I've got a hp 5 printer with a network card in it. Sometimes the IP changes!!! does anyone know how to lock in the IP??? i need some help!!!

You'll probably need to set up your network to use static IP addresses rather than auto assigned IPs via DHCP.

This process differs depending on your router (I assume you have one). If you search the manufacturer's website for your router you should be able to find instructions on how to set up a static IP network. You'll have to adjust the settings in your computers attached to the network but it's not too hard.

Configure a static IP on the printer. It's usually done via the front display panel on the printer itself. I think it's under the MIO Config menu.

Make sure the IP address you give it is out of the DHCP range of any DHCP server you may have, i.e., if the DHCP range is 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.100 assign the printer 192.168.1.101. Be sure to input the correct Subnet Mask and Default Gateway values also.

Just a note to add that if you give your printer a static IP, your other computers/devices on the network can still merrily chug away on DHCP. There should usually be no conflicts, unless the printer if powered off, and when it comes online, something else has "its" IP. Most routers allow you to set part of the the dynamic IP range they allocate from, so for example, if your router is 192.168.1.1, then you would set the printer to say, 192.168.1.2 and have your router start dishing out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.3-192.168.1.xxx. Such an arrangement precludes the above conflict scenario.