Networking Problem.

I have 3 computers (all XP-Pro) that are connected together via ehterfast cable/dsl router with 8-port switch. All of the computers can access the internet. The problem is that when I attempt to hook additional computers to the router, play LAN games or share files between the three I have....it doesn't want to work for me. I can't do anything via LAN other than share internet connection. How do I fix this?

Code:

Computer #1:
LAN or High-Speed Internet connections:

1394 Connection 13
Enabled
1394 Net Adapter

Local Area Connection 10
Enabled NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking Controller

Local Area Connection 12
Network cable unplugged
Marvell Yukon Gigabit Ethernet 10/1000

1394 Conection 14
Enabled, Shared
1394 Net Adapter #2

Local Area Connection 11
Enabled Motorola SurfBoard 4200 USE Cable Modem


This was taken from what I think is my Main Computer.

This was taken from computer # 2

Code:

Computer #2:
1394 Connection
Enabled 
1394 Net Adapter

Local Area Connection
Enabled
Realtek RTJL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet

And Computer #3

Code:

Computer # 3:
Local Area Connection 21
Enabled
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet 

Local Area Conection 20
Disabled
Linksys Lne 100tx Fast Ethernet

To me it looks like Computer #1 is connected to all the computers. But since the other two computers are not connected to Computer #1 I can not share files?!?!? If so, how do I set it up in Windoze? I want to be 100% sure of what I am doing because it has taken me over 2 weeks to get the internet working on all the computers and I don't want to lose the Internet connection with the other two computers by fooling around with the Networking wizzard.

answer me this... you're router is running nat, right?! tell me, did you setup the computers' addresses manually, or do they send a dhcp request to the router?

1. What is nat?

2. I just installed my router using the setup wizard disk and it did it itself.

do you have a router as a device, or are you using one of the copmuters as your router?

either way, if everything was set by the wizard, this means that
the computers request the address from the router (dhcp).

and this could be your problem, because the router could be set to work with limitted number of computers.

i suggest you do a small test: connect the new computer instead one of the old ones, and see if it works. if it works, your problem is the dhcp limitation.



btw, a nat is when you have only one ip address known on the internet, and you split it between many computers inside your private local network.

it's pretty much a lame explanation, so you could search google for a better one, but it's pretty much it without going into details, and the protocol itself.