unable to renew IP address; ipconfig /release will not release

I am having trouble releasing the 169.?.?.? IP address. It is my uderstanding that the 169. IP address is a generic ip generated by the OS.

Why I am I having troubles obtaining an IP address? Does any one have any suggestions? It is not a modem problem, the ISP can communicate with the modem but the local computer cannot.

Please help, thanks.

Check to make sure that your RAS settings under Control Panel --> Network Connections has the Internet Protocal TCP/IP enabled under the Networking tab.

Did this ever work and did it stop working?

Good Luck,
Steve

drmayo5,
Just a few questions:
1. Is this the first time you are experiencing this issue?
2. Are you connecting to a switch/hub or directly to the cable modem?
3. If you run 'ipconfig /all' are you pulling a subnet mask, default gateway, or DNS?
4. Have you tried to reinstall your network card drivers?
5. If you launch Device manager do you see any flagged hardware?
6. What is the status of your Network Card in Device manager?

I hope these questions help.

169.254.x.x is not a valid address.

Here is what you can try out:

You are most likely on 192.168.0.1 or 172.16.0.1 gateway.

Try assigning your machine a static IP
192.168.0.21 or 172.16.0.21

You can use subnet mask as:  255.255.255.0

And gateway as:
192.168.0.1 or 172.16.0.1

Validate your connection by using ping
DOS> ping 192.168.0.1
or
DOS> ping 172.16.0.1

Once you get access to your modem, then configure it using it's Administration panel.
Generally at: http://192.168.0.1   or http://172.16.0.1

Remember, use one combination at a time.
First try: 192.168.x.x

If it doesn't work then go for 172.16.x.x

Assuming DialUp:
Ignore everything we say and answer some of the intellegent questions above.  "ISP can see it and I can't" threw us off into thinking you're on broadband.  Call your ISP and ask them to help you with the information you need to feed the "Install New Dialup Connection" Wizard.

Assuming we are right about broadband:
There are thousands of valid internal addresses that could be in use.  
Try those two and then 192.168.1.1 but if the ISP can see it, they should have already tols you what to use.  Call them and ask for your internal Network address, and ask if the modem/router is set to answer DHCP requests.  Your computer certainly seems set to use a DHCP server.

169.254.x.x is not a bad address.  It's Window's new way of saying "I can't see a DHCP Server to get a good address, but I'll work fine if all the other PC's on this network will be like M¢ and pick an unused address in this range"

Chances are good the router/modem is NOT in this network range, so for MOST folks, this means the modem/router/DHCP Server was unavailable. If it continues after a few renews like you say, it needs rebooted or power cycled.  
HOWEVER,  If the error message you're getting has something to do with "no valid device for this function" then you need to right-click your NIC and click "Repair" or remove your Nic from device manager and reload good drivers for it.

However,  IFF and only IFF you have all the PC's and printers and everything on your network set to work in this range or ( or default to this range AND never have a DHCP touch the network ), then this address will work for you.  I do not recommend it, since it's easier to turn off DHCP and give everything a unique address in 192.168.0.x but it's possible.

Hope that helps

<<<If it continues after a few renews like you say, it needs rebooted or power cycled.  
I meant, the modem/router/DHCP server needs reboot or power off/on, not usually the computer.

;)

My above question was meant to be really broad. I work for an ISP in a call center, and sometimes when I am troubleshooting over the phone, the customer does not come with a 0.0.0.0. ip address after renew. or the cursor simply hangs in the air and does not register any thing.

so that i'm sure answers why i code not be very specific because i was not referring to one particular instance, but many diff situations blended into one broad question

if that makes sense???

btw: " ... my uderstanding that the 169. IP address is a generic ..." is spot on and almost enough to get you through the part of the CompTia A+ course that references why that address can work in a non-DHCP environment. ( I still do not yet recommend it. )
Look to IPv6 to more heavily exploit those capabilities in efforts to make more appliances play when plugged without pesky setups.  I predict this will both increase these problems at first, and decrease them over time.

Great explanation K_2K!  I can't believe you beat me to the question...oh well.

yep, i learned on the field today that with 98 a simple uninstall and re-install did the trick!
:-)

Sorry, RIHD, I'll try to let you field the barrage of "how to i get app X through XP SP4's new firewall?"  questions soon to flood us.

:))