Airport has a self assigned IP address is message I am getting when trying to connect new MacBook to my wifi. I can get connected with direct modem to Ethernet but when trying to set up wifi I get the self assigned thing. I have searched the forum for similar problems and have tried all the fixes and nothing works. Currently I have a belkin which is problematic for Mac and am waiting for arrival of my new refurb airport express. Think the new express will solve? I did a clean install from original disks today, did updates and that didn't help. It doesn't matter if I am close or across the room. Ugh. This seems like it would happen to PC not Mac. Been working all day to no avail. My MacBook pro and my phone and tablet all connect easily. Help!!
UPDATE: I spent virtually the entire day on the phone with Apple support and then with 2Wire237 tech support. The fault is neither of theirs of course. After powering up and down the Macbook, going through and setting all the TCI/IP settings, and working with first support tech at apple, he transferred me to his tech supervisor and we did much re-starting, refiguring, Hard Disk/library stuff, rebooting with control/option/shift/powerbutton. Putting back in the install disk, and nothing would get the self-assigned (169.) IP message off. I had explained that my MBP, iphones, ipads, Xoom tablet, blackberry all were receiving the wireless signal. So Apple tech said it could only be one of two things - the Macbook had a faulty airport card, or the problem was with the DSL modem. He asked me to take laptop to another place with wireless to see if the airport could connect to a wireless. So we went downtown and were surrounded by wireless networks and HAD NO PROBLEM CONNECTING WIRELESSLY. So came back home and called 2wire/Century link support and spend lengthly time on phone with. Tech Support said, after much powering down and restarting the modem and laptop, that if the laptop wireless was connecting to a self assigned "169" ip, that it was something wrong with the computer. Hmm, if the computer connects wirelessly at other locations, then it shouldn't be the macbook. If all my other equipment works on the 2wire, then the modem is obviously working correctly. IT IS AN ENIGMA for sure. Anyone else have any thoughts? I have ordered an airport express and it is being shipped, though I'm afraid this will not work. Currently, it is using ethernet/2wire.
UPDATE: I spent virtually the entire day on the phone with Apple support and then with 2Wire237 tech support. The fault is neither of theirs of course. After powering up and down the Macbook, going through and setting all the TCI/IP settings, and working with first support tech at apple, he transferred me to his tech supervisor and we did much re-starting, refiguring, Hard Disk/library stuff, rebooting with control/option/shift/powerbutton. Putting back in the install disk, and nothing would get the self-assigned (169.) IP message off. I had explained that my MBP, iphones, ipads, Xoom tablet, blackberry all were receiving the wireless signal. So Apple tech said it could only be one of two things - the Macbook had a faulty airport card, or the problem was with the DSL modem. He asked me to take laptop to another place with wireless to see if the airport could connect to a wireless. So we went downtown and were surrounded by wireless networks and HAD NO PROBLEM CONNECTING WIRELESSLY. So came back home and called 2wire/Century link support and spend lengthly time on phone with. Tech Support said, after much powering down and restarting the modem and laptop, that if the laptop wireless was connecting to a self assigned "169" ip, that it was something wrong with the computer. Hmm, if the computer connects wirelessly at other locations, then it shouldn't be the macbook. If all my other equipment works on the 2wire, then the modem is obviously working correctly. IT IS AN ENIGMA for sure. Anyone else have any thoughts? I have ordered an airport express and it is being shipped, though I'm afraid this will not work. Currently, it is using ethernet/2wire.