connect to internet through another computer ?

Well you can connect USB To USB. For that you need USB networking cable . It looks similar to a regular USB cable except for the microchip in the middle of the cable which allows PC's to communicate. The cables should come with a software that you can configure to either "linked-Mode" or "network mode" which allows you to share everything including internet access.

Or you can use Ethernet crossover cable which unlike regular Ethernet cables the internal wiring is cross so that data can be transmitted PC to PC.

Or you can use the old way Direct Cable Connection. Here a tutorial from Microsoft.: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305621

Since your using a hub, why not reset TCP/IP?

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows XP with SP2.

For these commands, Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Windows Internet Sharing is one of the most poorly documented and least user-friendly features of Windows, largely because it's a bit pointless in most situations!

There are different security features in Vista and XP, make sure Windows Firewall/ Security centre is not blocking traffic.

What IP are you pinging? Your XP PC is presumably directly connected to a router.

From your description you have perfect connectivity between your XP PC and your laptop?

Is there any reason you can't connect the hub to the router and both PC's to the hub (switch) as they're all wired?

I'm sure you already followed it, but http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126

Nobody yet mentioned that connecting to the internet thru another computer means if both are on the internet - they share your bandwidth and both will run slower that if connecter to the internet via a router

Go to the website for that brand, find the support page, type in your exact model and select Windows XP for the operating system and download the lan drivers to a usb thumbdrive. Take the thumbdrive over to the xp computer and plug it in, find the lan driver and install it. Now restart the computer and plug the ethernet cord in and you should have internet on it. Scan and install drivers and run windows update.

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