Vista - Enable/disable iPV6

Are there any advantages or disadvanteges in disabling iPV6? It comes enabled by default in Vista 64.

Someone else ask this same question on another thread and I was just going to ask it as well so, no solutions here, just an attemp to bump up the thread and get an answer to it since I am having some connectivity and network printability issues myself

Thanks AstaLaVista for your reply. I took a look at similar threads after I posted mine and they all seem to suggest that there really is no need to disable iPV6. They go on explaining why you shouldn't. Take a look at the bottom segment titled Similar Threads. I think I will just let it go.

Having IPv6 enabled does nothing but allow you to connect to networks utilizing IPv6. On the other hand, there are rarely any issues with leaving IPv6 enabled, even if the networks you connect to don't support IPv6.

The decision to enable/disable IPv6 is really up to you, with one note: if you want to conenct to a network that utilizes IPv6, you will need to have it enabled.

OK, in my scenario... do I need to have it enable?

1 PC running under Vista 64 Wired to Router

2 PCs running under XP Pro Wireless to Router

1 Comcast Broadband

1 Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router... this is about 6 yrs old (at the very least)

1 Brother HL-2170W Wireless Printer

This is the bulk of my Home Network. All I want and need is for all of us to be able to browse the internet and print w/o the need to have any of the computers on to be able to print. I don't even need to look for files or anything on the other XP PCs and neither do they need to be looking at my files... DO I STILL NEED THE IPv6?

No. Even if you aren't sure, you can always disable it, then check if you can still access the network (open shared folders, get on the Internet, etc.) If you suddenly can't, just re-enable IPv6.

Oh, ok then, I'll try disabling it when I get home, although, I don't understand what you mean by the bold & red part.

In a nutshell? Overhead and compatibility.

If you have some older devices, the IPv4-IPv6 translators and compatibility may not exist or not function properly and can lead to some issues.

IMHO, why run it if you don't need it. I don't run AppleTalk and such for the same reasons

In any case, as mentioned above, Vista now provides the option to uncheck it instead of removing all the software, so it is a no-brainer to disable and re-enable if desired.

This is a big improvement over the days when windows would rebuild entire network stacks everytime you made a change and a simple removal and readding of a network feature could lead to corruptions and communications problems.

It is common for DHCP to fail if you have a IPv4-IPv6 issue on your network or device.

Why? Remember the old and true advice: "Remove any unused drivers"

I would and do remove it, but in the end, it is up to you

- JC

If it's not causing you any problems, then leave it.