Automatic Private IP Addressing

Win2k assigns an IP in the range of 169.x.x.x if it can’t find a DHCP/DNS. I have a Win2k Server and two win2k WS; one is able to get a valid IP, the other is not; they’re on the same hub, within 3 feet of one another and the server. If I specify the parameters, bang, the spoiler is in like Flynne, the other I’ve had no issues, and I can bring in a Win2k laptop and connect. So, what can cause this one machine to be so canterous? And is there a way to specify a different default IP address range?