What am I doing wrong?

[lechem]

I have been struggling with my laptop to Desktop network and it is driving me mad - please can someone help?

I am trying to share files and internet connection between machines. I've done a search on the forum and tried a few of the online talk through sites but am still struggling.

I have a cable linking the machines. I use Broadband to access the Internet via the desktop. Windows XP on both machines.

I have set up IP addresses and both machines can see each other: both list Internet and Laptop connections. I have pinged each of them and that worked fine too.
I have checked and computer names and workgroup names all match.

But .. in Windows Explorer on desktop I can't see laptop and vice versa.

And ... more importantly for me, I can't access the Internet via the laptop.

At various stages in my efforts I have been able to share files or share the internet connection but never both and now neither. This is so frustrating, I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks.

[sam]

Originally posted by lechem


I have a cable linking the machines.

[/B]

is the cable an ethernet cable(rj45) or a CROSSOVER CABLE they both look the same but you need a CROSSOVER CABLE to do this

[sam]

link to tell the differance between a strait ethernet cable and a crossover cable
http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/ne...ble/cable5.htm

[lechem]

I have a crossed cable so that should be OK.

Just for my info, can the cable still be the problem even if I have had a connection partially working ?

[sweeper2]

what about a laplink program?, should be able to use that and see both systems? Now as far as how your doing your cable connection, do both pc's have their own seperate connection? I am not to familiar with "networking" so i am just posting a thought , maybe it will pop an idea in someones head? I will keep up on this post, as i would like to do the same with my laptop and pc.

[lechem]

Thanks for the suggestion re laplink Sweeper - haven't gone down that route and, since I have had the network working but not totally - I feel there must be something I am just missing.

I have Norton Internet Security including a Firewall so thought that might be blocking the laptop accessing the interent, disabled Norton - no difference.

Added the laptop IP address as a trusted computer - still no difference.

I am still trying to figure it out. I'll let you know if I suceed. Here's hoping.

[bailey]

I would suggest that the best way to do what your wanting to do sence you have a broadband internet connection, it to connect the cable modem into a router with a built in switch, then connect each computer into the eathernet ports on the router .
then you will have everything you could ever want to do with all your systems at the same time.

routers are very cheap now

[lechem]

Thanks Bailey -
Hmm a router eh? I have had a look around the forums and it seems routers do come with problems too. I might end up going down that road (as opposed to 'route' ) but I have an Ethernet connection and it did work so I'd like to get it working again. Don't want it to get the better of me.

I have been troubleshooting for many hours and one thing I have found on the laptop is in Device Manager the PCI Modem is coming up with an error message that the device driver is not installed (Code 28). This seems very odd to me since I have had it all working. Could this be the source of the problem?

Now on the hunt for what kind of modem it is and what driver I need - this problem is escalating and driving me nuts

[John Prophet]

can you self ping each nic from each comp....

go to a dos prompt and do "ping 127.0.0.1" (without the quotes)

If it doesnt pass that then you need to get the nic working before u try to go any farther

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pci modem?? shouldnt have anything to do with ethrent networking

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and ...MAKE SURE...DOUBLE SURE..TRIPLE SURE...that the firewalls are OFF on both machines....if u run any of the wizards they turn the firewall back on so be aware of that.

[lechem]

I have Norton Internet Security and Anti Virus - disabled both to be sure.

Tried ping 127.0.0.1 - both machines ping fine to each other.

I've put the laptop in the trusted zone on Internet Security so enabled protection - still pinging fine.

On the laptop, if I open Network Connections it shows me the Internet Gateway and the LAN. However, if I open Explorer there is only the laptop in my workgroup.

Am thinking maybe just format the laptop and start again.