IP conflict trying to use two computers on the same network?

[fren.]

I purchased a new laptop about 3 weeks ago and mainly use it at work. I have a crummy desktop that's only used for security cameras and stuff and my laptop.

I've had no issues running the PC and surfing the net on my laptop at the same time, until yesterday. I can only use my desktop to surf, but whenever I turn on the laptop, the connection drops. I'm using a Netgear router; Windows XP on the desktop and Vista on the laptop.

I did the obvious power cycling both router/modem and it worked for about 5 minutes until it stopped working for good.

[Xanthe]

Are the laptop and desktop both set to use DHCP, or are you assigning them IP addresses manually? Wired or wireless? Did you get a new network card for either computer recently?

[Cephius]

It's not working at all now? In that case the router just may be dead.

[xerodok]

Does the router and such boot up?

[fren.]

Are the laptop and desktop both set to use DHCP, or are you assigning them IP addresses manually? Wired or wireless? Did you get a new network card for either computer recently?

They're both assigned manually. I have to connect the laptop to the router via an Ethernet cable because my job has no wireless connection. No new network card.

Does the router and such boot up?

It boots up fine, I can connect to the internet using my shitty desktop, but once I turn my laptop on..neither will connect.

[Reality]

just run DHCP on the router and obtain automatically on the laptop & pc? should work fine

if not, don't run DHCP on the router and just make sure each machine has a different IP, there shouldn't be a conflict as far as an IP Address conflict if they're both hardcoded with different IPs

[Ikith]

Have you tried connecting the 2 computers to a different wireless network? This would isolate the problem.