How to change (Dynamic) IP address in Windows 7 or Vista?

Anonymous
2009-12-10T08:06:48+00:00

Had same issue on Vista, upgraded to Win7 and issue remains.

I have a Dynamic ISP IP address, yet it remains as if it were static, everything that use to work in XP and previous versions of Windows no longer works in Vista or 7. I spoke to my ISP (3 times, 3 different techs), they said my IP is dynamic and confirmed it is not set by them as static. They charge more for a static IP, so would not just be giving me this "upgrade" for free. They had "no idea" how to force/change a new IP address in Vista or 7.

PLEASE! Do not bother suggesting to run ipconfig /flushdns, /release, /renew at a prompt to do this like every internet search suggests, THIS DOES NOT WORK. This was done with cmd prompt opened under "Run As Administrator".

PLEASE! Read everything I have already done here before suggesting something I've already tried or have tested and proven to work/not work.

Here are other things I have tried, THAT ALSO DO NOT WORK:

(NOTE: no router is being used, direct connected, CAT5, PC NIC to broadband modem)

-Left modem unplugged 72 hours. No change

-Had ISP send me a new modem. No change

-Uninstalled Network adapter. No change

-Changed IP4 settings from "Obtain Auto" to a made up forced IP, rebooted, then changed back to auto. No change

So, with all of this "old school" stuff already tried and failed, what have they changed in Vista and 7 that seems to keep even Dynamic IP's as static? Where is Windows caching or storing this information so I can clear it, none of the traditional methods work. I absolutely can not stand having a static IP on my home computer.

If you internet search this exact question you'll find what I have, everyone is suggesting the once working methods I've already tried above, yet people using Vista or 7 are repeatedly finding this no longer works.

Here's some more information, that confirms the IP isn't being stored in my modem, or assigned to the MAC address of my NIC...

If I boot this same PC to a LINUX Live type CD, using the same MAC address and NIC it obtains a different IP address everytime it reboots. The issue clearly has nothing to do with my ISP, modem, or PC in general.

If I hot swap my modem to a different PC, the other PC gets a fresh (different) IP address. If this other PC is using XP I can force the ipconfig /release /renew to change its IP address.

If the different PC is running Vista, the IP remains static no matter what I try unless the hard drive is wiped and Vista is reinstalled, then it obtains a new IP on the PC with the clean install, yet it can not be changed after this happens.

So clearly, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are holding onto IP configuration information somewhere and reusing this information when it detects you are using the same internet provider, WHERE is it being stored so I can clear it?

Thank you so much if you have a working solution and actually know the answer, instead of just reading what can already be found by a search engine and reposting info that is no longer valid like everyone else on the internet is currently doing when trying to answer this question.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2011-07-14T20:20:09+00:00

I think I have found a solution. It has worked for me so I guess it might work for you.

  1. Find out your IP address e.g. go to a website like http://www.whatismyip.com/ it will show you your IP.
  2. Copy It.
  3. Open Network & Sharing Center
  4. Open the Properties of the network you what your IP to change. In my case it is a EVDO modem.
  5. On the Networking tab double-click TCP/IPv4 which will open a window to edit IP and DNS IP address.
  6. On this window Click on "Use the following IP address" and paste that IP you copied at Step 2.
  7. Change the last digit of the IP to any value above it e.g. if its 192.168.23.123 edit the last digit to something like 122 so that the IP becomes 192.168.23.122.
  8. Click OK until all the windows close.
  9. Disconnect from that network.
  10. Reconnect to that network and if it goes as planned the ISP should force a Dynamic IP. Check http://www.whatismyip.com/ if it has changed. If you cannot browse go to Step 6 and select "Obtain an IP address automatically" then Disconnect -> Reconnect the network.

This worked for me so I'm not sure if it will work for you. Feedback will be greatly appreciated.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-12T15:10:08+00:00

    Man, people are not listening.

    Even if you turn off all other proticals but IP4, even if you try to set a static IP and a different gateway, it retains the old gateway.

    Stupid windows 7 (AKA Vista)

    Hay, if they would just make XP that could do multiple cores, I would be very happy.

    Ya know, I bet it might have soemthing to do with that "What network is this? Home Public" stuff.

    I will delete the memory of that network and see if that helps.

    Come on MS, even core simple things like being able to change your fricken default gateway is now a pain in the ____.

    You know, my XP with this http://911PCFIX.com/best-Guaranteed-Computer-Repair.htm boots in 13 seconds, and has way better security than Windows 7 or Vista and that is on my 6years old beaten up laptop.

    I will go and boot up my sons Windows 7 now, eat breakfast, then check if deleting the saved network is the reason I cannot change the default gateway.

    It seems that way. Once Vista or 7 get on a network via DHCP, it must just want to stay.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-28T02:01:42+00:00

    seems like its a security issue on windows 7 .... same problem as trying to run cmd interactive. it can be changed but is it really worth all the touble?

    There has yet to be a single persons response here that works. Just responses from people who have done web searches and posted what they found to be the answer, but did not actually try it to see "ipconfig /release and /renew" do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to change the actual Dynamic IP address in Vista or Windows 7.

    (even if you open the CMD prompt "As Administrator" which also must be done to even attempt it)

    There still is no answer to this question.

    The work around I have been doing is to use a router and set the Vista or 7 computer on a LAN instead of directly to the WAN. You then allow the router to control the internet seen IP address and can force the router to actually release and renew IP addresses at will. Apparently no one at Microsoft either knows how to do this, or wants anyone else to know how to do it.

    NO IDEA how anyone can call themself a Windows MVP or claim they hold Microsoft Certifications when they don't even know how to do something as simple as change a Dynamic IP Address!

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-16T10:46:15+00:00

    As stated in the very first post, this was already tried, AND DOES NOT WORK. Please read and know what you're talking about before responding, I attempted to be very clear about that so we wouldn't be stuck reading information easily found in a web search THAT DOES NOT WORK.

    I have even forced it to try using a different IP from the same block, which it rejected to use, then just defaulted back to the same exact IP address. Then changed the setting back to "Obtain Automaticly" and it still uses the same exact IP. Clearly Windows Vista and 7 are storing this information somewhere like in the registry and the data needs to be directly deleted to remove and change, the question is where? Read my second post, that more direct approach didn't work either. I'm hesitant to delete everything found under...

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\

    out of fear I'll break something and be forced to completely reinstall Windows, which if you've ever done it before is a real PITA having to spend days reinstalling and configuring all your software, and in some cases even having to pay for software all over again, not to mention a full day of just running update after update with multiple reboots, all just to change my Dynamic IP address for both security and privacy reasons.

    How do people become Windows 7 MVP's without even knowing how to force a Dynamic IP address to be changed?

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-15T20:41:21+00:00

    I am having the exact same trouble as Tony1967.  HP tried all the diagnostics they know and now their only suggestion is to wipe the hard drive clean.  Please also let me know if you have a working solution.  Thank you!!

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