Networking 2 xp machines?

I am using a crossover cable to network 2 windows xp sp2 home ed computers. I am using the workgroup "home" on both. I have DHCP set up on both machines. on both machines I can see computer 1 under my workgroup. computer 2 does not show up on either machine. I have shared files on both computers. and I have the fire wall turned off. the second computer see's 1 but not it's self under the network places Icon. How do I fix this. I have tried restarting , changing workgroup names, forcing an IP and subnet, changing the shared files, and using a network setup floppy. please help. I cannot see "my computer" under my workgroup.

Networking 2 xp machines?windows vista ultimate

This is exactly how i do it. Like you said, ensure the firewall is off. Than use the following addresses for your computers.

PC 1

IP -192.168.1.2

Subnet - 255.255.255.0

Gateway -192.168.1.1

(DNS's leave blank)

PC 2

IP - 192.168.1.3

Subnet 255.255.255.0

Gateway - 192.168.1.1

(DNS's leave blank)

Now on computer 2 create a folder and ensure that you have filesharing turned on. Than in My Computer on PC 1, type

\\192.168.1.3 into the address bar at the top. This will take you to PC 2's shared resources everytime without the network neighborhood crap.

Hope it helps!

Networking 2 xp machines?default browser internet explorer

You may need to use a switch if the NIC cards are old.
Are you using 2 lan cards or both of them are onboard lans?

Using your computer 1, go to command prompt. Now, type %26lt;ping%26gt; %26lt;"ip address of computer 2%26gt; then press enter.

if the output is "request timed out", there's something wrong with the cable u r using or one of the 2 lancards is unstable.

Remember to set the IP General properties to (obtain an IP address automatically)
I assume you're using a crossover cable. Just using a cat5 patch will not align the pins correctly.
First off do not set up DHCP on both computers, give them a static IP address. Something that is local to your router. I don't know if your using internet connection sharing or if you have a router in between, but using a crossover cable you will need to give both computers an IP address that is local to each other. For instance, 10.0.0.1 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0 and 10.0.0.2 subnet 255.255.255.0 that will give you 128 computers on your network that can be local to each other. Just use the IP addresses of 10.0.0.1 to 10.0.0.254 and as long as both computers have a local IP address and are a member of the same network or work group or domain that will work.