Networking 101

Bloodstein

Senior member
Nov 8, 2002
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Ok, almost absolute networking beginner here...

I'm having trouble networking two computers running Windows Xp together (Yeah, I know I thought I'd ask you guyz first before i shoot myself).

What I did is I ran the wizards on both my laptop and desktop. I click on network neighbourhood and the other computer is nowhere to be seen. Can't even ping each other...

Am I supposed to do anything extra? I noticed the wizard sets both computers to use DHCP. Playing it safe, I even turned that off and specified explicit IP addresses on both machines...still no difference. Btw, where's the DHCP server?

Help?
 

gunrunnerjohn

Golden Member
Nov 2, 2002
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If you don't have a broadband router or a server in your little network, you don't have a DHCP server. :)

Be more explicit, what IP addresses did you assign? Also, are you trying to share Internet on these machines?
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,545
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Using the Wizards is not a great idea.:disgust:

You should take it one step at the time and learn how to set it manually.

If Broadband Internet is in the future get yourself a Cable/DSL Router (they are dirty cheap these day less than $20). You will have now a nice switch and a DHCP Server, and you will be ready for a "Bright Future":D

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network Setting and Sharing.

Link: Installing & Sharing
 

BG4533

Golden Member
Oct 15, 2001
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Are the computers connected directly by cable or is there a hub or something in between? If they are connected directly you will need to use a crossover cable.
 

Bloodstein

Senior member
Nov 8, 2002
343
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I've used a crossover cable to connect both the pcs...

I assigned 198.168.0.1 and 2 for each machine respectively.

All i want to do is simple filesharing...