Okay, when four of us moved into this house, we had to plug out cable modem into a router (out ISP only gives out 3 IP's). When I fist installed XP, I said that "I connect directly to the internet", BUT, then I found I couldn't see the other computers in the house (why, I don't know), so the next time I re-installed XP, I said that "I connect through a network." Now I have decided that I want to plug the cable modem into a LinkSys switch, plug my machine into the switch, and the router into the switch, so that I have my own IP address outside of it, and everyone else in the house is plugged into the router. Now I can't connect to the internet! I have released and renewed... tried changing the connecting type (won't let me), tried deleting the connection (won't let me!) What is up with that?! Anyone had the same problem?

You could try resetting the router. Which router are you using by chance? What IP are you getting from the router, most defaults are 192.168.x.x, make sure you haven't set the router for IP's that can't access the internet. You could also try setting your IP to static and seeing what that does. Can you still see all the other computers on the network? Need more information to help you.

I do not want to be behind the router. The router is an SMC somthing-or-other (but I amm not behind it now) I am plugging directly into the cable modem, and I can't access the internet. As soon as I do plug into the router, I can access the internet again.

Make sure you configure the XP machine to the exact IP address that you want and boot it up first. Then configure the router and other machines. I do not think you can join the network if you connect this way and I recommend that you just hook everyone into the router and then you only need one Ip address adn you enjoy full configurable hardware firewall protection. Good luck Greaner