The problem I’m having specifically is that on plugging in an ethernet cable to my MacBook, I get the error message “Ethernet has self-assigned IP address, cannot connect to the internet.” Googling this error phrase yields thousands of hits ranging from 5 years old to the present. None of the solutions I’ve come across have worked for me. (If I hadn’t lost my fricking Huawei modem I probably wouldn’t be having this problem now.)

The best way to give a full description of the problem would be for me to repost the message I just posted at MacOSXHints Forums.

Hi, I’ve seen some similar threads here but nothing that’s 100% the equivalent of what I’m getting, so hoping by starting a new thread it might yield a few clues.

My hardware – 15″ MacBook dual-booting Snow Leopard and Windows 7 (via Bootcamp).

I’ve had no problems networking the MacBook under either OS until I arrived in NYC last night to visit my mother. Now I’m getting the “Ethernet has self-assigned IP address” error that others have reported under various circumstances.

In this case, my mother uses Optimum Online as her ISP. I have checked her networking configuration (she uses WinXP) and everything is automatic – DHCP, DNS, etc, no user ID or password required for internet access.

I took the ethernet cable from her PC, plugged it into my MacBook, and I get the error with both Snow Leopard and Win7.

I have tried deleting the airport preferences file from the library, I have tried setting TCP/IP preferences manually and then going back to DHCP again, I have the firewall turned off, allow all connections. I have turned off Airport since there is no WiFi. There is no router, wired or wireless.

Because there’s no router, trying to fix this is especially frustrating – I connect the cable to her PC, google around a bit for some possible answers, connect to my MacBook, apply the answers, reboot the MacBook, still doesn’t work, reconnect the ethernet cable to her PC, google some more, repeat and repeat and repeat!

None of this is working. If I have to spend the next 7 days on her PC it will drive me crazy! (Because it’s old and slow, because my files are all on my MacBook, etc.)

I’m almost ready to go out and buy a pocket WiFi travel router (except there are no guarantees that would solve the issue, right?)

Any thoughts, tips, ideas, jokes or lines from obscure movies (except “frankly my dear I don’t give a damn!”) would be most appreciated!

As it says, any thoughts, tips, etc. most appreciated!

In the meantime waiting to hear from the driver if he’s found my Huawei thing or if I’m screwed on that too.

Hongkie Town
Share