How to Configure an IP Address: Windows

1. Start
1. Control Center
2. Network & Internet 
3. Network Connections
2. Local Area Connection 
1. right click properties
2. ipv4 properties (this is where you configure without DHCP)

General: 

1. Give it an IP (Either automatically or manually)
1. Give it a subnet Mask
2. give it a default gateway
2. establish a DNS server addresses (either automatically or manually)
1. give it a preferred DNS server
2. give it an alternate DNS server

Alternate Configuration: 

1. Click APIPA (Automatic Private IP address)
2. OR User Configured (Static) as a backup
1. configure for critical machines 
1. allows the ability to troubleshoot if there are network issues