Trying to set up a simple home network

[kiosk]

I'm trying to directly connect two PCs (both running XPSP3) directly through two network interface cards, back-to-back, for fast and simple file transfer between a host and a guest computer.

Here's what happens:

When I leave all the network options in their default state (after running the nwtwork setup wizard), both computers show an exclamation mark in the tray network icon. When I click on it, it says "Limited or no connectivity" and "The network adapter didn't assign an IP address".

Okay.

When I manually set the IP addresses on both computers (host computer is 192.168.2.1 and guest is 192.168.2.2) this is what happens:

When both computers finish loading Windows, network adapters seem to connect to each other just fine, but no data is being transferred. Both computers can PING each other, but file sharing doesn't work.

I found a quick and dirty remedy to this problem: I open up network connections on the host computer, disable the NIC that connects to the guest computer and immediately enable it again. For some reason, this brings network back to life and everything works just peachy.

I know I'm doing something wrong, can someone shed some light as to why this is happening? I would like to use dynamic local IP addresses for my computers, if possible. I just hate having to reset my NIC every time I need to access files across the network.

Thanks in advance. :)

[classicsoftware]

How do you connect to the Internet? Once we know this we can guide you.

[kiosk]

How do you connect to the Internet? Once we know this we can guide you.

I connect with a second NIC in the host computer, through PPPoE. Its IP address is 192.168.1.1, and it works perfectly well.

I'm not sure this is too important, as the guest computer doesn't have to connect to the internet (i.e. no internet connection sharing on the host computer). I just need to access files on the guest computer which is a fileserver/storage box.

Edit: I can provide screenshots of pretty much everything you ask of me, to clear up the situation a bit. I really REALLY want to get this thing working right.

[classicsoftware]

Do you have a router or just a DSL modem?

[kiosk]

Do you have a router or just a DSL modem?

Nope, a simple DSL modem with only one Ethernet socket. This connects to one of the NICs on the Host computer, hence the additional NIC in the Host computer which is connected to the Guest.

The simplest solution would be to toss the towel in the ring and just buy a network switch. However, I was laid off from my job a few weeks ago and I'm totally broke. :(

[classicsoftware]

They both have to be on the same IP range and the same subnet. You will also need a crossover cable to connect two NIC's together. You cannot use a patch cable when connecting two NIC's....

[kiosk]

They both have to be on the same IP range and the same subnet. You will also need a crossover cable to connect two NIC's together. You cannot use a patch cable when connecting two NIC's....

All of my cables are crossover cables.
Host is 192.168.3.1
Guest is 192.168.3.2
Subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 on both Host and Guest.
PING doesn't get through between Host and Guest.

However, after disabling and enabling the Ethernet connection between these two computers, PING goes through and file sharing works normally. I just don't know anymore. :(

[classicsoftware]

Then you got it to work....

[kiosk]

Then you got it to work....

Well... yes... and no. :D

I've been running this setup for a while and it works exactly as I outlined above. What's bugging me is that the connection between two computers doesn't work right off the bat, upon windows bootup (as it did in Windows 98). I have to manually disable and re-enable network connections in the Host computer to get the network to run. Yeah, I know, the network does work in the end, but restarting NICs every time I need to access something from the Guest computer is an incredible hassle. I was thinking that there may be a better way of getting things done. :(

[classicsoftware]

A $10.00 switch is the better way....