Hi, I'd like to network my two PCs with a wired hub and have plugged them in as such. I can't believe that this has me beat but I've run the network set up wizard on both my PCs and they both now say that they have a LAN connection and 10mbps but they just don't seem to see each other. Browse to my network places and the other machine is not there. I've given one machine the following details: IP 192.168.10.100 Subnet 255.255.255.0 Default gateway 192.168.10.1 Preferred DNS server 192.168.10.1 The other machine's IP is 192.168.10.101 I've tried pinging each other but they just time out. Interestingly I ran the network diagnostics utility on both machines and they both returned errors: Notebook spec: http://vaio.sony-europe.com/view/View.action?section=Products_ITE&productcategory=%2FComputing%2FVAIO+Notebooks%2FVN+FE+Series&productmodel=%2FComputing%2FVAIO+Notebooks%2FVN+FE+Series%2FVGN-FE11H&productsku=VGNFE11H.CEK&site=ite_en_GB&page=ProductTechnicalFeatures - Network adapters + [00000001]Intel(R) Pro/100 VE Network connection (FAILED) Every other item fine Desktop spec: http://www.vaio-link.com/specifications/specifications.asp?l=en&category=1&serie=PCV-RS&m=1262 - Network adpaters + [00000001] Realtek RTL8139 PCI Fast ethernet NIC (FAILED) + [00589827] WAN Miniport IP (FAILED) All other items fine Any advice would be appreciated. I never had this trouble with Windows 98!! Incidentally that was the last time that I used the Netgear Ethernet EN2005 hub and cables and it worked just fine.

Use show network connection in taskbar. It should show an X if not connected. If connected it should show two computers as the icon. Ping may or may not be enabled in firewall settings. With updates and add on firewalls you might have to enable ping. Be sure you have same workgroup. (not really needed for IP) Some odd things happen that might cause the hub to select the wrong speed. Network neighborhood ought to show other comuters as well as shares if any. Netbios resolution would take up to 90 minutes. Use start find computers via IP address. Could have faulty cables or hub. Make simple loopback connector to see nic lights flash. I have an old cross over cable that I use instead of a hub. That assumes that it is still good, and both nics work.

You're using a hub, not a router. Even though you've assigned IP Addresses to the clients there's no "LAN" because a TCP/IP network needs a DHCP server in the network to direct packets between the clients and the Internet. Install a 2nd NIC on one of your PCs. Connect your modem to NIC#1 and the other client to NIC#2. Run the ICS wizard on the "host PC" to create a virtual DHCP server on it, then make sure your XP firewalls are either disabled or set to recognize they're on an ICS network. Alternately - and this is more versatile - dump the hub and pick up a 4-port router for ~$50. Routers have DHCP server software built into them.