networking two xp systems

i hope this is the right place to post this thread. ok, any advise in networking would be great. i have 2 computers running on windows xp home edition. i want to network them. i do not want to use a regular crossover cable because i want to ftp my xbox and ps2 eventually. i am just conserned about getting the two computers networked. i have a dell powerconnect 2016 switch. i tryed the windows home networking wizard with no luck. i think the problem is the whole ip settings. i could not get a ip address automaticly. when ever i check it. it says 0.0.0.0 . that is not a address. i did some reserch online and it just got really complicated. can someone just tell me what to set the ip addresses on 2 comuters so that it will work. also subnet mask and default gateway and the preferred dns server numbers. i know the subnet mask should be set at 255.255.255.0, right? that should be the same on both computers right? ip addresses should be different, but how. i have one set at 192.168.0.1 ,is there anything wrong with that? the other i have set as 192.168.0.2 , ok well if ya need more info on the settings i have ask me, or tell me what to set them as ON BOTH computers. i thought networking 2 computers together for file sharing and internet sevice sharing would be easy, but i am haveing no luck. i ping the other computer and everytime no luck. it says i am connected, but i am not! any help on this would be great. thanks

 

Make sure the firewalls are dropped on both computers.

 

both firewalls are down.

 

Hi,
The quick and EASIEST way to network 2 PCs (and save room for your PS2 and XBOX later) is to get a four port router which does ALL the work for you. IT can be done without it of course but would require some more knowledge by you in networking. If anything else because of the future. If later something goes wrong, you could "more easily" fix it if you used a router over a manual connection. If a router is not an option, post again and we will help more.

JT

 

yes dial up. i can now ping the computers back and forth , i disabled the firewall on the connections from the firewall window directly instead of the options screen in tcp/ip . it worked . i however still cannot access the file sharing. i disable dns. i enabled wins- netbios over tcp/ip. i don't know if wins or dns should be enabled at all. i don't know what they do, i am just trying things. what is default gateway. i have that set as the same as the ip address. when i try to look at my network place to see the two computers it won't let me. it says basicly that i don't have permission like it is being blocked by one of my settings. i am logged in as adminator on both computers. the network cards are both working proberly. the switches lights are on where they are supposto be on and i am useing straight through cables. i am looking for a router, however i would like to accomplish this. i hate just giving in to the easy way. i hope with all you guys help, i can get though it. is there anyone that has a switch set up like this? can ya just look at all the settings and tell me witch ones to pick... i don't know. i am trying to lean this stuff so i can be smart like you guys and accually everyone should know how to set up a basic network. thanks

 

It's not giving into the easy way...it's the smart way. My dad always said work hard or work smart...it's your choice. Why reinvent the wheel...

 

dzuldare,

It seems you have all your tcpip settings correct (since you are able to ping). What I would also do, is to make them be on the same "workgroup", do this by right clicking on my computer, properties, computer name, and place them both on your named workgroup.
Very important that you also have File Sharing enabled. Do this by right clicking on the c drive (or any other drive you might want to share), properties then sharing. Click on the "if you understand the risk but still want to share..." then, under "network sharing and security", click on the "if you understand the security risk ...", then just simply pick the wizard or "just enable file sharing"

This should do it. You have to do this on both pc's. Of course the risk is that if you get hacked in one, they have access to both, and also if one gets infected with a virus, both will prob. get infected. If you are running good anti-virus and firewall software (not the wimpy windoze one) then go for it.