of the Control Panel.

--Joe

Member Avatar for PatsBard

I set up an XP laptop in the same place and it accessed the expander with no problems and then connected to the Internet. The 98 desktop can access the network portion, but not the Internet.

There are two TCP/IP's:

TCP/IP (Dial-Up Networking)
TCP/IP (Name of Wireless adapter)

Would that cause a conflict? Should I remove the Dial-Up one?

Member Avatar for John A

Would that cause a conflict? Should I remove the Dial-Up one?

No, that should not cause a conflict.

I think you should play around with your router settings. Do you for some reason have MAC filetering on? Check the DHCP page. It should show the list of computers connected, and their IP addresses. Show us what that list is.

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