How to Remotely Reconfigure IP from Static Addressing to DHCP

This article discusses how to change a computer's IP address from static to DHCP from a remote location.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

1. Connect to the remote registry. From the Registry menu in Regedt32, click Select Computer and type in the computer name of the computer that is to be reconfigured.
2. Edit HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCP\Start = 1 and change the Start = 1 value to Start = 2. This starts the DHCP service AUTOMATICALLY on bootup.
3. View HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards\1 and note the value of ServiceName.
4. Edit HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\XXXXXX\Parameters\TCPIP, where XXXXXX is the value of ServiceName found in the step 3.
   
   
   1. Edit value EnableDHCP = 1
   2. Edit value IPAddress = 0.0.0.0
   3. Edit value SubnetMask = 0.0.0.0
   NOTE: It is necessary to fill in the IPAddress and SubnetMask with 0.0.0.0. Blanking out or deleting the values will not work.
5. Restart the workstation to complete.

NOTE: Data values are 0 = Boot, 1 = System, 2 = Automatic, 3 = Manual, 4 = Disabled