"Another device on the network is using your computer's IP" HELP!

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Level 1

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"Another device on the network is using your computer's IP" HELP!

I woke up this morning to an error message that read "Another device on the network is using your computer's IP address. I tried turning on and off airport to no avail. I also tried resetting my computer about 3 times. I Shut all my other devices off and its still not working.

PLEAASSE help. 😟

macbook pro 15in, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 12:52 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 18, 2011 2:14 AM in response to ipodchicken

Hmm...

This is a not uncommon issue called an IP conflict.

IP addresses are numerical addresses computers are assigned to differenciate themselves on a network.

Usually people use DHCP (a special service on all routers) to hand each computer a different IP address automatically. This issue usually only manifests when someone is MANUALLY setting IP addresses on a network and gives one to a device thats already been handed out by the DHCP server.

If you are not setting specific IP addresses for each computer/device on your network manually (which I don't think you are), and you are infact using DHCP to obtain addresses for your devices manually, then (and I don't mean to be alarmist) but it would indicate to me that someone else (a neighbour for e.g.) is using your network and has a manually assigned an IP to his device which is conflicting with one of your DHCP automatically assigned addresses.

OK so to resolve this,

What devices do you have? (List all computers, iPads, iPods, etc on your network)

What kind of Router do you have?

Is your network wired or wireless?

Where are you seeing this message? (on a Mac? iPhone?)

Regards,
John

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Answer 2

Mar 10, 2011 4:16 PM in response to JohnAlanWoods

I get this too. I live in a two family house.
The i mac,this "my" only device(my HP printer is wired to the computer).
I have a Westell modem(wifi compatbale,but wired to computer).
Am I getting this message because my downstairs neighbor is picking up my wireless modem signal?
Can she get any info from my computer?
Does her using my IP address slowdown my computer?
How can I stop this from continuing?
THANKS 🙂

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Answer 3

satcomer

Level 4

1,593 points

Mar 10, 2011 8:52 PM in response to JohnAlanWoods

Well are you telling your DHCP server to reserve the IP for your Mac (the computer's name or MAC address)? I ask because the DHCP server refreshes every few hours ( the referring time depends on the router manufacture). My D-Link router can reserve DHCP address for my Mac. So check to router's setup to see if can reserve an IP address for your Mac.

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Answer 4

Mar 11, 2011 8:13 AM in response to ipodchicken

I had the exact same message this morning - and this is what I found out.

I have a Time Capsule and my DHCP is set to hold an address for seven days. After checking the logs within the TC, I noted that today was the 7th day and that my address was refreshed - along with all my other devices attached to my network. Sometimes when this happens, I get a "ip address conflict" error message - which is basically the same as the "Another device on the network......" message.

If you have done a restart of all your computer and its still not working try to do a reset on your airport. - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728

Rick

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Answer 5

Mr.Win

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2011 7:54 AM in response to JohnAlanWoods

Hey you know I have put the IP address from the other's Mac book Pro to my my Mac Air....so now both Mac can't use internet now! pls help me and how can I do to get back my original IP address back

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Answer 6

Sep 7, 2011 8:38 AM in response to Mr.Win

Go to System Preferences / Network. Under the TCP/IP tab, make sure the top dropdown is set to 'using DHCP, then refresh the DHCP lease;

Alternatively, set for a manual IP and just change the last number of the address to one that's different from the other computer and different from the router's address. Leave the first three numbers of the group as they are.

Message was edited by: noondaywitch

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Answer 7

Mr.Win

Level 1

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Sep 17, 2011 7:31 AM in response to noondaywitch

HEY MR. witch

FOr me i have deleted all the numbers and put my son's Mac book pro's IP address to my Mac AIr/

Then what can I do.I repeat renewing DHCP lease but another device is using this IP address....

What can I do?

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Answer 8

Sep 17, 2011 7:35 AM in response to Mr.Win

Mr.Win wrote:

HEY MR. witch

FOr me i have deleted all the numbers and put my son's Mac book pro's IP address to my Mac AIr/

Then what can I do.I repeat renewing DHCP lease but another device is using this IP address....

What can I do?

Stop putting in your son's computer's ip address in your Mac Air. Leave the ip address blank and use DHCP. DHCP will assign your Air an ip address automatically.

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Answer 9

Mr.Win

Level 1

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Sep 18, 2011 12:26 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Ya..I have done but U know Mr.BOB

when I renew the DHCP lease....it said that Self-assigned IP address and sometime only the Airport signal shows 'ON" but I can't use the internet....

SOMETIME,another device is using this IP address although I have renew the DHCP lease!

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Answer 10

Sep 18, 2011 3:50 AM in response to Mr.Win

Read the post above properly.

Select the configure IPv4 to "using DHCP" and then renew the lease.

Do that on both computers.

Don't put in any numbers yourself, especially not the same number as the other computer.

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Answer 11

Mr.Win

Level 1

0 points

Sep 19, 2011 3:01 AM in response to noondaywitch

Yes,sure I have done this thousand times.....Mr witch..

See this please

I have done u know....After the renewing the DHCP lease,it happens like that

it said that SELF-Assigned IP and cannot use internet with wifi.......It didn't show Connected,just it show me that Self-assigned IP...what to do Mr.Witch

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Answer 12

Sep 19, 2011 7:29 AM in response to Mr.Win

Your router's IP address doesn't appear in the status in the first pic. That means your Airport is not seeing the router at all.

That's why you're getting a self-assigned IP.

Also you have a custom location set. The two may be linked.

First, try resetting the location to Automatic and see if it picks up the router.

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Answer 13

Mr.Win

Level 1

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Sep 19, 2011 9:18 AM in response to noondaywitch

Thanks a lot Mr.witch....thanks yu so much I got the wifi back! I love u so much bro ! thanks a lot

Thanks so much......

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Answer 14

Sep 19, 2011 10:17 AM in response to Mr.Win

's OK; glad we got there in the end. 🙂

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Answer 15

Mr.Win

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2011 8:31 PM in response to noondaywitch

I surely have one question again.

My 10.6 Mac took too long to shut down......what to do? I checked that DID I close all the app b4 I close MBP...

Well now It's too long to shut down......And when I shut down the screen is blue and there's spinnig ball it means loading...TOoo long like half hour(30 mins)....and I never wait MBP to be shut down...I just press the POWER button to force shut down......what to do?

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