If you have a Dynamic ip address, and would like to host a multi-player game on your PC or Xbox, then you will need to change your Dynamic ip address to a static ip address. I searched endlessly online and even contacted my service provider and router provider, with very little step by step help at all. Your Internet provider can give you a static ip, but usually they charge for the service. Below you will find a step by step way to change your Dynamic ip address to a static ip address for windows vista. As all Windows operating systems basically work the same way, just follow the steps provider here for Vista users, and you will still be able to setup a static ip address.
Step 1. Click Start button
Step 2. right click the Network tab and click Properties
Step 3. On the left side of the Network and sharing Center box, click Manage Network Connections
Step 4. Under LAN or High Speed Internet, right click the network connection tab that is active as your internet connection, then click Properties (ie: Local Area Connection, or Wireless Connection etc)
Step 5. In the Internet Properties box, click and Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
Step 6. Once you have highlighted, Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Click the Properties tab, just below (LEAVE THIS BOX OPEN FOR STEP 9)
Step 7. If you see a dot in the Obtain an IP address automatically, you need to place the dot in the Use the Following IP address: The following fields need to be added correctly for your computer to have a Static IP Internet access. (You can ALWAYS go back to the default Dynamic IP address you had previously, by following the above steps and place the dot in the Obtain an IP address automatically, then close the window. It is that easy) The following steps below will help you obtain the CORRECT information to place in the “Use the Following address: field.
Step 8. Open Internet Explorer or Firefox, in the Address bar type in http://192.168.1.1/ or what ever the correct address is to locate your Modem/router. (This URL address http://192.168.1.1/is usually used for most modem/routers or sometimes the last number maybe different)
Step 9. Once the page has loaded, type in for the username, admin and for the password type admin, these are the default settings for all modems and routers to access the webpage. (Once you have access to the routers webpage, you maybe prompted to change the password, but there is no reason too)
Step 10. Locate the Status Tab and click this. (As all modem/routers are different, you need to look for the Status tab.) Within the Status page, you will be able to view your correct Preferred DNS and Alternative DNS server: Details. Place the Preferred DNS server and Alternative DNS server: details in the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) box you still should have open. On the same Status page you should also see the Subnet mask: (example:255.255.255.1) details, add these numbers to the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) box also. For the IP address and Default gateway address it is better to, click the Start button on your computer, type in CMD press enter, next type into the black box ipconfig/all press then press enter. Look for the Ipv4 Address, (example: 192.168.*.*) now add that address to your Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) box IP address: Now locate the Default gateway address (example: 192.168.1.2) and add that to the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) box Default gateway:
Step 11. All you need to do now is close the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) box and you have just created a Static IP address and will be able to host multiplayer games etc.
