Hey Steve, are ya up to a challenge?
Here is my setup:
Inspiron 8000 running XP HomeSP1
Dimension 3000 running XP HomeSP2----it's connected to my printer so I made it the host.
Both use Dial Up---no DSL or Cable available.
These are connected directly together with a crossover cable.

Now the problem:
From the laptop in "My Network Places" I can see the Desktop (should the laptop also show here?) and I can send files and folders to the desktop. If I go to the Desktop and put files into the SharedDocs folder I can then bring them back from the laptop.
I can also print from the laptop.
The Network icon shows that I have a "local area connection"

From the desktop in "My Network Places" I see only its own Network but not the laptop's.
The desktop Network icon shows "this connection has limited or no connectivity".
I am able to ping each computer from the other. I have enabled File and Printer Sharing on both. I have turned off the firewall on the SP1 laptop and set the firewall exceptions on the SP2 desktop.
Both computers have auto configured IP addresses, and both have the identical Sub Netmask (I have no idea what this means).

Any thoughts on why I can't "see" the laptop from the desktop, and why does the desktop give me that "limited connectivity" message?

One last thought, these computers have very similar names, Walts8000 and Walts3000
(sorry for the lack of imagination). Could this cause any grief?

Thanks for hearing me out,
Walt