Do NOT disable the Windows Firewall. That is there to protect your system.
Sounds like your Dashboard setup isn't quite correct and you may need to
check your Internet Connection Sharing settings on the laptop, but this is
not a support newsgroup for Xbox Live! but you could check information and
follow the links here:
http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/start/connect/ . If
you have additional issues, support for Xbox live is available either
through their web site or via the microsoft.public.xbox.live newsgroup.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations -
http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"1st time PC builder..." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
in message news:569C1751-90D6-44EC-AC9C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All - using BT Broadband, Voyager modem connected via USB. I want to
> connect my XBOX to the Ethernet of my laptop for XBOX live.
>
> This worked ok yesterday (I've tested on live)but today their is an
> exclamation mark next to the LAN icon on the desktop. The Ethernet
> adapter
> appears fine within device manager. When the XBOX is switched on, the LAN
> icon on the desktop has a dotted line moving backwards and forward between
> the two small computers. I have also received the error message "unable
> to
> contact your dhcp server". I have disabled WinXP firewall but the problem
> still exists and also used ipconfig /release and renew.
>