home network setup

[wfs]

I have a DSL connection into a single router and 3 PC's hooked up to the router. Tried to set up a home network but XP gave me an error message. I also heard that the PC's on the network would be open game to hackers?
Suggestions? Ideas?

[John Prophet]

Are all the pc's xp?

Are all the firewalls OFF????

MAKE SURE..the firewalls are off or theres no point in going further, lol.

JP

[MrPurple]

No the PCs on the network are not open game to hackers since you are NATing the IPs.
Whats the error message?

[wfs]

All PC's are XP, good point on the firewalls - must have had something extra in that Marlboro when I tried to set it up. I run Norton IS on one (I disabled it when I tried to setup the network - at least I had some common sense at the time) and have XP's firewall turned off. The main one I want to network with has a "fresh" XP PRO install and I'm sure the firewall is on by default. The router also has a firewall but I assumed it was for the WAN and not the LAN - correct me if I am wrong.

[wfs]

Don't recall the actual message - I believe it was "Winders was unable to succesfully set up the network" or something to that nature. Click finish to continue - so I clicked finish, grabbed a beer and watched TV.

[bailey]

right on the router
wrong on the xp
as far as I know the xp firewall is off by default.
at least they are on all of mine

[wfs]

We got (supposedly) a big snow storm on the way tomorrow so I'll try again then - should have time between taking the kids sled riding and shoveling snow. It is 5 flippin degrees out right now - that is cold!

[John Prophet]

they are all xp pro?

One thing is to make sure the "simple file sharing" is on.

Also, if you run the wizard it does turn the firewall back on

Is the workgroup name the same for all of them? Im not sure if XP Pro and Home has the same name.

[wfs]

All XP Pro, ran network setup again and it worked this time. Kids are in bed so I'll try to setup the network on the other PC tomorrow. Thanks everone for your help.

[Gait_Keeper]

Xp home is "Mshome"

I'm still fighting to get XP and 98se to play nice together

When I put XP on my other machine i hope it will be easier, but I'll still have two 98se machines on my net work

yes the wizard turns on the firewall

I dodn't think you need to but make note of thew ip addresses the router assigns each machine