i have tryed disableing the firewalls (zonealarm) and the network config on the xp box but when i run the net config disk on the win2000 it sayes that it is not compatable with 98 98se millinium or 2000. that slowed me down and i came here again for help. i haven't tryed the ip x will try that now thanks for the help as alwaysin the run bos