Networking nightmare continues!

[Guest]

Dell 8400 pro xp, home built comp home xp. both comps have network cards,
using crossover cable cant connect, comps side by side. home comp can see
dell, dell cant see home comp. Have 3com office router, cant even figure
that one out have right cables for that. On aol platinum 2, bt 105 asdl, this
is at prescent on home comp. Would be grateful for any help. I would be quite
happy to be able to get both comps on at same tme via router and not share. I
can build em but network escapes me. Oh Iam 58 yr old female. I know the
aswers out there somewhere please help as I would luv to get this sorted
before I die (lol) Oh they can ping ! (what ever that is) each other. Sorry
to sound so thick its just that no one seems to explain in plain in Plain
English. Thanks people, Sue

 

[Malke]

Dell 8400 pro xp, home built comp home xp. both comps have network
cards, using crossover cable cant connect, comps side by side. home
comp can see
dell, dell cant see home comp. Have 3com office router, cant even
figure that one out have right cables for that. On aol platinum 2, bt
105 asdl, this is at prescent on home comp. Would be grateful for any
help. I would be quite happy to be able to get both comps on at same
tme via router and not share. I can build em but network escapes me.
Oh Iam 58 yr old female. I know the aswers out there somewhere please
help as I would luv to get this sorted before I die (lol) Oh they can
ping ! (what ever that is) each other. Sorry to sound so thick its
just that no one seems to explain in plain in Plain English. Thanks
people, Sue

Your post is rather hard to follow, but let me see if I can summarize:

1. You have two computers.
2. You own a router, but haven't hooked it up.
3. You are using AOL DSL.

The easiest and best way to share broadband Internet access (and at the
same time create a local area network) is with a router. However, if
you are using the AOL Broadband service I believe that only certain
routers will work with their service. AOL has never adhered to normal
Internet/networking standards like the rest of the world and they
continue with this behavior with their broadband. So, I would find out
what router works with AOL Broadband and get one. You will use regular
straight-through ethernet (not crossover) to connect the computers to
the router. The router gets connected to the dsl modem with ethernet
cable usually into the WAN port.

Otherwise, you will need to check with AOL to see if you can do ICS with
their service.

Here are some links to help you with networking:

http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics - ICS
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm (Home)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
(Pro)
http://www.ezlan.net/index.html

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your advice, one more ? where is the MTU thingy ?. By the way I
found a site that helps people with AOL networking problems like mine it
could help others. AOL is a nightmare but I still like it( www.scream.co.uk)
i will let you know the out come.Sue

 

[Malke]

Thanks for your advice, one more ? where is the MTU thingy ?. By the
way I found a site that helps people with AOL networking problems like
mine it could help others. AOL is a nightmare but I still like it(
www.scream.co.uk) i will let you know the out come.Sue

I have no idea what you mean by "MTU thingy". I'm sure one of the links
I gave you will have information, or you could Google something like
"MTU settings XP SP2":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=MTU+settings+XP+SP2&btnG=Google+Search

Malke