"marty" said:
I am trying to network my pc and my dad's pc. Both are
running Windows XP Home. Both connect to the internet
using our cable modem, via a D-Link hub. I have tried to
run network wizard on both computers and they will not
recognize each other. I am very frustrated because XP is
advertised as being very easy to network. What should I
try?
The answer that follows applies to computers that connect to a cable
modem through a hub or switch. It doesn't apply if they connect
through a broadband router.
Your network setup is described in 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.
A completely different alternative would be to remove the hub, get a
broadband router, connect the cable modem to its WAN port, and connect
the computers to its LAN ports. In that case:
1. You'd only need to get one IP address from your cable modem
provider, which would save you money if your ISP charges a monthly fee
for more than one IP address.
2. The broadband router would assign private IP addresses to your
computers. Private IP addresses aren't accessible by other Internet
users, so your network would be safe.
3. You could use TCP/IP as the only network protocol, with no need for
IPX/SPX.
--
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