sorted

hung at connecting trying to play you guys, got a 'handshake failed' I'll look into that. sorted addendum: I was able to get my arse kicked by 'quatra', 1 on 1, however subsequent team 2 vs 2 hung. Dunno if it's RA's server, ebfd squirleyness or my connection. Anyway thanks for the help.

Nope disabling windows firewall service did not do the trick, however ipx was neccessary for RA2 which my son and I have played in lieu of emperor, so that was a synchronistic suggestion ;) Wierd thing with RA2 is that my laptop can host on LAN but my winxp pro rig can only "join", this is with different copies installed. There is a switch installed 'tween the router and the pc to accomadate an xbox located with the pc, removed that(switch) thinking that perhaps it screwed with ipx, but didn't matter. So Emperor won't let us LAN, RA2 lets us do so but only one machine can host. I've a spare router that I could introduce, but I'll hold off on that for the time being. Tried to get Emperor online but that turns into a squirley mess also, I've edited my host file for RA's server, seems to always hang in the lobby and the 'buttons' on the menu don't seem to 'activate' ;) Embot shows peeps playing and the like. Perhaps I need the old geezer step by step explanation of how to get it going... not sorted sorted

ok tried ipx on both comps. with nojoy... same hang at 'connecting'... Tried a direct connect with a crossover and reinstalling ebfd on both, oh and removed ZA on both...same thing. I didn't reinstall tcp, wonder if it's a permission or stack thing, dunno I'm basically a novice with networking, haven't had any problems with other apps... thanks for your response. I totally dislike windows firewall, disabled that service too. sorted

'k I'll give it a go, thought this was strictly tcp/ip... sorted

I can't seem to get this to work... Windows firewalls disabled... Zone Alarm pro disabled on both machines... One pc with xp pro, one laptop with xp home... Two different copies/installs of ebfd... These are behind a linksys wireless router... Can share files and play other games with no problems at all (Warhammer DOW/WA). This has become quite frustrating, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We'll see each other in the LAN lobby, setup a game, hit accept and play, then it hangs forever 'connecting'. Can still back out, but then don't see each other in the lobby without relaunching ebfd again. I dunno where to go from here. sorted