I am doing some work on a network for a church and networking is not my strong suit so please be precise and to the point in any response. The church has a hard wired network set up using a Qwest DSL modem and a NetGear switch: All 3 computers can "see" each other on the network. There are 2 XP machines and 1 98SE machine. One of the XP machines is on the Qwest DSL and working great. The 98SE machine is on the network and DSL and working great. The other XP machine is on the network but I cannot get it on the Internet. The 98SE machine was able to access the Internet (Qwest DSL) when I selected "Obtain IP Address Automatically" and that solved the issue there. Every time I try to set the XP machine to the same setting, I lose all connectivity to the network and have to revert back to manually setting the IP address to 192.168.1.9, the Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.0 . If it do not set it this way, I cannot access the network. When I have it setup that way (manually set the IP address, I cannot access the DSL). Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks

I would suggest using a router to give everyone internet access.

I guess I did not make myself clear on my initial post. I am using a NetGear switch that is supplying 2 out of 3 computers Internet access along with file and printer sharing capabilities. One of the computers, WinXP, is able to access the network but not the Internet via switch. All 3 computers can see each other on the network in their own workgroup but one of the XP machines cannot access the Internet while the other 2 can access the Internet. Thanks

The router would solve the internet access address problem. If you can have more than 1 simultaneous access then your ISP may be supplying you with more than one address.

So you are saying to go with an Ethernet switch or router for the file sharing and such and a separate broadband router, separate NICs and cabling for the Internet? I just tried something and even if I unplug the other computers that can access the Internet via the switch and Qwest DSL modem, and plug in the "problem child XP machine", I cannot access the Internet with the one XP machine. Thank you for your time and help and any additional help would be greatly appreciated.

Start by opening a command prompt window on the XP machine connected to your DSL (the "host" PC). Type the following command: ipconfig /all This will list the IP configuration for that PC. From the sounds of it, it has two NIC's in it. One external (connected to the internet) and the other internal (LAN). Check the TCP/IP information on the LAN interface after you do the 'ipconfig' command. Ensure the Subnet Mask and Gateway Address you use on the problem XP machine matches up with what you see on the "host" machine as well as a valid IP address in the same range. If you don't have the Gateway address entered in there correctly, you'll have connectivity with the rest of the LAN, but not the internet. Post back and let us know if this fixes your problem. If it doesn't, we'll see what else we can come up with to help.

I will check that tomorrow when I return to the church. Actually, there is only one NIC in the machine and it is connected to the switch. Thank you all for your input. I will let youknow what happens.