Computers won't network with XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony Pente
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T

Tony Pente

Ok, I'm on day two and I'm not impressed with XP's
supposedly easy networking.

Here's what I have:

Two Sony VAIO computers running XP
One cable modem
One intel 5-port ethernet hub

It's set up, cable modem, to hub, to both computers

I can only get internet with the main computer and I can
not share anything between the two.

When I run set up a home network.

I select "Other" then "this computer connects directly to
the internet through network hub"

I select "local area connection, Realtek NIc card"

I name the network MShome

It comes back with Cannot complete the network"

I selct finish. I'm done...

I've tried everything and I'm stuck. Anyone have any
clues to what I need to do. I just want to network the
two computers together and share the cable modem.
 
"Tony Pente" said:
Ok, I'm on day two and I'm not impressed with XP's
supposedly easy networking.

Here's what I have:

Two Sony VAIO computers running XP
One cable modem
One intel 5-port ethernet hub

It's set up, cable modem, to hub, to both computers

I can only get internet with the main computer and I can
not share anything between the two.

When I run set up a home network.

I select "Other" then "this computer connects directly to
the internet through network hub"

I select "local area connection, Realtek NIc card"

I name the network MShome

It comes back with Cannot complete the network"

I selct finish. I'm done...

I've tried everything and I'm stuck. Anyone have any
clues to what I need to do. I just want to network the
two computers together and share the cable modem.
Click to expand...

Using a cable modem connected to a hub, you need to get two IP
addresses from your cable modem provider to allow both computers to
connect to the Internet simultaneously. If you only get one IP
address, whichever computer starts up first will get it, and the other
computer will be left out.

The simplest solution is to replace the hub with a broadband router.
The router can share one IP address between both computers. If you
get a router, tell the Network Setup Wizard that the computers connect
to the Internet through a "residential gateway".

If you keep the hub, you need two IP addresses and a more complicated
network setup. Run the Windows XP Help and Support program, click
Start | Help and Support, search for the topic "Network configurations
overview", and look at the section labeled "Individual Internet
connections".

The solution given there is to install the IPX/SPX protocol for file
sharing and to disable file sharing on TCP/IP. I've written a web
page showing how to do it:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

There are two reasons to use IPX/SPX instead of TCP/IP for file
sharing:

1. If your cable modem provider assigns IP addresses in different
subnets to your computers, it isn't possible for them to communicate
with each other using TCP/IP.

2. Since your computers connect directly to the Internet through the
cable modem, they receive public IP addresses that are accessible by
everyone on the Internet. Using TCP/IP for file sharing could let
other people access your shared files.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
I have a similar set up and this is what i do.

Because cable modem's (mines from Telewest)are registered
to network cards using their unique nic's i cannot use my
cable modem through a hub.
I plug my cable modem in to my PC and use a second
Network card to connect that PC to the network. I then
set up the share on the internet connection.
 
Tony,

We have two computers running XP networked but I set up
the second computer to access the Web through the first
computer. I was in here looking to find out why our
second computer cannot download updates from Microsoft. I
hope that helps some.

Ernie
 
Dave said:
Because cable modem's (mines from Telewest)are registered
to network cards using their unique nic's i cannot use my
cable modem through a hub.
Click to expand...
<original message snipped>

Uh, you could use a simple hub, since a simple hub will not
translate the IP or MAC address; it is merely a signal amplifier.

Or you could use a router, which does have two MAC addresses: one
on the WAN-side and one on the LAN-side. There are two ways to
use such a router:

1.Tell your ISP that you are changing MACs, and give them your
old MAC (that of your NIC) and your new MAC (that of the WAN-side
of your router. Your ISP will update your MAC address in
their registry database.

2.Buy a router that supports MAC-aliasing, and command it to present
the MAC address of your NIC to the ISP. MAC-aliasing is common.

Either way, talk to your ISP first: some ISPs adapt to changing MAC
addresses without any action on your part. {Note that all ISPs can
adjust to changing MACs; else, replacing your PC or its NIC would
not be possible.}
 
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