Windows 7: Networking in Windows 7 Unidentified Network

I have a laptop, and desktop that I'm trying to connect using a crossover cable, and onboard LAN ports on each PC.

Problem is, when I connect the cable, both PC's can't detect the network, and say it's an Unidentified public network.

To get around this, I have assigned static IP 192.0.0.1 to the desktop, and 192.0.0.2 to the laptop. The default gateway on each is set to the OTHER IP ie on the desktop, the gateway is 192.0.0.2 and vice versa for the laptop.

This enables each PC to 'see' the other, and to join a homegroup, browse directories etc. However, on the desktop, there is another 'unidentified network' that is assigned to the same LAN. So the desktop has two networks, but is only physically connected to one! To simplify, the desktop reports: 1 Home network (home) and 2 Unidentified network (public) on the same NIC. The laptop does not have this problem; there is only one network.

The second question is that I use a Samsung Omnia to connect to the internet on one or the other PC, usually the laptop. When I do this, the desktop can't seem to detect that there is an internet connection present, and I therefore can't use the internet on both Pc's.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of the obviously superfluous 'unidentified network' on the desktop, and how to get internet working on both PC's simultaneously?



Oh, both PC's are running Windows 7 Ultimate