IP Conflicts on wireless network using Windows 7

I'm on the road traveling and am having trouble with receiving an ip conflict error message shortly after connecting my windows 7 laptop to this particular hotels wireless network. Shortly after connecting to the correct access point is when the msg appears. I've checked my wireless adapters IPv4 TCPIP properties and ensured Use DHCP is enabled and that IPv6 is disabled. I've done a release and renew on the address after connecting as well (ipconfig /release and renew)to still no avail. Oddly enough, my internet connection works great in the morning at this hotel but has this problem at night time. Are there any known issues with 7 or such a thing as a Windows 7 "unfriendly" wireless router? I don't have this problem at home on my Linksys wireless router. Works fine. Any help would be appreciated.

Reply 1 : IP Conflicts on wireless network using Windows 7

All the ip conflict means is that someone else is using the IP. Since you have checked your machine it is most likely another machine. Many times it will give you the mac address of the other machine not that it will help any when you don't own the network.

All it takes is someone to hard code a IP the same as yours and you get this message.

You never know if it is intentional or not. Hotel system are rather stupid they secure based on IP. Once a person has authenticated using whatever method it basically puts a rule in their firewall that says allow this ip for a certain time limit. So if I want to use this service unauthorized all I need to do is keep trying IP until I get one that works and hope the other guy using it is no longer online. There are many better methods but they cost and take more skill to maintain so the hotel opts to tolerate some hackers.