FEB 16th I have a home network consisting of a Switch, adapters, RJ45 twisted wire cable and two computers. The Host is a Desktop Dell 4500 Windows XP Home Edition connected to my ISP local server company via a Modem and a Client or Guest, which is a Dell Laptop Windows 2000 Professional on a Docking Station. The Network was working fine until a couple days ago. I can still get to my local ISP Server and the Internet from the Host Dell 4500, but can't get to or through the Host from the Client or guest computer. The Laptop works fine off line. I can shut down the Host Desktop and connect the Laptop via its Ethernet Modem to the Dial-up telephone line and get on the Internet...so I know the problem lies in the Home Network itself between the Client or Guest Laptop Adapter and the Host Desktop Adapter...I suspect the IP address has somehow been corrupted or changed. I have both computers IP addresses before the Network went down. I saved them just in case. The Host PC IP Address is still the same as originally, but the Client or Quest PC is different than what I had origninally saved. 1) Should I change the DOS IP address in the Client or Quest PC to what it was when the Network was working? 2) If 'yes' how do I key in the change in DOS? 3) Can I change the IP Address through the DOS in the ‘Windows format’ screen or do I need to do it through DOS? 4) I know how to get to the DOS through Windows and get to the IP Address screen using ‘ipconfig /all’, but don’t remember how to get directly to DOS using key commands….or how to change the numbers??? THANKS!!!

You don't actually change the IP address in DOS. Right click My Network Places, choose properties. Right click Local Area Connection choose properties. Highlight TCP/IP choose properties. If you want a static IP address for the two computers then go for something like 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 for the two computers. Set subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 on both. Also you need to make sure that both computers are on the same Workgroup. Right click My Computer choose properties. On the Network Identification tab choose the properties button. Make sure the computer name is not the same as the other computer on the network and then choose a name for your workgroup. Doesn't matter what as long as it is exactly the same on both computers. Once you have done this then you can check communication between the two by pinging one computer from the other. For example..... On the computer with IP 192.168.0.1 go to the Command Prompt and type: ping 192.168.0.2 then hit enter. You should see four successfull replies. If you do then you have a good network. If not you have to investigate if one of you network cards are faulty or the cable or hub. Once you have a good network connection move on to sorting out internet connection sharing. Hope this helps. Craig