Winipcfg.exe file

While trying to setup broadband (cable)wireless internet
network I was able to setup the host PC running XP but
when trying to setup another PC running Win/ME I could not
get on the internet even though I showed associated to the
Host PC. I recieved an error telling me that IP config had
a serious error. I tried to run the Winipcfg file from the
run menu but was told it could not be found. I did a
search and it found the file but it had a question mark in
the icon associated with this file. I was told by the
wireless card tech people that I would have to reload
WIN/ME because the file was bad or corrupt. Now for my
questions.

1.What does this file do?
2.Is there anyway to reload the file without doing a
complete reload?
3.Is there a better way to handle all this?

Winipcfg.exe is a tool used to check the IP configuration of a system.
Run winipcfg from a DOS prompt in a DOS window in Win Me (or in the Run
box) with the /? switch, that is type
winipcfg /?
to see the various options available.

Why do you think you need to replace this file? The icon displayed by
this file when viewed in Explorer is the letters IP in red with a large
blue question mark. Somewhat appropriate given its purpose.

I'm sorry but without knowing what networking problems you are
experiencing it is difficult to comment further.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]



Skip wrote:

While trying to setup broadband (cable)wireless internet
network I was able to setup the host PC running XP but
when trying to setup another PC running Win/ME I could not
get on the internet even though I showed associated to the
Host PC. I recieved an error telling me that IP config had
a serious error. I tried to run the Winipcfg file from the
run menu but was told it could not be found. I did a
search and it found the file but it had a question mark in
the icon associated with this file. I was told by the
wireless card tech people that I would have to reload
WIN/ME because the file was bad or corrupt. Now for my
questions.

1.What does this file do?
2.Is there anyway to reload the file without doing a
complete reload?
3.Is there a better way to handle all this?

The tech people from linksys told me this file was bad or
corrupt because my PC was not releasing the IP address so
the host could not pick it up and therefore will not let
me get on the internet with this second PC....I'm no PC
wizard so this is about all I can tell you. Thanks
-----Original Message-----
Winipcfg.exe is a tool used to check the IP configuration
of a system.
Run winipcfg from a DOS prompt in a DOS window in Win Me
(or in the Run
box) with the /? switch, that is type
winipcfg /?
to see the various options available.

Why do you think you need to replace this file? The icon
displayed by
this file when viewed in Explorer is the letters IP in
red with a large
blue question mark. Somewhat appropriate given its
purpose.

I'm sorry but without knowing what networking problems
you are
experiencing it is difficult to comment further.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]



Skip wrote:

While trying to setup broadband (cable)wireless internet
network I was able to setup the host PC running XP but
when trying to setup another PC running Win/ME I could
not
get on the internet even though I showed associated to
the
Host PC. I recieved an error telling me that IP config
had
a serious error. I tried to run the Winipcfg file from
the
run menu but was told it could not be found. I did a
search and it found the file but it had a question mark
in
the icon associated with this file. I was told by the
wireless card tech people that I would have to reload
WIN/ME because the file was bad or corrupt. Now for my
questions.

1.What does this file do?
2.Is there anyway to reload the file without doing a
complete reload?
3.Is there a better way to handle all this?

.

Winipcfg is a tool that can be used to release an IP address but only if
you use it to do so by using the appropriate command. Did you do so?
Winipcfg is a tool and is not required to use or access the internet. So
again I have to ask have you tried using the tool? Until you do so,
neither of us can know whether the file is damaged or not. Putting it
another way, whether winipcfg.exe is damaged or not, it should not prevent
your accessing the internet. I've just demonstrated this to my
satisfaction by renaming winipcfg.exe to winipcfg.old on a Win Me PC,
rebooted and can continue to access both the LAN and internet without
problem. All I have lost is a debugging tool.

If you want to replace winipcfg.exe with a new copy then this is easily
done by extracting a new copy from the Win Me cab files.

Winipcfg.exe is contained in WIN_17.CAB of the Win Me cab set and can be
restored using MSConfig | General | Extract File ... and following the
prompts. The "cab" files are in the Win9x folder on the Win Me CD and
also in either the C:\Windows\Options\Cabs or :\Windows\Options\Install,
which depends on the media from which Win Me was installed. See MS
KB129605 - "HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows Files"
(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=129605).

Winipcfg.exe belongs in the C:\Windows folder.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]




wrote:

The tech people from linksys told me this file was bad or
corrupt because my PC was not releasing the IP address so
the host could not pick it up and therefore will not let
me get on the internet with this second PC....I'm no PC
wizard so this is about all I can tell you. Thanks

Thanks Mike! I will try this and see what happens.
-----Original Message-----
Winipcfg is a tool that can be used to release an IP
address but only if
you use it to do so by using the appropriate command.
Did you do so?
Winipcfg is a tool and is not required to use or access
the internet. So
again I have to ask have you tried using the tool? Until
you do so,
neither of us can know whether the file is damaged or
not. Putting it
another way, whether winipcfg.exe is damaged or not, it
should not prevent
your accessing the internet. I've just demonstrated this
to my
satisfaction by renaming winipcfg.exe to winipcfg.old on
a Win Me PC,
rebooted and can continue to access both the LAN and
internet without
problem. All I have lost is a debugging tool.

If you want to replace winipcfg.exe with a new copy then
this is easily
done by extracting a new copy from the Win Me cab files.

Winipcfg.exe is contained in WIN_17.CAB of the Win Me cab
set and can be
restored using MSConfig | General | Extract File ... and
following the
prompts. The "cab" files are in the Win9x folder on the
Win Me CD and
also in either the C:\Windows\Options\Cabs
or :\Windows\Options\Install,
which depends on the media from which Win Me was
installed. See MS
KB129605 - "HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows
Files"
(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=129605).

Winipcfg.exe belongs in the C:\Windows folder.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]





wrote:

The tech people from linksys told me this file was bad
or
corrupt because my PC was not releasing the IP address
so
the host could not pick it up and therefore will not let
me get on the internet with this second PC....I'm no PC
wizard so this is about all I can tell you. Thanks

.

Mike, Linksys techs (I went through four of them that day)
was trying to use this as a tool to troubleshoot my
wireless setup when I recieved this error message. They
said I should reload it before they could go on. Does this
sound right to you? I would hope they were not just trying
to get rid of me as it had been a four hour ordeal that
day. I'm using a linksys router hard wired to a WinXP PC
and a Linksys wireless card in a Win/ME PC and that is why
I was using Linksys support people.
-----Original Message-----
Winipcfg is a tool that can be used to release an IP
address but only if
you use it to do so by using the appropriate command.
Did you do so?
Winipcfg is a tool and is not required to use or access
the internet. So
again I have to ask have you tried using the tool? Until
you do so,
neither of us can know whether the file is damaged or
not. Putting it
another way, whether winipcfg.exe is damaged or not, it
should not prevent
your accessing the internet. I've just demonstrated this
to my
satisfaction by renaming winipcfg.exe to winipcfg.old on
a Win Me PC,
rebooted and can continue to access both the LAN and
internet without
problem. All I have lost is a debugging tool.

If you want to replace winipcfg.exe with a new copy then
this is easily
done by extracting a new copy from the Win Me cab files.

Winipcfg.exe is contained in WIN_17.CAB of the Win Me cab
set and can be
restored using MSConfig | General | Extract File ... and
following the
prompts. The "cab" files are in the Win9x folder on the
Win Me CD and
also in either the C:\Windows\Options\Cabs
or :\Windows\Options\Install,
which depends on the media from which Win Me was
installed. See MS
KB129605 - "HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows
Files"
(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=129605).

Winipcfg.exe belongs in the C:\Windows folder.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]





wrote:

The tech people from linksys told me this file was bad
or
corrupt because my PC was not releasing the IP address
so
the host could not pick it up and therefore will not let
me get on the internet with this second PC....I'm no PC
wizard so this is about all I can tell you. Thanks

.

wrote:

Mike, Linksys techs (I went through four of them that day)
was trying to use this as a tool to troubleshoot my
wireless setup when I recieved this error message. They
said I should reload it before they could go on. Does this
sound right to you? I would hope they were not just trying
to get rid of me as it had been a four hour ordeal that
day. I'm using a linksys router hard wired to a WinXP PC
and a Linksys wireless card in a Win/ME PC and that is why
I was using Linksys support people.

Since replacing winipcfg.exe with a new copy from the Win Me cab set
should take 30 seconds at most and that even if corrupt would have nothing
to do with any problems you were experiencing, then yes, I do suspect they
were trying to get you off the line - especially so if you had been on the
phone for four hours.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]