Home Networking - Why so long

Hi, I am new at home networking and need some help.

Two PCs connected with crossover cable. And MS ICS is enabed.

PC1:
Win 98SE
Modem
Norton Internet Security

PC2:
Win XP Home
ZoneAlarm Free

All works 100%.

I always boot PC1 first, then PC2. Problem is that often PC2 takes forever to start. Windows loads as far as the desktop, then the hour glass appears and sometimes sits there for about 3 minutes.

I am sure it has something to do with PC2 getting its IP, etc. from PC1. Under TCP/IP both IP and DNS are obtained automatically. But why does it take so long, it is almost as if something timesout?

 

Hi

The firewalls and networking works 100%. Only its sometimes takes PC2 forever to start.

Zonealarm and Norton are configured to trust the PCs on the network.

 

Have you tried setting its IP manually? that way it doesnt need to get its IP and you can disable DHCP on the server, which you dont really need unless youre putting other computers on the network not configured for it regularly.