how do i ping/ i'm on a windows xp home edition. what is pinging and what is it used for?

Pinging basically tells you whether or not your computer can communicate with what you are trying to communicate with. In order to ping, you will first need the IP address of what you want to ping, whether it is another computer or a website. Or you can ping a computer name in your workgroup or even a website. Then go to: start > all programs > accessories > command prompt or you can simply go to start, then go to run and type in cmd and hit ok next, type this is at the command prompt: ping xxx.xxx.x.x (where the x's represent the IP number you wish to ping) and hit enter if you wish to ping a computer in your workgroup, type: ping xxxxx (where the x's represent the computer name) if you wish to ping a website, type: ping www.yahoo.com (as an example) after that you will get some pinging statistics. if it says 4 packets sent and 4 received, then your computer can talk to whatever you are pinging. If it says 4 sent and 4 lost, then there is a problem with the communication somewhere. Hope this helps, Kevin

Hi devaughn, You know that cool sound that they use in every submarine movie, like 'pub poowww' ? That's pinging: sending out a signal and checking whether it bounces off the target and comes back with some info. pub poowww : ) ___________________________________________ ☺ [Belgium, GMT+1]_________________________svg

You might also want to get a free copy of Sam Spade,it has a very nice "pinger"

>> pub poowww << Having spent a couple of nights on board one of HM Warships listening to the SONAR all night, it didnt sound like pub poowww to me. More like ping-ping :-) Stuart

Hi Stuart, BathTubAdventureMission: Now try saying ping-ping under water... : ) ___________________________________________ ☺ [Belgium, GMT+1]_________________________svg

how to ping- in command prompt- type ping www.yahoo.com press enter you can ping any address you want using the above formula. remember the spaces are very important.