169 ip address question

[Moo42]

So, i was doing tech support for a customer, and was using a remote desktop program to get on their computer to figure out how to set up their modem. I was able to get on, and i was on their computer. When i got on, went to the browser to type in the routers IP, and could not get page. so i thought, hey, different IP.

So i go to ipconfig /all, and the customer had a default windows ip, a 169 number, saying "media disconnected" and she had no virtual connections, or any sort of other connection dispite wireless, that also said media disconnected. I was really puzzled, and am wondering why. I was able to ping the router, but it gave a another IP below the pings. Tried pinging that, and could not.

Would like to know how this is possible, and what i could be missing out of pure curiosity.

[ShyguyXPC]

By any chance did they have something like Hamachi installed?

https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi2/

I know in past when I've used it, it sets it self up as a Network connection in the Control panel section for Network adapters, and on occasion while using it, doing ipconfig in command prompt, its shown up as an adapter in the list.

I can't remember what it usually uses for an IP, but something similar could of been used?

one possibility anyways.

[EXreaction]

Windows sets up a 169. address if it is unable to get DHCP information.

Typically happens when the router does not have a DHCP server running or whatever is controlling DHCP isn't giving out addresses.

[Moo42]

Also, in tcp/ip properties, instead of being dhcp enabled it was subnet mask enabled, and I dont know too much about subnet masks, or what that even means in tcp/ip properties.

[bauhaus]

Also, in tcp/ip properties, instead of being dhcp enabled it was subnet mask enabled, and I dont know too much about subnet masks, or what that even means in tcp/ip properties.

EXreaction is right. Congrats, you've discovered APIPA!
APIPA - The Wireshark Wiki

Think of a subnet mask as a decoder ring that, when compared against your IP address, tells your computer if it's talking to someone "on the same street" as you, or not. And if not, it has to go through the default gateway to get there. That's all it does. For most folks, you'll want to use DHCP for IP address and DNS.