Networking forum/help?

I don't see an appropriate forum on MajorGeeks on which to ask for help setting up a home network.

Can anyone recommend a network help forum anywhere?

Thank you.

 

Greetings, dmb06851.

We used to have a Networking sub-forum here, but in the interest of cleaning and streamlining any Networking questions are now incorporated into the Software and Hardware sub-forums.

So, ask away.

 

Thank you Caliban.

 

You're welcome.

 

I may as well continue here rather than start a new thread.

While not a newcomer to computing, I'm no expert either, so many things are a closed book to me.

I have two computers, one "Upstairs" and one "Downstairs".

Many months ago I decided it would be convenient to have them networked (accessing files from one to the other, printing from either etc).

I spent much time reading many guides on many web sites and tried in vain to get a network operating. It all sounded so simple in theory, but in practice it turned out to be a nightmare.

I asked on some forum, I don't remember which - but it wasn't here on MajorGeeks - for help. Someone with a great deal of patience held my hand and after a very prolonged exchange of messages I finally got a network operating correctly. It took an incredibly long time, and my experience flew in the face of any assurances on the various web sites that it was easy.

The success was rather short lived; a few weeks if I remember correctly. I have no idea what happened other than the network stopped working and I threw in the towel in frustration.

If someone has the patience to help me I would like once again to get a network up and running.

The Upstairs computer is a Time Computers desktop, the motherboard is First International Computer, Inc. AM39L PCB 0.x
Its operating system is Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

The Downstairs computer is a Shuttle Inc SG31 V10, whose Motherboard is Shuttle Inc FG31 V10.
Its operating system is XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

My router is a D-Link DSL-2640R, to which the Upstairs machine is directly connected via an Ethernet cable and the Downstairs one connected via Ethernet over the household a.c. supply and two interfaces.