Unable to change IP or DNS

Question

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Unable to change IP or DNS

Broadband supplier: Virgin (UK)

Mac Pro OS X 10.13.6 (High Sierra) (same network - no issues)

Issues:

OS X 10.13.6 (High Sierra)

Macbook Pro late 2011 15"

Search Domain in Sys-Network is Hitronhub.home (router supplied by Virgin Broadband)

Problem: Unable to use DHCP with manual address.

Problem: Continuously resets to Using DHCP

Symptoms: IP address is always DHCP Start IP

Cannot change using manual address.

(if I change the start IP in LAN settings on router range defaults to new start IP when I Renew DHCP Lease in Sys Prefs.)

Symptoms: DNS Server defaults to 127.0.0.1 and cannot change or add new address.

Ran Wireless diagnostics:

02:32:29.649 Hidden Wi-Fi Scan Results 0.002 Yes Found 1 hidden network(s)

02:32:29.644 Conflicting Wi-Fi CC 0.001 Yes Found conflicting country code(s) (GB)

'VM2640122_EXT' — a4:2b:8c:16:c8:a3 (DE)

02:32:29.641 Congested Wi-Fi Channel 0.002 Yes Current channel (44) is congested

Recommended 2.4GHz — 1

Recommended 5GHz — 136,40

Tried solutions:

Open /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and delete

com.apple.airport.preferences.plist,

NetworkInterfaces.plist,

preferences.plist, and

Settings.plist.

And rebooted.

Any ideas? Other forums for tech support? Anything - driving me nuts especially since Mac Pro is fine so looks like a setting on Macbook.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 10, 2021 6:48 AM

Reply

Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 10, 2021 1:43 PM in response to MichaelTzu

Did you have Sys Prefs quit when you deleted that file?

It needs to be quit or will save the old settings on quitting it.

Delete this file with Sys Prefs closed...

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

Reboot.

Or...

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

Does it work in the new account?

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Answer 2

Jul 10, 2021 7:04 AM in response to MichaelTzu

Not clear what your issue is.

"Problem: Unable to use DHCP with manual address.

Problem: Continuously resets to Using DHCP"

This is how DHCP works. When using DHCP the device connecting gets an ip address assigned by the DHCP server (router). You can not use a manual (static) ip address. Turn off DHCP to assign a manual ip address. Or, you can reduce the scope of the DHCP address pool and manually assign an address outside the scope.

If the router does not allow manual ip address assignment, contact the provider of the router.

127.0.0.1 is your localhost, your computer/device.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 10, 2021 8:08 PM in response to MichaelTzu

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Pastebin is a good place to paste the whole report if you capture the URL while there…

https://pastebin.com/

Whew, they've changed pastebin & made it harder, but after pasting in, click Create new paste button, then Embed button, then copy the URL...

The important part of the above is between the quote marks...

https://pastebin.com/embed_js/KuvnghqA

Workable but harder for me to work with...the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 11, 2021 9:03 AM in response to MichaelTzu

OK, name does me no good, if you can\t figure out a link there, use the...

Workable but harder for me to work with...the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 11, 2021 9:48 AM in response to MichaelTzu

After investigating Jump Desktop I feel pretty strongly that was/is the problem, but the 3 files listed all need to go my friend. :)

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 11, 2021 6:10 PM in response to MichaelTzu

Shouldn't need to wipe the drive.

If worried...

Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold ...

Command (⌘)-R

Installs the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

251,171 points

Jul 11, 2021 2:10 PM in response to MichaelTzu

Looks like time to try the reinstall.

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Answer 8

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 10, 2021 7:31 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

I am using a Mac Pro on same network and router with no issues.

On Mac Pro I have used "Using DHCP with Manual Address" in Network settings.

The Macbook Pro overrides desired settings and resets to "Using DHCP" - (maybe my explanation was not clear)

Yes I know 127.0.0.1 is my local host - hence my attempts at adding DNS, e.g. Google DNS 8.8.8.8 but just defaults back to 127.0.0.1.

Thank you for responding.

Reply

Answer 9

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 10, 2021 8:21 AM in response to BDAqua

No Profiles set.

Interesting that when I try to add new Location it pops up with error message Preference Error "There was an error in Network preferences".

Not sure where the log file is stored? But maybe a clue in there.

Had a look at this https://macissues.com/2015/04/30/five-quick-fixes-for-wi-fi-troubles-in-os-x/ so see what deleting all Library > Preferences > SystemConfiguration

Library > Preferences > SystemConfiguration

Did that! Reboot. And still same issues. Unable to add Location. IP set to first in IP router pool. DNS stuck at 127.0.0.1

Must be some setting somewhere in bowels of system. Have to go out now but appreciate any left field insights.

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Answer 10

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 10, 2021 4:47 PM in response to BDAqua

Deleted /Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

Safe boot.

Logged in on 2nd Admin (always set up 2nd admin as useful for trouble shooting)

Reset IP & DNS.

Logged out and did the same on main account.

Both IP & DNS maintained when testing still in safe boot

Did normal reboot.

Logged into each account and IP address held on both accounts but DNS defaulting back to 127.0.0.1 on both accounts.

So just how to override the DNS 127.0.0.1 left to solve.

Really appreciate help.

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Answer 11

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2021 11:41 AM in response to BDAqua

Have deleted 3 plists as suggested. Deleted Jump plus all associated files using Hazel.

Empty Trash.

Reboot.

No luck though DNS is now 192.168.0.1 (obviously router ip) but still unable to update Location and DNS.

Detached battery.

Reset SMC.

Reboot - same - no luck.

Tried Reset NVRAM or PRAM

Reboot.

Still unable to duplicate Location, amend Location, amend DNS, defaults to 192.168.0.1

Any ideas before I reinstall?

All the best

Michael

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Answer 12

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2021 8:59 AM in response to BDAqua

Ran etrecheck, pasted into Pastebin. Cannot work out how to send a url link. Username on pastebib is MichaelTzu.

Whilst waiting for response will have a look at report myself for clues.

Thanks

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Answer 13

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2021 9:13 AM in response to BDAqua

121.0.0.1

Hope this helps - apologies but could not figure out how to share form pastebin.

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Answer 14

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2021 9:14 AM in response to MichaelTzu

https://pastebin.com/edit/EpKFVbS5 does this help?

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Answer 15

MichaelTzu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2021 9:17 AM in response to MichaelTzu

Would it come up under heading public pastes? Report 121.0.0.1?

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Unable to change IP or DNS

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