XP desktops and vista notebook can connect to network but xp notebooks can't?

I just got a a linksys wireless router and got it all setup first my
xp notebook, then a vista notebook, then a xp desktop all with no
problem. I next tried to connect another xp notebook and it gave some
strange error (about the IP address) and then i went back to my
notebook and started getting the same error and then with another xp
notebook . Now all the xp notebooks tell me "limited or no
connectivity" when i click on "details" it gives me a funky ip address
(like 254.105.109 instead of a normal 192.168.1.x like the router is
giving to the xp desktops and the vista notebook. The subnet mask is
also different than what i put into the router.

I can't figure this out so if any kind soul has some suggestions i
would love to hear them.

Cheers

-Gaiko

 

If you're getting a 169.254.x.x IP address, that means the computer cannot
obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. Try manually assigning an IP
address and see if you can ping the default gateway. More than likely it's
just a wireless connectivity issue. Try plugging directly into the router
and see if the problem persists.

Joe

 

Hi
Check the Router's DHCP server it might be set to give only two IPs.
If so, change the setting to a larger range.
Otherwise, check the Wireless configuration of the Laptop,
http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

Well you got it, i put in an address manually and it worked but i
still can't figure out #1 why it worked on all the xp desktops (that
is they were automatically assigned ip addresses) #2 why all (not just
mine) the xp notebooks aren't being assigned ip addresses manually.

Jack(next post) suggested the DHCP server might be giving only two
addresses which might make sense except 2 desktops (wired) and one
notebok (the wireless vista notebook) are already getting a ip
addresses automatically...

Any ideas what migh be the problem?

 

Well joe was right about the address not being assigned properly and i
would agree with the wireless problem assumption if i wasnt' having
the same problem on three different notebooks (ie the likelihood of
three different notebooks having the same problem makes me think that
it is not the notebooks themselves) but there is still the vista
notebook which is getting an ip address automatically, no problm.

I put in a ip address manually on my computer and viola it connected,
pinged a few addresses and accessed a website.

I wanted to follow up on your suggestion though because three
computers (2 desktops and the vista notebook) are automatically being
assigned ip addresses. I have tried shutting those computers down and
then connecting to the wireless network hoping the wireless computers
would automatically get addresses but stil, nada.

any other ideas would really be appricated!

Cheers

-Gaiko