WINXP & Home Networking? Whats the secret?

[gizbug]

I have an SMC Barricade 7004ABR router, and two winxp machines (one home, one professional). They are able to connect to the internet fine, using my cable modem.
However, I can not ping the other computer on my home network (ie. ping 192.168.2.40). Says request timed out.

I am trying to network both of them, so I can share files between them. Any reason why I can not ping the other computer? Any tips/suggestions on how I can get both of these machines to share files between eachother? They both have the same workgroup name, and i've gone through the ICS many of times, but still nothing.

Thanks

 

[n0cmonkey]

The secret I like to promote is "Read the FAQs." Why its still a secret, I have no clue...

 

[Zim Hosein]

gizbug, you can start here as n0cmonkey pointed out: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/faqs.html?c=12 .

In addition, this thread may help: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=36&threadid=813256

 

[bupkus]

Why would you use ICS if you have a router?