newer versions of Windows don't use winipcfg. if it's something like Win98, sure it'll have it, but WinXP and i think Win2k don't.

in your command prompt, ipconfig will show you your IP and subnet and all that other wonderful jive. the only thing is, you more than likely have a private IP address, which is 100% useless to you when you're trying to connect to stuff like IRC.

i'd say just wait the couple of hours to get home and use it. screwing around with another net admin's settings is strictly forbidden in that profession, so some student who might not know what he's doing would not exactly be entirely welcome.