small network problem

[Guest]

My sister and I want to network our PC's via direct cable. We cannot create a
network connecting into our eth cards, but can do so when we use the network
cable into her external DSL modem (she's the host).

That's fine, I mean so long as we can get a network going is good. Except I,
as the guest, can get internet access perfectly, but unless she disables her
Win Firewall, I can't access he computer or shared printer. This is checked
as an exception under her firewall rules. When firewall is disabled, i can
momentarily access her, but shortly after for some reason her firewall
enables again, and I lose access.

1. Why can we not connect via our network cards? Both are operational,
both running Win XP Pro... (do u need more info?!)

2. What can I do to stop her firewall cutting me out all the time? She
does need it for some of the apps she's running, so we can't permanently
disable it.

Please let me know if there is any other info you need, I'll do my best with
my limited knowledge to answer!

Thanks

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

My sister and I want to network our PC's via direct cable. We cannot create a
network connecting into our eth cards, but can do so when we use the network
cable into her external DSL modem (she's the host).

That's fine, I mean so long as we can get a network going is good. Except I,
as the guest, can get internet access perfectly, but unless she disables her
Win Firewall, I can't access he computer or shared printer. This is checked
as an exception under her firewall rules. When firewall is disabled, i can
momentarily access her, but shortly after for some reason her firewall
enables again, and I lose access.

1. Why can we not connect via our network cards? Both are operational,
both running Win XP Pro... (do u need more info?!)

2. What can I do to stop her firewall cutting me out all the time? She
does need it for some of the apps she's running, so we can't permanently
disable it.

Please let me know if there is any other info you need, I'll do my best with
my limited knowledge to answer!

Carolyn,

looks like some over-eager third-party software to me.

You should never disable the firewall entirely while connected
to the Internet. The exception for file and printer sharing
should do, but you don't want to open that to the entire
Internet either. Open it for specific local computers only.

But that's not the problem. Do you have any third-party security
software installed?

More info at http://winhlp.com/ .

Hans-Georg

 

[Guest]

We use only AVG Antivirus.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

We use only AVG Antivirus.

Carolyn,

that's a good one. It doesn't interfere with the firewall.

You were asking:

1. Why can we not connect via our network cards? Both are operational,
both running Win XP Pro... (do u need more info?!)

To connect two computers directly, you need a crossover cable
(see http://winhlp.com/EthernetCrossoverCable.htm ) or a switch
and two normal cables.

But nothing would help as long as something fiddles with your
firewall all the time.

2. What can I do to stop her firewall cutting me out all the time? She
does need it for some of the apps she's running, so we can't permanently
disable it.

I still believe some kind of third party software does this,
because the firewall never enables itself or changes its
settings on its own.

If so, your only way out is to determine which third party
software does this. I see no other way.

It could be some software that came with a device, like with the
cable modem. You could try to disable all such software for a
test and check whether the firewall settings then stop changing.

Hans-Georg