Wrong IP address. Where did it come from?

Question

Wrong IP address. Where did it come from?

I recently started having some slow internet problems and called Time Warner to see what was going on. After some diagnostics it was discovered that they did not support my IP address that was showing up in System Preferences under Network. I do not know where the incorrect IP address came from. I did change about 6-8 months ago to TWC and have updated to Snow Leopard too. Anyway it seems that the only way I can now get the correct IP address to show up the DHCP manual option. The other IP address will not disappear otherwise. Why is this? How come the computer will not automatically detect the correct IP address? How can I correct this? How come all of a sudden this became an issue? By the way I am updated to 10.6.2

Intel Alum. 20" iMac 2.4ghz., Mac OS X (10.6), 2 g. RAM, Cannon MP500

Posted on Dec 1, 2009 6:08 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 1, 2009 6:18 PM in response to David Barbour2

HI David,

Try downloading and installing the 10.6.2 combo update available here.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL959

If that doesn't help, try using Open DNS - Free/Basic

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

Dec 1, 2009 6:39 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Carolyn thanks for responding.

I had updated to 10.6.2 Do I need to do it again using the combo update?
Time Warner did supply me with an IP address they support and I manually entered in and is working.

I guess my main question is Why did this happen? Where did this other IP address come from? How come I can only manually change it? Why is not automatic detected?

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Answer 3

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,851 points

Dec 1, 2009 8:15 PM in response to David Barbour2

What does your network look like?

An "incorrect" IP address is because something somewhere assigned it.

What is the address TW didn't like? We can probably determine more from that address.

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Answer 4

Dec 2, 2009 5:46 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Just to follow-up on this and my curiosity.

When Time Warner was trying to diagnose my slow internet it was discovered that an invalid or an IP address not supported by them was showing up in System Preferences - Network. However, they did say the correct and supported IP address was being "seen" by them. They also had me go to the web site whatismyipaddress.com and the correct IP address was there.

OK - now why under network was an invalid address showing up. We tried a restart and still it is the only IP address showing up, the correct IP address does not show up anywhere. The only way to insert the correct IP address was to use the DHCP manual option.

How can I get my computer to get rid of that old address? Could it be from an old provider? I do not know but I am curious. Again, I know nothing of this stuff except what I learned since yesterday.

My setup - my modem is connected via ethernet directly to the computer. I do have an Airport extreme also connected to the modem where I use it for my Apple Tv and Playstation 3. I do have an other ethernet connection running from my Airport to a Directv DVR and/or Panasonic Blu-ray depending upon my needs.

Curious ....

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Answer 5

Dec 2, 2009 10:41 AM in response to David Barbour2

There's plenty on this board who know more about this than I do, but as I understand it your computer is probably getting it's IP from your router (is that the Airport? I use a non-apple one) when you use the automatic setting, and your router is the IP that your provider is seeing.

Also I think the usual configuration is the router is between the modem and the computer when you use one I don't know if this is the problem.

Dave

Message was edited by: Dave Robertson2

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