how to find ip and dns address

I trying with little success to connect an ad hoc network. It perplexes me that the makers of adapters and cards put so little decent information in their manuals but assume that you are very technically minded. Rats.

I understand that I should be able to find ip address by putting in start run "ipconfig" unfortunately only a fleeting glimpse of the black box comes up before it disappears again and no matter how many times I repeat this it does the same. Is there any way I can find it. (dns preferably although I am meant to put in a gateway address) lord knows what I am meant to do after as the network wizard refuses to run but just comes up with a bloody error. Yours dejectedly

Nicola Beach

Windows Xp Home on PC and Professional on laptop.

Nicola,

to view the "black box" or command prompt screen type cmd into run under the start menu - then once it comes up type ipconfig/all to see your ip address