Please Help a Networking Newbie set up his home XP Network!

M

Mark

Hello. After many a failed attempt with the Windows XP
Network Setup wizard, and a very limited knowledge of
home networking (this is my first time every trying to
set one up,) I turn to you, readers of xp.general!

First off, I present you with a picture I drew in MSPaint
of my current home setup. Please use this as a reference
throughout my post:

http://home.comcast.net/~spamthisbox/network.jpg

What I can do:

Currently, both computers can access the internet just
fine, with a reasonable amount of protection (the router
has a firewall built in.) PC 1 also runs Zone Alarm
Firewall, but that is disabled for the duration trying to
get my network setup.

What I can't do:

PC2 can not print to the Printer. PC1 and PC2 cannot
exchange files with each other in any sort of quick
manner. Currently to exchange files I open up two AIM
sessions, which limits the file transfer to the upload
speed of my cable modem. This isn't good as it is slow,
and the file is unnecessarily exposed to the internet,
when it could stay on the local network (I assume :)


So basically I would like to have a network running so I
can print and exchange files within the home network.
I've run the "Network Setup Wizard" 5 or 10 times,
sometimes with different choices, and I am stumped.

Can anyone who knows more about networking help me sort
this out? It would be much appreciated.

Some related questions I have:

-Is my wiring bad? Do I need different
types/configurations of wiring to make this network work?

-The XP Network Setup Wizard talks a lot about Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS). I don't really understand what
this is. Right now neither computer is dependent on the
other one to access the internet (i.e. one can be off and
the other on). I'm fine if I have to make it that way in
order to have a home network though.
 
P

PA Bear

Try posting to this networking-specific newsgroup, Mark:

microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web

Also see:

XP ICS - Starting the Network Setup Wizard
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networksetupwiz.htm

MS-MVP Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://sfwinograd.home.attbi.com/faq.htm

Networking Troubleshooter
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_resources.htm

Unsuccessful Completion of the Home Networking Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=291867

Set up and Use Internet Connection Sharing
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/ics.asp
--
HTH...Please post back to this thread

~Robear Dyer (aka PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
G

Guest

Switch to CAT 6 cable and your good to go
(CAT 5 old news sweety!) I made the same mistake!
 

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