Windows Tip: Resolving IP address conflicts

This is one reason why I always like to pre-configure workstations so that the network icon is visible in System Tray. To do this, open the TCP/IP properties of the connection and on the General tab click Properties and select the checkbox labeled "Show icon in notification area when connected." But what if you haven't configured workstations this way? In that case, you can open a command prompt window and type ipconfig on the computer and if it displays 0.0.0.0 for both the computer's address and default gateway, you've likely got an address conflict with another computer. Just to be double sure, open Event Viewer next and check the System log for an Error event that has source Tcpip and event ID 4198.