connect to internet but not network

So ive got these two computers and they can connect to the internet but not to each other. they are on the same workgroup but when i try to access that workgroup (called simply WORKGROUP) under My Network Places it comes up this message:
Workgroup not accessible
A list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available

both comps are using Win2k Pro and are connecting to the net via DSL that plugs into a NetTopia hub. The ultimate goal is to get them to share a printer.

Can anyone help?

are they connecting to the internet with two separate ip addresses, or are they sharing on a single address?

2 different addresses

you usually want both your computers on the same subnet for windows networking to work.  getting two ip addresses from an ISP usually doesn't provide this, and if these ip addresses are dynamic rather than static, setting up a stable network is problematic.

a second network card in each computer with static ip addresses (192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2, for example) connected through a hub or a crossover cable is the best solution, in both simplicity and stability.

>>4
The subnet thing for Windows networking is true. But the best solution would be replacing the hub with a router.

sharing one ip address over two computers, buying a network sharing router is a good idea.  but if you want to internet with two distinct ip addresses, the extra network cards still seem the optimal solution.

in this situation additional hardware isn't an option, but thanks for the idea.

Tell me more about getting the comps on the same subnet if you don't mind.

you need to upgraid to...

>>7
There are several ways to share a printer.

Just do what >>4 and >>6 say.  They don't have to be internal ethernet cards; you can use almost any other type of network (for example, USB ethernet adapters or direct parallel port connections).

>>5 is also good unless you need two separate IPs to face the internet.

Or if the printer is a parallel printer, you can use an auto-sensing parallel switch.  Belkin makes one (Bitronics).

Finally, if you don't want to do any of this (or possibly a few other things I haven't thought of), you are looking at printing over the internet.  I don't want to help you do that when it sounds like everything is in the same building.

>>7
i believe Windows allows you to set more than one ip address on a single network card through advanced TCP/IP properties (Network Connections/Select adapter/Properties/Internet Protocol/Properties/Advanced on XPPro).

however, i've never tried this myself, and have heard that it's a questionable solution at best.  i really don't know how it'll work out in the end, or if it'll work at all, but it's another option to look into.