How to Change your IP Address (Windows)

No matter what your reason, changing your IP address is quick and easy.

Steps

Windows XP

1. Click on "Start" in the bottom left hand corner of screen.
2. Click on "Run".
3. Type in "command" and hit Okay. You should now be at an MSDOS prompt screen.
4. Type "ipconfig /release" and hit "Enter". This will disable your internet connection. To undo it, type "ipconfig /renew".
5. Type "exit" and leave the prompt.
6. Right-click on "Network Places" or "My Network Places" on your desktop.
7. Click on "Properties". You should now be on a screen with something titled "Local Area Connection", or something close to that, and, if you have a network hooked up, all of your other networks.
8. Right-click on "Local Area Connection" and click "Properties".
9. Double-click on the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" from the list under the "General" tab.
10. Click on "Use the following IP address" under the "General" tab.
11. Create an IP address. (It doesn't matter what it is.)
12. Press "Tab" and it should automatically fill in the "Subnet Mask" section with default numbers.
13. Click the "Ok" button.
14. Click the "Ok" button. You should now be back to the "Local Area Connection" screen.
15. Right-click back on "Local Area Connection" and go to properties again.
16. Go back to the "TCP/IP" settings.
17. Select "Obtain an IP address automatically".
18. Click the "Ok" button.
19. Click the "Ok" button.
20. You now have a new IP address

Warnings

• This will only work if both your computer, and the network it is directly connected to, use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). If you are using a router, and DHCP is enabled, the steps above will only affect the IP address your computer is using on the Local Area Network (LAN) between your computer and the first router "en route" to the Internet. To change the public IP you are using to connect to your service provider, you must instead change the IP address used by last IP address using (OSI Layer 3) device seperating the Internet from your computer.
• Manually assigning your IP address is also possible, but you run a very high risk of your ISP(Internet Service Provider) banning you from connecting to the internet. To manually change your IP, follow the steps above for your Operating System. In step 9 or 10, depending on your O/S, enter an IP similar to the one displayed in the command prompt window. For example, if the IP displayed in the command prompt window is 75.1.2.3, change yours to 75.1.2.4. You’ll also need to manually enter the Subnet, Gateway and DNS Server IP addresses as well. If the new IP you give your computer doesn’t work, chances are someone else on the ISP network has already been assigned that IP. You’ll need to move on to the next one and keep trying until you find an open one. However, some ISPs match up your MAC or modem data to the IP that’s been assigned. If those 2 things don’t match up, you won’t be able to connect no matter what. If your router gets the IP and not your computer, you’ll need to http in to your routers interface and manually assign the IP there. It’s pretty much the same method as assigning the IP to your computer. The method that varies is how you reach your router's interface. You can get those instructions from your manufacturer’s website.

Source: www.wikihow.com