network seems to work but cannot ping any machines

[rod]

Ive simplified my system to this:

Two w2k sp4 machines connected via nic with crossover UTP
cat 5 cable. One nachine has a Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI Fast
Ethernet Adapter, the other, a laptop, has a 10/100 base
FastEthernet PC card. Both machines have Clien for
Microsoft Networks, File and Print sharing and TCP/IP
installed. Both are members of the workgroup WORKGROUP and
have different computer names. Originally they were set to
get IP addresses automatically, but then I changed them to
static IP addresses: 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2 both with
a Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

The system tray icons say the both systems are connected
to the network (Although they occasionally disconnect
randomly), but when I try to ping one machine from the
other (using IP address) it says request times out.

I've followed all the steps in the Help troubleshooting
(including attempting to upgrade drivers for the NICs) and
it hasnt helped.

Am I missing something extreemly obvious? Any suggestions?

Rod

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying but I don't have any firewall sotware.
I think there is a problem with the NIC. I changed it with
a different one and every thing works fine now. Ive sent
the card in for repair.