I Must Be An Idiot (WinXP question)

[Markolc]

I'm trying to setup a network between my two computers. Here's A description of the two PC's I'm trying to network:
#1 - Pentium II 400MHZ, running windows XP with a ISA NE2000 Ethernet Card
#2 - HP Pavilion Laptop, Athlon 4 1000 MHZ, 512 RAM, using a Accton EN2242 Series MiniPCI Fast Ethernet Adapter.
I'm using a crossover Cat5 cable to connect the two, which I was assured should work to hook the two computers up. Also both computers use NTFS, Both running WinXP Professional.

Here's my problem: No matter what I do I can't get these two computers to see each other. I ran The Home Networking Setup on both computers, utilizing the same exact settings on each install, and these computers will not see each other. This is the first time I ever tried to hook up two computers together so maybe you guys with home networks can give me a hand in setting these two up so I can transfer files between these two computers, And maybe get some gaming going on between them. When These compuetrs are hooked up together, none of 'em has access to the internet, except the Pentium II one which uses a dial up connection for AOL. Please someone give me a hand, Thanks.

 

[johnlog]

Did you give each computer a different network name? Then set the drives/partitions for shared networking. Named each computers partitons to different names, etc. Like for computer one C:-1, C:-2, etc.

 

[Markolc]

Both Computers were setup to run under the MSHOME workgroup. Both computers had different Names (one was c961xxx-a, the other was c961xxx-b). How do I setup up the hard drives for shared networking? Both Computers only have one hard drive, And I don't think the C:\ is named the same on both, but maybe they are ( I have to check later), But Does that really make a difference?

 

[MrGrim]

Did you actually share any folders, or the HDs?

 

[quakedog]

make sure u have the correct protocols

default xp installs tcp internet protocol, u must specify an ip address for them
ie:ip add :192.168.1.3
subnet mask :255.255.255.0

the other pc will have ip ie. ip add 192.168.1.4 for example
subnet mask 255.255.255.0

u can get to these options by clicking start,right click my network places,right click local area connection
double click tcp protocol

oh yes make sure ur netcards r seated proper and cable plugged in and that it is a crossover and not a straight through

 

[Markolc]

XP shares it's default Folder "Shared Documents". I'll have to try to assign IP addresses. Should I Try to assign the IP address to the network bridge, or to the LAN connection using the ethernet card.

 

[thEnEuRoMancER]

If you're using a third party software like ZoneAlarm, turn it off.

 

[io333]

borrow someone's switch or router & see if they'll see each other that way. if so, then try a different network card. some network cards just hate each other too much to work with a crossover. that's just the way it is, and sooner or later anyone who networks learns this the hard way.