Non working IP Address?

I'm working on a laptop that assigns itself a particular IP address 169.254.8.66 which bears no relation to the network it's on. I can resign a new address OK but when it's set back to automatic always goes to the above address even when tried on two different networks.

The main problem is that it cannot detect the gateway and hence can't get onto the internet or the LAN

The laptop runs XP Home.

Is it possible that the IP address is being assigned by the device itself or from some other area of XP?

I plan to uninstall the device and reinstall to see if this fixes but has anyone any other ideas please?

Gordon

 

169.254

When my computer did this(assign 169.254.xxx.xxx) it was a result of not being able to assign a new ip address. My routers DHCP was not working correctly. It started with the SP2 update. I had to assigh static ip addresses for each computer to get reliable connections each time the notebook was opened from hibernation.
That 169... addr is some sort of default when there is an error.

 

look here:

http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl5muj/index.htm

 

This happens when it is unable to communicate with the DHCP server. Try these suggestions.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/specificbroblems.htm

 

Thanks for the suggestions but no success I'm afraid.

I'm trying to get the laptop to work on a wireles lan using a 4-port wireless router.

Assuming I am unable to get the device to assign automatically what do you suggest I set them to baring in mind the router sets in the range 10.*.*.*

I'm guessing 10.0.0.10
Subnet 255.255.255.0

Will this work and more importantly will it detect the gateway?

Gordon