Dimension 8300 Network

Provide some more details on what exactly it is you want to do so we don't have to give you a 40 page answer detailing all of the possiblities.  Do you just want to connect these 2 computers together to share files and printers?  Do you want to share an internet connection?  If so, what kind of internet connection is it (dialup, cable, dsl)?  Do you want to connect through a wired connection or a wireless connnection.  The 8300 has a built-in ethernet adapter.  Does the laptop have an ethernet adapter? 

You might want educate yourself a bit about networks by going to the following sites:

www.homenethelp.com

www.practicallynetworked.com

Then come back and post some details about what you want to accomplish and someone here will be able to help.

Steve

Steve,

Have Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection on Dimension 8300 desktop and 1394 Net Adapter and Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller on Inspiron 5100 laptop.

Desktop and laptop have a wired Crossover Cat5e cable connection.

Initially, I will be happy  to connect these 2 computers together to share files and printers.

It would be nice to share my broadband internet connection but I do not want this to be a security risk re virus attacks etc.

Regards,

jackwr

Steve,

Forgot to mention previously but both desktop and laptop are running  Windows XP Pro.

Regards,

Geoff

Connect the 2 computers together with the cross-over cable and use the tutorial at www.homenethelp.com to set up the network.  Note that you will have to give each computer a static IP address.  I suggest using the addresses 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2

Steve

Steve,

Using the tutorial you suggested I have made progress, however have the following problems:-

With the ip addresses you gave I can successfully ping both laptop and desktop on desktop computer but on laptop cannot ping desktop.

On desktop pc using Windows Explorer | Tools | Map network drive I can see both desktop and laptop under the workgroup I set up but cannot map to the laptop.

On Laptop using Windows Explorer | Tools | Map network drive I cannot see either desktop or laptop under the workgroup I set up.but cannot map to the laptop.

Regards,

jackwr

Have you disabled the XP firewall on both computers?

Steve

Steve,

On the desktop my  Alcatel SpeedTouch Broadband connection the Internet Connection Firewall is enabled but this seems to be ok.

However, on my desktop I have ZoneAlarm Free Firewall installed and when I disabled ZoneAlarm I was able to map on both the pc and the laptop.

Is my Broadband firewall sufficient thereby negating the need for ZoneAlarm ?

Regards,

jackwr

Steve,

Thanks for all your help - will look at ZoneAlarm configuration.

regards,

jackwr

I don't know anything about the Alcatel SpeedTouch Broadband Internet Connection Firewall.  If it is a firewall like those provided in most routers, then it only protects against incoming attacks and does not prevent trojans that somehow get installed on your computer for sending information out.  Thus, with firewall's of this type, most security experts recommend running a software firewall as well, for protection against programs that send information out.  Zone Alarm should work in this regard, it just has to be configured to allow local network traffic.

Steve

Steve,

Can you recommend  free web firewall security software. 

Regards,

jackwr

Zone Alarm &  Sygate Personal Firewall.  Both are free, get good reveiws, and can be configured to do the job.  Since you already have Zone Alarm, just read the help files or go their website to see how to configure it put the PCs on your local network into a Safe Zone and allow network traffic.  Millions of people use it and have no problems once it is properly configured.

Steve