lan over ethernet setup help required

hi everybody,i want to connect a vaio fz 140 laptop with compaq presario desktop running xp professional.
gow do i proceed with it.i have cable which is used to connect a modem to pc.when i tried connecting two i received error saying vista has problems with ip address,i have tried to trouble shoot it but cant get to connect.xp pro shows that it is connected and it cant see the computer .kindly help me with it.

 

I you are trying to connect 2 pc to your modem you need to use a router. If you are just trying to connect the 2 pc's together, you need a cross over network cable. Or if wirelessly ADHOC. But with this configuration NO www (modem) unless one of your pc have to nic where you can setup a bridge.

 

thanks for reply,i am trying to connect the 2 pc just for copying my files from desktop to laptop.what settings i need to do in pc's?

 

You will need a crossover cable to do a direct connect. MS defaults to IP address if a DHCP server is not found. Just verify they are in the same sub net and workgroup. Then setup file sharing on 1 or both pc's. Make sure you open up the firewall to allow connection.

Or if you have wireless on both setup a adhoc connection.

 

i have given up on the ethernet setup.i got the crossover cable,connected both machines.then xp pro machinesays that lan network connected but vista machine says that an unidentifird network at ethernet tab.now i get error that vista is having invalid ip address.xp pro machine says that my connection is having limited connectivity.
effectively i am giving up on the etthernet thing.
as you suggested i am getting wireless gear.
vista laptop is having intel a b g n wi fi.and my compaq pc is having empty pci slot so i guess i need to purchase pci slot wi fi card for my deskop.
what would be ideal setup of components?what adapter i need to purchase?
can you please suggest me wi fi model and company?
thhank you for your kind help

p.s. although vista says my machine is with invalid ip address and all only live messenger says that error and i am able to conect to net through my nokia 6630 & EDGE network.what is wrong with my laptop?

 

You will have limited connectivity because it down not see the www or DHCP server, so thats OK.

Look at the XP IP address and Workgroup, Then look at the Vista PC. If they are in a different subnet, (192.168.2.x vs 192.168.6.x) change one to match the other, use manual or alternate settings. Make sure the work groups are the same. See if you can now ping the ip address of the other pc.

Turn on File and Printer Sharing. then see if you can see the computer shared folder.

 

Hi, I also have this problem. If i set up the network on the XP (desktop), it works perfectly fine. But then I detach the ethernet cable from the laptop (I take the laptop out), and try to reconnect, I have to go through the whole process of setting up the network again.

It says connected with limited connectivity every time. I am running mcafee on the XP. Previously the laptop was connected through ethernet on another XP machine which does not have Mcafee, and it worked fine, every time. Please help

 

On zone alarm you need to add a trusted zone for your subnet. Try disabling the port then re-enable it, it will reset the port.