Two XP computers, a hub, and a network

Hello Geeks!

I'm trying to network two XP computers using a hub and an ADSL connection. I've run the Network Setup Wizard (from Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections). I've named my computers, and assigned a Workgroup name (same for both computers). One computer (HOME) can see the other's shared folders and has the My Network Places menu item on the Start menu. The second computer (DEN), though, can not see HOME's shared folders nor does it show the My Network Places menu item on the Start menu.

What I'm trying to do is use DEN as a media player, reading files from HOME's large hard drives (which have music and tv shows and whatnot stored there). So, it's more important for DEN to see HOME's shared folders than it is for HOME to see DEN's shared folders. Are ya with me?

I've gone through and enabled file sharing for all the folders I want to share. Both computers are running Kerio Personal Firewall. HOME is running Avast, while DEN is running AVG. I've tried disabling the firewalls, but that doesn't seem to help.

Any ideas how I can get DEN to see HOME's shared folders?

Thanks for your help.

 

Where are the IP addresses for both machines coming from? If you have a hub and a DSL modem.....only one machine will get an IP address. You'll need a router instead of a hub.

 

Read he pages below, they were written a while ago, so Ignore the prices and the Hardware recommendations, and stick to the principles. Similar hardware can be found on sale for less the $20

Link to: Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing.

Link to: Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Link to: What do I need for wireless Networking?

The whole thing should look like this: http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network Settings, and Sharing.

Link to: Windows Network - Installing & Sharing.

 

Thanks for the links guys.

Well, I got rid of the hub and set up with a router.

I read the links, but I didn't really see any solution, so I'm back here.

Now, with the router, I'm at the same place as before. My HOME computer can see my DEN computer, but the DEN computer can't see my HOME computer. When I click on My Network Places, nothing shows up. I am sharing two partitions and a folder from my HOME computer.

What do I need to check on each computer to get this working?

I've uninstalled the firewall and anti-virus on the DEN computer (it won't be using the internet except to connect to HOME anyway). I've disabled the Kerio and Avast on the HOME computer, but that doesn't seem to open up HOME to DEN.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Right now, I just can't understand why two virtually identical machines have a different outcome when using the same internet setup wizard.

 

May be this can Help, http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

 

After checking out the link cat5e has suggested, do a START | RUN cmd

and type IPCONFIG /ALL on both machines and post the results.

 

Well, it's working now.

I went back to each computer and used the Network Setup Wizard again and made sure to put in the same workgroup name for each computer. I checked out the ip addresses and made sure the router was seeing each computer. Then I restarted each. And now they see each other.

I'm not exactly sure what triggered the event, which is kinda annoying in that when/if I do this again in the future, I won't have a set gameplan. But, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?

Thanks for the help folks.