CARO

Hi there,
This could be nothing, but need to double check... In the last few weeks, I have often gotten the following error message:

Application popup: Windows - System Error: There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network.

What does this mean? If it happens when my screen is locked (my screen saver is password - protected), I cannot click through it and need to reboot. If it happens when I am working on my computer, then I just get the little pop-up error message. Wierd...

I am windows XP, I have Zone Alarm, Avast, etc. I am usually connected to the internet. Is there an evil person out there trying to do evil things to my computer remotely? Or is it some silly system error within my machine?

Please help and thank you kindly!!!!
Caroline

Volt-Schwibe

are you running an in-house network?

if not, then yes, this is creepy.

if so, is it a wireless network?

CARO

Nope, it is an inhouse network of just ME. One computer. And this error message has only started in the last couple of weeks, as I said. I just tried to see what other computers are in my network through windows and it crashed (not responding). Tried 2X and same thing. Also creepy.

I am not on a wireless network. I do have a wireless (radio) modem, but you need to be physically connected to it to access the internet (see www.unwired.com.au for the tech-friendly description of what my connection is like).

Any ideas?

Thanks!
CARO

Volt-Schwibe

ok, i have seen the wireless internet modems.

that might be the root of it, if perhaps you service provider isn't controlling the network that they run, but i am less than an expert in this field.

what you are seeing would worry me too.

if you don't have any other machines on an in house network, you should never see that error message to the best of my knowledge.

but, there's more than 99,999 other members here, so we will have to see what they say.

EDIT: my best advice at this point is to make sure you have a good firewall.

with a strong firewall in place, the amount of damage someone can do will be limited.

Devi76

Hi Caro,

as you mentioned that you are using ZoneAlarm, try the following:

- Go to the "Firewall" panel, "Zones" tab
- Make sure that the "network" found after installing ZA has been added to the Trusted Zone. (This "network" represents your internet connection / the connection to your ISP).

- Additionnally, it might help to add the IP Addresses 127.0.0.1 and 0.0.0.0 to the Trusted Zone ("Firewall" panel, "Zones" tab, "Add" button)

Let me know if this helped or if you need any more hints.

Greetz, Devi

CARO

Hi Devi,
Thanks for your post. The two IP addresses you mentioned are already there, and I am assuming that the other IP address under my network represent my service provider (there is only one)????
Here is a question (if you can't answer, hopefully another member can!), is there any way that I can see if some evil person out in the ether has decided to hack into my little PC? Or that the security that I have is sufficient?
Please forgive me if this is a dumb question!!! I am a minor neophyte that only knows as much as she learns in these forums....
CARO
:-)

freerider

i know what ur problem is

u said u had a wireless connection? (i think)

well i've had the same problem. i found out that the people next door (on my street) were using my wireless internet, leaving me with popups saying sum1 is using my ip

hope this helps

(abit)