My network consists of a desktop PC (XP Pro) wired to a Belkin wireless router/modem and a laptop (XP media centre) sharing an internet connection wirelessly. After a few teething problems I managed to get everything working fine and figured out the routers firewall. I used portforward.com which was very good. This website told me to change the TCP/IP settings in windows XP Pro and setup a static IP address on the desktop PC. I did this and then entered this static IP address into the ports of the firewall and everything was fine. Then I started to get the following message on both PC's when both were switched on at the same time, "There is an IP address conflict with another address on the network" and only one PC could be used for the internet. So I went back into the TCP/IP setting on the desktop PC and set IP address to be obtained automatically, now both PC's can share the internet but the firewall is not allowing programs to work correctly as I am assuming the IP address has changed

My other problem is trying to share my Epson D88 printer which is connected to the desktop PC with the latest drivers. All the guides on the internet state that it is very simple. I managed to finally get the laptop to see the printer after setting the network as a trusted zone in Zone Alarm on both PC's and lowering the protection level to medium for trusted zones. This let the drivers be installed on the laptop and I thought at last it is going to work. Anyway everything works as it should when it is asked to print, the print box comes up but when I click ok nothing happens When I click on the printer icon in control panel it states that it is printing. I have cancelled all prints on the both PC's and tried re-installing it again but nothing is happening (not printing).

Has anybody got any thoughts please, please! I am not a total PC idiot or anything by any means but this is my first go at networking and it is not as easy as I thought..

Hello Smarty

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Hi Smarty,

Welcome to PCHF.

The problem you have between your PC and your Laptop is that they both have the same IP address. You cannot have two PC's using the same IP address in any network. The subnet mask and DNS should be the same, but not the IP Address, so you will need to change this on one of the PC's?

Also, how do you have your printer setup, via ethernet cable, or plugged into another PC? If it's plugged into another PC, this conflicting IP address would explain this problem also.

Hi thanks for the reply mate. The Printer is just connected to the desktop PC via a USB cable, and I am trying to share it using the wireless router. The settings for both PC's on the network is currently set to obtain an IP address automatically in the TCP/IP properties in Network Conections. As just setting it as static for just the desktop PC was causing the initial problems, but now this setting is causing firewall problems. The things is that it looks like the firewall on the main desktop PC needs a static IP address. Can I set this one to a static address, and put another static value in for the laptop? And how do I get another static IP address do I get it from the command prompt, by running typing in IPCONFIG? Sorry as you can tell I am not brilliant at this

ipconfig is used to find the details of your current address. Go to Start, Run and type cmd. In the command window type ipconfig or ipconfig /all for the full list.

You can use static address's. You can use ipconfig for your subnet, normally 255.255.255.0 and gateway address you should use as your DNS when you enter your static address in manually. You should use a static address if your using port forwarding. If you use your router to assign the address to you, then you may be given different address next time you connect. If you do still want to continue using your router to assign an IP Address, from your router page in Internet Explorer, look for something similar to "DCHP Range" which is the range of IP Address's that your router can assign. Leave a gap of around 10 to be sure. Unless you have a DCHP problem, I'm willing to bet the start and end range is the same.

Thanks for the great advice everyone I have got the internet working as it should and the router firewall by assigning both PC's static IP addresses. Still the printer will not work but I cannot be bothered with it to tell you the truth as I haven't a clue what is going on. For the rare ocassion that I do need it I think I will just plug a pen drive into each PC to print things off on my desktop PC. Thanks for the great advice though very good website