Local area network- renew IP address fails- how to fix?

[Bob]

I have a desktop computer networked to a laptop with a crossover cable, both
working fine on Win XP Pro until today ( I had to unplug the desktop to move
it, but there is only one network plughole, so I assume I must have put it
back together OK).
Now both computers show a Local Area Connection icon in the taskbar, but
there is no access- I can't access folders on the laptop, the laptop can't
connect to the internet.
I clicked repair in the Local Area Connection Status box on the desktop, and
got the message:
The following steps of the repair operation failed
Renewing the IP address
Please contact your network administrator or ISP
The drop box reads- Address type ...Invalid IP address
IP address 0.0.0.0
Subnet mask 0.0.0.0
The laptop, which is the network computer, has an IP address and a subnet
mask number
However clicking the repair button got the same message, renewing the IP
address failed.
My ISP says it's a problem on my local network that has to be fixed locally,
and my main computer connects ok to the ISP
Unfortunately, my network administrator is me- and frankly, this admin guy
does not have a clue!
Can anyone help?

 

[Eric]

Greetings Bob,

Please see the MS Knowledge Base Article.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;822123


_______________
Eric

 

[Bob]

Eric
You are a champion! Turning off the firewall on the networked laptop fixed
the problem-