networking issue with XP Home

I've had a PC running XP Home all by itself for a couple years now, it
runs fine, hits the internet, everything's been good. I've recently
bought a laptop running XP Pro, and they can't see each other on my
network. They both go out through my router & hit the internet fine,
but they can't see each other. My router is at 192.168.0.1, PC #1 is
at 192.168.0.2, and the laptop is at 192.168.0.3. They are both in
the same workgroup, and all the TCP/IP protocols are fine as well as
netbios. I can't ping the machines from each other either. I'm
thinking that at one time I may have disabled something in the
registry, while optimizing my PC for gaming.. thinking I'd never be
networking it. Any ideas? All the necessary services are up and
running as well. TIA,

Bill

In article <511157ec.0404221426.327884f8@posting.google.com >,
billbo1970@hotmail.com (Bill) wrote:
>I've had a PC running XP Home all by itself for a couple years now, it
>runs fine, hits the internet, everything's been good. I've recently
>bought a laptop running XP Pro, and they can't see each other on my
>network. They both go out through my router & hit the internet fine,
>but they can't see each other. My router is at 192.168.0.1, PC #1 is
>at 192.168.0.2, and the laptop is at 192.168.0.3. They are both in
>the same workgroup, and all the TCP/IP protocols are fine as well as
>netbios. I can't ping the machines from each other either. I'm
>thinking that at one time I may have disabled something in the
>registry, while optimizing my PC for gaming.. thinking I'd never be
>networking it. Any ideas? All the necessary services are up and
>running as well. TIA,
>
>Bill

Since the computers can't ping each other, the problem is probably
caused by a firewall.

Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on both
computers' local area network connections -- it's for use only on a
direct modem connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all
other firewall programs while troubleshooting. When un-installing a
firewall program, use the un-install procedure provided by the
manufacturer . Don't use Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs,
which might not completely un-install it.

For more information, see:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...c_firewall.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

> Since the computers can't ping each other, the problem is probably
> caused by a firewall.
>
> Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on both
> computers' local area network connections -- it's for use only on a
> direct modem connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all
> other firewall programs while troubleshooting. When un-installing a
> firewall program, use the un-install procedure provided by the
> manufacturer . Don't use Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs,
> which might not completely un-install it.

The problem was with my zone-alarm, it was blocking the laptop, and
wasn't popping up any notification that it was doing so. DUH moment
LOL

Thanks,
Bill