Trying to connect two computers to the internet, one says that there is an IP address conflict. Why?

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Hi, I want to connect my desktop and laptop to a LinkSys hub so that I can access my high speed DSL internet on either computer, often simultaneously. However, my laptop says that there is an IP address conflict and subsequently disables the connection. How can I fix this problem -- I can't get another ISP, so I have to share this IP address.

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To start with, if you're truly using a HUB and not a Router then that's 90% of the problem right there. A router of some sort is required to share a single internet address among multiple computers. It's fairly easy, and they're not terribly expensive.

The other 10% sounds like it might be configuration issue. I would double check the TCP/IP configuration to ensure that it is set to "automatically receive an IP address".

Related:

Ask Leo! - What's the difference between a Hub, a Switch, and a Router?
Ask Leo! - How should I set up my home network?

Article C1988 - June 5, 2004

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Recent Comments

29 Comments

I'm traveling in my RV. I have an wifi internet conection on my lap top that I would like to share the internet connection with a desk top compute at the same time. Wife works on one computer I work on the other. How do I accomplish this.

The simplest is with an ethernet cross-over cable connected between the two machines, and turning on "Internet Connection Sharing" on the laptop.

- Leo
07-Nov-2008

Posted by: Bryan Moore at November 6, 2008 3:33 PM

I want to know how to access my computer data(delhi) with other computer(bombai) via internet connection.

Sounds like a job for Hamachi.

- Leo
25-Dec-2008

Posted by: yuvraj at December 24, 2008 9:39 PM

hey i have verizon wireless internet and i would like to use my laptop and my pc at the same time is this possible by using a cable to connect the both of them to the same modem? If so what are the steps that i need to take. kindof make a home network using one modem?

Posted by: Steve at June 1, 2009 8:09 AM

I want to connect my desktop to my laptop(vista),my laptop has built in wireless LAN. How can i connect both computer on one modem.

Posted by: arjun ratheesh at September 7, 2009 11:41 AM

I have two desktop pc, in which one is connected with brodband. i want to use brodband from second pc also, then how to connect both pc for above

Posted by: Vinod at September 19, 2009 10:56 AM

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