Networking problems, no file exchanging

[#1]

Hi techguy
I notice you invite questions .
and that you are an expert in networking.
I have a problem with my 2nd PC not accepting networking.
I have setup as suggested by Windows. The host is my main PC,XP HomeSP3 and it has gone through OK.
I prepared a setup disk and introduced it to the 2nd PC, also a re-installed XPHome SP2.
It started to go through all the necessary steps until it 'blips' and a notice appears saying there is an error, but it doesn't say what. It just advises me to install the network manually. But how do I do that?
I have tried several times but the problem does not go away.
The setup includes a network adapter and accompanying crossover cable and this gets me Internet browsing without  problem, but I cannot swop files or print centrally from it.
Can you help please?

[#2]

Are you getting the internet through a router or via a USB modem.
The reason for asking is that you mention a crossover cable.
Can you give a bit more details of your setup.

[#3]

I knew you would be helpful, as usual!
My Host PC is fitted with a Fast Ethernet card.
I have a crossover adapter plugged into it and my my RJ45 cable from 2nd.PC is plugged into the adapter.
My Host PC is connected to the Internet using an ethernet cable from Foxconn Motherboard on PC to Modem/Router (from Plusnet).
There is a separate USB socket on the modem/router but this is not used in this setup.
I have previously had normal success and file sharing and printing with this setup and the same PC's but there seems to be a problem now.
when I use the network setup disk it appears OK in the folder but when going through the'Netsetup.exe' it starts to transfer the data, then comes up with an error message.

As I say, I have set this up OK just a couple of weeks ago doing exactly as described, but in between I have had to re-install the SP2 on the 2ndPC and wonder if this has any bearing on the problem.
thanks for your offer of help.

[#4]

It is possible that SP2 is the culprit - have a read of this http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsxpnetworking/tp/winxpsp2network.htm

[#5]

It's Voyager 210 as supplied by Plusnet

[#6]

See my edited post above
You will need to wait for a more expert helper to arrive as I have given up on trying to understand the way XP messes up networking

[#7]

OK Jim
Thanks for your input.
cheers
Eddie

[#8]

I've seen your prob and will respond over the next 24-48 hours as I'm just off to get my dinner. 

[#9]

[quote="techguy"]24-48 hours ... dinner
christ, you must be hungry

[#10]

To help us sort it out for you can you do from a cmd prompt a ipconfig /all on both pc's and post the results. From the second pc can you ping the main pc ie type from a cmd prompt ping ipaddress of main pc and can you from the second pc type tracert 194.119.131.66 and let us know what happens.
Have you got any firewalls running? have you got directories shared on each pc so you can connect to them?

[#11]

Herewith data as requested, good luck.........(Firewalls running on both PC's but networking excepted on both  ......yes,directories shared similarly)

CONFIG/ALL ON MAINPC:-
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Eddie>ipconfig/all
Windows IP Configuration
        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : eddie-bbc221795
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Eth
ernet NIC
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1C-25-35-A0-B1
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 29 September 2008 07:12:39
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 30 September 2008 07:12:39
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:
        Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 PCI Fast Ethernet Ad
apter
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-A0-00-4B-04
C:\Documents and Settings\Eddie>
CONFIG/ALL ON 2ND PC:-
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig/all
Windows IP Configuration
        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : belinea
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mshome.net
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : mshome.net
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-6A-18-17-6C
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.159
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 29 September 2008 07:54:16
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 06 October 2008 07:54:16
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>
PING FROM2NDPC:-
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping 192.168.1.2
Pinging 192.168.1.2 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 192.168.1.2:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>
TRACERT 194.119.131.66
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 194.119.131.66
Tracing route to cns1.uk.vianw.net [194.119.131.66]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
  1     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  2    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  voyager.home [192.168.1.1]
  3    42 ms    43 ms    46 ms  lo0-homesurf.ptn-ag2.plus.net [195.166.128.54]
  4    45 ms    44 ms     *     ge1-0-0-205.ptn-gw01.plus.net [84.92.3.97]
  5    62 ms    41 ms     *     te2-2.thn-gw1.plus.net [212.159.1.54]
  6    44 ms    44 ms    44 ms  vl22.pte-gw1.plus.net [212.159.4.11]
  7     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  8    41 ms    44 ms    45 ms  g1-1-5.t40-cr1.router.uk.clara.net [195.8.86.149
]
  9    41 ms    44 ms    46 ms  ten2-0-0-t6-cr2.router.uk.clara.net [195.8.68.11
8]
10    44 ms    45 ms    44 ms  195.157.0.165
11    43 ms    45 ms    45 ms  cns1.uk.vianw.net [194.119.131.66]
Trace complete.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>

[#12]

Are both PCs in the same workgroup?
XP defaults to MSHOME and both should *normally* be in the same group. 
You can check/change the workgroup by right clicking on My Computer (either on the desktop or Start>My Computer) and selecting Properties then selcting the "Computer Name" Tab.

[#13]

Both PC's are in the same workgroup....."MSHOME"...........
BUT , I  have noticed that the "Host name" for the 2ndPC is shown as "belinea"...this is wrong, belinea is its own name,....the host is eddie-bbc221795 
I cannot do anything about this because I cannot get the network setup to install fully on the 2nd PC
cheers

[#14]

Have you run through this article in Microsoft's knowledge base?

Once you've done that, have a go at this one.  You need to make sure certain services are turned on in Xp.

[#15]

I can almost get connection but only as far as "limited or no connection"....which doesn't help.
I have checked the links above but the advice given there  is mindbogglingly mindboggling  ..........