wired network help(creating LAN)

[anime11840]

i want to connect 2 computers for now(adding an additional one later)
I bought a COMPUSA routher w/ 4 port switch,and a cheap network card for the other computer(it didn't have one)

I plugged in all the wires and everything,both computer have internet access,however i can't connect the 2 computers together.

the IP address of the computers should be 192.168.8.17 - 192.168.8.128

my computer is .17,my friends should come up as .18 but it comes up as 0.

also his MAC address is 00-00-00-00-00

and through the routers administrative menu,it doesn't even show his computer.

we're both running windows XP.

anyone have any clues on how to get our computers networked together so we can share files?

[jfila]

If both have internet access, it doesn't make sense that .18 doesn't show a MAC address or an IP in the router table. That just doesn't seem right.

But if you say they are both on the internet and you say each has an IP address, we'll ignore that for now.

To share files, both need to be part of the same workgroup. Right click on My Computer, hit properties and go to the Computer Name tab.

Give the computer a name in the description tab and hit the Change button to make each computer part of the same workgroup. Give it any name you want, but make sure it's the same on each computer.

Once you do that, you should be able to restart your computer and both be part of the same workgroup.

You need to make sure file sharing is on for each folder that you want shared. Right click on the folder and go to sharing to enable it.

Then just go to My Network Places and hit the find computers near me button. Browse through your workgroup and you should see each other's computer.

This is assuming you don't have a software firewall turned on. If you do, you need to go into the properties of the firewall and allow the IP range.