Which File contains the local Static IP Address in Windows XP

Question

The Operating system of a Windows XP machine has crashed. I want to know its Static IPv4 Address, to reconfigure the system after using the Repair Operating System option.

How can I retrieve my old Static IP Address by using another bootable media and which file contains the IP address?

Answer 1

It's C:\Windows\System32\config\system. You can mount it and view it with a registry editor.

Answer 2

You can check your actual IP address using following command:

ipconfig /all

In most of the cases you'll get the same IP address (if you're using DHCP). You can also log in into your local router (gateway) and check the logs which IP address was assigned to you PC before (based on your MAC address which you'll find it in your ipconfig).

If you want to retrieve it using registry, run:

regedit

Then in the following registry key you'll find your IP address under your Interface GUID:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces]

Then you'll have something like:

\<Interface GUID ex: {1BBA2BE4-D734-47DF-AEDC-6167F60E278D}>

Especially you're interested in following the keys:

IPAddress, SubnetMask, DefaultGateway, NameServer

If you don't have access to regedit, try to find it in the RAW file (searching for above keys). Good luck.