Hi,
I'm trying to connect my PC with my laptop through LAN with a crossover cable and they are both Windows XP and I have disabled te firewalls. However, an error message comes up and it says 'You might not be able to access the Internet or some network resources. This problem occurred because the network did not assign a network address to the computer" on my laptop. On my PC on the LAN status is says "acquiring network address". How do I get it to assign a network address? It also gives the option to repair the LAN and I do it but it doesn't work because it could not renew the IP address. It says if that doesn't work the problem could be with the network, but it's only a cable I'm using to connect and no router or hub so it shouldn't be that complicated. Any help appreciated!

Do you know how to assign manual IP addresses?
In Controlpanel>network connections, rightclick on your LAN connection and select the properties tab. Scroll down the protocols menu to TCP/IP. Highlight it and select the properties button. Here you can select the radio button to assign manual IP.
Common usage is to set one machine to 192.168.0.1 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and the second machine to say 192.168.0.2 with the same subnet mask.
Unless you are planning on enabling ICS you do not need concern yourself with default gateway.

post back if this was helpful or not

I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

Hi,
You hv to assign static Ip in both pc’s. Right click on My Network Places on your desktop. Go to properties=>Network connections window show and right click on your Local Area Connection icon=> select properties => select internet protocol. Give Ip on your PC like Ip address: 192.168.1.1, Subnet mask : 255.255.255.0 and Gateway : nthng.
That procedure do in your laptop Ip address: 192.168.1.2, Subnet Mask :255.255.255.0 and Gateway : 192.168.1.1.
Hope this will do and u access.

... and is only with ICS enabled the host computer will assign and Internet address.

So the manual method described by Richard is the only way to do it.

Stuart

Yes that helped a lot as they now recognise each other so thanks!

BUT..

I have another problem relating to the transfer wizard when I get to the bit where they have to connect. On the PC there is Serial Port 1 or Serial Port 3 to select while on the laptop there is only Serial port 3. I select port 3 on both and it says 'please wait while the wizard is connecting to the other computer. This may take a minute...' but it doesn't connect at all. Any ideas again...? Thanks again guys

Why are you using serial ports when the computers are connected via an Ethernet cable. Sounds like you are trying to transfer via a serial cable which you don't have.

If the two computers are connected you can do all the file transfers you need via Windows Explorer.

Stuart

I have Windows Explorer open on both computers. I go on My Network Places > Entire Network > Microsoft Windows Network but it says unable to browse network. This network is not present or not started (even though it says connected in the control panel). On the laptop when I do the same thing there isn't even anything under My Network Places. What do I do?

I have just noticed that although it says they are connected, both machines say they have sent but not received any packets. Is this normal?

I've found out how to share the files on windows exploer (right-click>sharing and security etc) but the option to share the folder or file is not available! This (according to XP Help) is because the two computers are not on a network, yet in network conncetions it says they are connected. Is it necessary to go through the network wizard setup thing because it says you need to connect to the internet in order to do this but I can't connect with my laptop. Literally all I've done is plugged the PC and laptop together with a cable and it says it's connected. Should this be enough to share files?

Go into netwrok properties on each computer and make sure that File and Print Sharing is enabled. You then need to designate each drive or folder on each computer that you wish to share file as a shared drive. You can do the from drive properties in Windows Explorer.

Stuart

I am so close! I have been able to transfer files from the PC to the laptop but then it stopped working and now when I try to access the PC from the laptop it says the server of the Pc could not be found on the network. I was reading an excellent guide on tweak3d which had some suggestion about firewalss and norton and the like, but these have been dusabled. Any ideas?