>>Here is a really quick and dirty way.
>>
>>* store results of ping in a text file
>>run ping 142.233.121.1 > pingtest.txt
>>
>>* then read into a file using filetostr and look for "unreachable" or "request timed out" to designate a failure
>>
>
>Actually, I've already being doing it this way, I just didn't want to admit it.

I even considered email this to you. :-)

Also check out ipstuff at http://www.west-wind.com/wwIPStuff.asp
It supports IP Address validation "Support for domain lookup from IP address and IP Address from domain name." which perhaps can be used for your purposes also. Just speculation.