I recently lost my cable isp connection and when i got it back I was, or am unable to access my host PC from my other PC. I have a wired setup and there is no communication between the 2 now. I tried all I can think of. I hate to buy new hardware when I don't think it is hardware related. I get no reply when pinging. Can't get on the net and can't share files or printers. a pat on the back is only 30" from a kick in the a$$

" I tried all I can think of." It would help if you could actually tell us what you have tried. Otherwise, you'll get a lot of replies suggesting things that you've already been through. Please include a description of your setup, e.g. how the machines are connected. Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.

"I have a wired setup and there is no communication between the 2 now". The above is no information to people who are not already familar with your 2 PCs, the "wires" you have used to create your "wired" Homenetwork and whether or not you have a device linking your to PCs besides the "wires". All we can really understand is that you have a Cable ISP and therefore must have a Cable Modem of an unspecified make and model. We know at least one PC has WinXP Pro and 512MB Ram an unspecified Processor of 1.9GHz spd. To undersatnd why one of your PCs cannot access the Internet or why the two PCs cannot communicate with each other or share Files/printers, we need to know the two PCs specifically the Network Cards, the way they are networked , whether the cables are run through a Router/Switch or Hub (if present make and Model) and whether there is any Firewall (name) in addition to Windows Firewall and whether it is (they are)enabled. With such information the troubleshoot will be shorter and smoother. Any troubleshoot that takes longer than 4 messages are often the results of inadeqaute or wrong/confusing information posted by the help seeker that requires series of questions to clarify. M

What he said. Junk Internet Explorer, Get Firefox! You'll be happy you did.

It is a simple 2 PC system that is "wired" rather than "wired-less" or wireless. I have a host pc which is connected to a cable modem via a linksys router and a client pc which is located in another part of my house. My problem was the host computer was connected to the internet but not the client. After performing several things from the command prompt, I had success only after I ran "netsh winsock reset catalog". rebooted and I had a valid ip adress and can access the web from my client pc. I am now experiencing the exact same problems with my host pc even after I repeated the steps I took on this one. I am now getting a generic ip adress when i run ipconfig. Seems to me it is a router problem but as I stated before, I do not want to spend the money till I'm sure. I have had both pc's on the web since the problem started, but not at the same time. a pat on the back is only 30" from a kick in the a$$

With two PCs (I guess both have WinXP), both having properly setup NICs, linksys Router , Cable Modem and the Computers and Router are connected via Ethernet cable (Straight -through Cat 5 or 6 ) both PCs must be able to access the Internet independently and there is not even a need to have Host Client relationship provided the ISP has a DHCP server. Both PCs must have the same Workgroup Name. To make both PCs access each other and share Files and Printers easily, have the same Login/Password. Since the so called Host PC is able to access the Internet via its NIC...> Router ...> Cable modem all hardware and software there are OK. Shut Host PC down. Disconnect its Ethernet cable from the Router. Since I presume you have a long Ethernet cable from Router to the "Client PC" , you don't have to move it to the room where Cable Modem and LinkSys router are sitting. Connect the Ethernet cable from the client PC's NIC port to the Router's #1 Ethernet socket ( You can use any of the numbered sockets) First remove the Power connector from the Modem and then the Router. After about 10 seconds, reconnect Power cable first to the Cable Modem and wait till all its LEDs are Lit followed by the Diagnostic test and finally the Power and cable LED lights are Steady. At this point connect the Router's Power Cable. See that it has Power, Modem, PC lights on Data light blinking. Launch your Internet Browser to see if it is able to access a site. If it is connecting everything is OK all the way from Network Protocol, NIC hardware and its driver, Ethernet cables, Linksys Router, Cable modem and lines to the ISP and ISP's servers. You can go to LAN Setup and File /Printer sharing If in the above test, "the client PC was unable to access the Internet, make sure you have Setup your Internet connection to Automatically access via LAN in that PC. Make sure your Windows Firewall or another third party Firewall is not blocking Internet Access. If those are OK , start checking your LAN card first for proper Driver in Device Manager. If there are no error symbols, try IPCONFIG /ALL in CMD prompt to see if it can get an IP address (192.168.xx.xxx) Default Gateway IP#, DHCP Server IP#, DNS Severs IP # ; the last 3 will be the same if ISP is providing DHCP If you are not getting the IP number this way, you need to consider NIC damage. You may uninstall and reinstall Network Protocol to be sure there is no corruption and then if still problem is persisting, try the healthy PC's NIC in this PC and check as before. If you get connection, buy a new NIC for the "client PC". If you still cannot get connection, troubleshoot Windows for corrupt system Files. M