Im trying to network XP and 2000 machines but still no luck. I've set the IP addresses to 192.168.0.1 for the XP machine and 192.168.0.2 for the 2000 PC. Pinging doesn't work however, and I get a 'Request Timed Out' error with a 100% loss of packets. The XP Network Setup wizard tells me to either use my network setup floppy (which i cant, is only for 98/Me) or use the XP CD, and click on "PERFORM ADDITIONAL TASKS" then click on "SET UP HOME OR SMALL OFFICE NETWORK". I do this, and the program that runs crashes saying its creating an error log. Is this why my Network is not working, because 2000 isnt communicating with XP? I've searched through these forums and on the net but can't find any easy way how to network both these systems, although I had the impression that XP and 2000 would network very easily together, so something must be wrong. Being able to install the Home or Small office network files from the XP CD-ROM onto 2000 would be a start, can anybody help? Would be much appreciated. Cheers Alex

Well i've now got the PCs 'talking' by using PING, it was the firewall stopping them communicate. Thats good, but now I dont know how to actually get the network going between XP and 2000. Could anyone let me know how? Cheers Alex

How are you connecting your computers? If your directly connecting your computers together with a hub, switch, router then you need to be using a crossover cable not a patch cable. If you're using a hub, switch, router make sure your using a patch cable. Or are you using USB? Make sure of a couple of things. Both computers have different names. File and Print sharing on both computers. Both computers in the same workgroup. Make sure both computers have different IP addresses. Both computers in the same subnet. Folder(s) is shared on both with no restrictions Firewall software is turned OFF on both machines OR configure to "trust" the local subnet of the lan until you get everything up and running. Same account name and password on both machines. Use the same login to both machines. Make sure you can ping both computers. Also you can go here and follow some detailed info.

Cheers for that. Just goin through your list: Both PCs have different names (FAMILY and OLDPC) Both PCs have the workgroup set to "HOME" Both computers have File and Print sharing for Microsoft Networks (is this the right one?) Each has a different IP address, 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 Both compuers have the subnet 255.255.255.0 Firewalls appear to be a problem. the XP machine has ZoneAlarm and ive put 192.168.0.2 in the trsuted zone, and the 2000 PC can Ping the XP one ok. The 2000 PC has OutPost firewall (Zone Alarm slows this PC down too much) and I can only get a response from the 2000 PC if I disable Outpost (I cant find options for adding trusted IPs on Outpost, so if anybody knows...) I've heard about this same account and password on both machines business before and it confuses me, or I might just be slow. On the 2000 PC I have an account called "Alex Sutton", but on the XP I just have "Alex", both with different passwords. So this is a problem? How would I get around it? I have added an account on 2000 called just "Alex" with the same password as the one on the XP machine, as I thought this might help but im not sure. Also would I *have* to be logged onto the same account on both PCs? If this is the case it won't be much good for me. Any advice on this helpful. Also, am i OK with protocols? I have TCP/IP on both, but do I need NetBEUI or shouldn't i worry about this? Thanks. Alex

You don't have to log in as the same account of both but pc1 should have pc2 log in in pc1 user accounts and the other way around. You don't have to have NetBeui, TCP/IP is fine. Turn off your firewalls and get your network working right and THEN turn on your firewalls so that way you know its a firewall problem.

Ok thanks for the information, i'll see how it goes. Alex