For some unknown reason I get a message pop up when I log into the internet. This happens about three or four times a month. The message is; -
WINDOWS SYSTEM ERROR There is an IP conflict with another system on the network.
Can any one explain what this is about.
someone else is piggy backing on your wifi? and you are running with a fixed IP adress.
=A0 =A0WINDOWS SYSTEM ERROR
ict with another system
Thanks for your the reply but can you explain in more detail like what is wifi and whats a "fixed IP address.
Ok. at some stage computers have IP addresses.
Those are either hard wired into the configuration, or handed out by a DHCP server - typically a router.
If your machine is set to 'obtain address automatically' its using DHCP. if its got numbers entered onto it, its not.
Now, if two machines share the same IP address networking doesn't work. There are ways they can detect other machines with the same IP address.
So, somehow another machine is on the same address. Why? because one or other, or both of them has a manually entered IP address..in a range used by the DHCP.
Please explain in more detail "hard wired", "configuration", "DHCP server", "router", "networking", "detect" and "manually".
[Only joking!]
For a start, how many devices *should* there be attaching to your network? (PCs, laptops, iPhones, Wiis, Playstations - basically anything with ethernet or WiFi)
Probably the same reason as my PC suddenly deciding I had a Compaq keyboard, resulting in half the letters I typed not appearing on screen. The only keyboard ever connected has been an HP, so I don't know how the 'kinell that happened either.
Bloody things.
HP bought Compaq, they still use the brand name.
But Compaq is part of HP so Compaq keyboards are HP keyboards.
=A0 =A0WINDOWS SYSTEM ERROR
t with another system
There are as many reasons for Windows System Errors as there are lines of code in the operating system. I get the same message sometimes, I think it is just a bug. Suggest you ignore it for as long as you can.
No, it's not a bug, it's a configuration problem, for some reason two devices are trying to use the same IP address, at least one them will not work on the network.
Shame my PC didn't know that. I uninstalled the Compaq, restarted & let the PC find the keyboard, which it identified as an HP. It all now works perfectly.
Poxy computers. If I had a power tool that worked like a PC I'd take it back. "Makita doesn't recognise the drill bit installed and is closing down". "Incorrect abrasive installed, angle grinder needs to shut down".
I get the message sometimes when my wife starts up her PC. ON our network the PCs and laptop seem to squabble over IP addresses but the router seems to sort it out and we all get connected.
I use a free OS which I've set up to do exactly what I need and expect of it. If I could get free power tools that did exactly what I expected of them, I'd be laughing...
Until you bought some flat pack from ikea and the tools didn't work. Then you would ask and be told well its not the free tools its ikea don't support your free tools and you should never buy any flat packs from ikea until they do.
Per the other replies, there's a good chance someone else is using your wifi connection - I had to "borrow" a connection for a while, and occasionally saw the message (and tactfully disappeared for a while so as not to interfere with their use).
If you go into your router settings, you should be able to get a list of MAC addresses that have connected to it, and from that work out which are "yours" and which are uninvited. There are a couple of ways of trying to secure your network at this point;
a) WEP encryption (relatively weak) b) WPA encryption (strong, but not all hardware will work with it)
In addition to this, you set up a list of "permitted" MAC codes (these are hardware ID strings given by the wireless devices) - it's still possible to "spoof" these, but the other user would need to be a little more than your average web surfing granny to accomplish this.
In (a) you give a password, and typically 4 alphanumeric "passwords" will be generated as a response - you make a note of (typically) the first one (unless you set the routher to another one) and when you want to connect for the first time to the "secure" network you'll need to enter the alphanumeric password.
In (b) the password is plain text, but the encryption method is stronger, so if you set the network password to "ukdiy" you'd only need to type in "ukdiy" to connect to the network.
As mentioned above though, not all hardware works comfortably with WPA despite it being the defacto standard now for many years - I have a similar problem with my own hardware using a Netgear WG111T and a Belkin Wireless G router - WEP works, WPA doesn't...
Simple. Dont buy from Ikea!
^^^^^^
That's your problem.
Indeed, but it's a common problem for things not to interoperate as they should, hence the mention !
Exactly. Or make your own tools when they don't exist...
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