Hi, First post. I'm trying to confirm I have a router problem. 2 computers each run XP Pro sp2, have McAfee Security Center and they connect to each other and a cable modem thru a Linksys BEFSR41 ver 2 router. Each computer can connect to the internet, can ping the router but neither can ping the other computer. I ran msconfig and temp disabled McAfee and every other uneeded program and rebooted. I could still connect to the internet but neither computer could ping the other. They could ping the router. I reset the router to factory (held reset down for 30 seconds) and that didn't cause any change. Am I correct in thinking I have a router issue? (Its a hand me down from a friend - 3 years old. I saw that this router ver 2 has a bad rep.) Thanks for any advice on this. Jim

"Each computer can connect to the internet" Not a router problem. "neither can ping the other computer" that indicates a problem/firewall on the computers that are preventing peer to peer access. disable the Windows firewall or any other software firewalls you are running. Antivirus is not "unneeded" FYI Knowing the correct answer and giving a correct answer, are two different things

Yes, a firewall problem. If you have a router there is no harm in temporarily switching off the windows firewalls to test your network. If there is still a problem the netbuei protocol might help. Although it's no longer supported, netbuei can help connect networks on problem computers. It is still on the XP CD but you have to go looking for it. check this out http://www.petri.co.il/install_netb...

A couple of clarification points - I disconnected the router from the cable modem THEN I disabled all startup programs, including A/V and McAfee Security center, and rebooted. I verified Windows firewall is off on each box and there are no other programs running that would influence the network, ie A/V, firewall, etc. I reset the router and downloaded the most recent firmware. I verified at each computer (ipconfig /all) that each had an IP set by the DHCP server in the router, and I also verified the IPs were in the DHCP client list in the router (connected via 192.168.1.1) Each computer can ping the router, each can ping itself as well as 127.0.0.1. Neither can ping the other computer. The only remaining obstacle is the router. Am I missing something? I think I'll make a long network cable and simply connect the two computers directly and bypass the router to see if that is the problem. I'll also borrow a router from work and try that. I'm not familiar using netbuei but I thnak you for the link and I'll look at it right now. Thank you for the info.

You did get the proper address for each computer by running ipconfig /all And used the address given for each computer? Never say Never Romeo Void Firefox 1.5.0.8 A Safer Browser Thunderbird 1.5.0.8

Point you are missing is from pc to pc you are only using the switch in the router which has no ability to filter anything including pings. Being able to access the internet indicates your switch in the router is working fine. First step should have been to uninstall [disabling doesn't always work since the app sees it as something to shut its services down]security center. I believe that is where your problem lies. Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Suggest they internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

Hi, I verified I am using the correct IPs. Re uninstalling, if I disable the services from loading via msconfig, doesn't that have the same effect as uninstalling, on a temp basis? My next steps will be: 1) connect both computers to a switch (known to be working properly), set static IPs in each computer and see is they can see each other. 2) Add a third computer (known to work properly and which doesn't have any security software/firewall) to the switch with the 2 computers and see if any can see each other. 3) Use a known good router (more recent - the Linksys I was using was an older version with ver 2 which has a terrible rep from Internet posts) 4) Uninstall McAfee security center and see what happens 5) jump out the window Thanks for the advice. Jim Thanks