Have users run a batch file to find their IP Address

Posted by: David

Why have a user run a batch file to find their IP Address?

Simple, users don't know what their doing.  Your CEO may be the smartest person you have ever met, but this doesn't mean they are informed enough about computers to find their IP address.

This is part of Network Support, being able to support your network, and preparing for issues where your users are having connection issues are hard to support without remote tools.  Sometimes computers have trouble synching on the domain and other times users can swear they are connected when they really aren't.

The reason you make this a batch file is because while some users are computer literate and are able to follow along over the phone, others are near impossible.  You know it.

How to make the batch file

1. Open up notepad.  Start > Accessories > Notepad
2. Type in "ipconfig /all > c:\ip.txt"
3. Save the file as ip.bat and store it directly on the C: drive
4. Put the ip.bat file on all the computers you support

How to use the batch file

Scenario: User calls with connection issues, although they are able to access the Internet.

1. Direct user to open up "My Computer"
2. Direct user to open up the C: drive
3. Tell them to look for the file named "ip.bat" and then double click it to run it
4. If this didn't create a txt file on the c: drive called "ip.txt" then you are probably using windows 7.  In Windows 7 you will need to right click the file and tell them to run the file as administrator
5. Now tell them to open the "ip.txt" file and then request any information from an "ipconfig /all" command that you might possibly want.

Tip for success

Make sure the ip.bat file is on the computer when you send them out for deployment.  That or you can create a policy that will make sure that file is placed on the computer.

If you want to go farther, you can put the file in the startup folder on Windows XP computers and it will generate a new copy of the ip.txt file every time the user logs on.  This will take another step off the entire process.