Internet Connection Sharing, Windows Firewall

This is an intermittent problem re. ICS and Windows Firewall:

1. connect 2 laptops, both running XP Pro, with yellow crossover cable
or connected thru a hub

2. set host to Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). It forces the Local
Area Connection onto 192.168.0.1

3. set client to Obtain an IP Address automatically

4. files and other shared resources are visible on both laptops ... so
far so good!

5. host can access the Internet fine

6. client accesses the Internet half the time ... the other half, I
get Page Not Found!

7. When client cannot get to the Internet, I go to Windows Firewall:
Advanced tab: uncheck Local Area Connection (LAC). Internet is then
immediately accessible from the client! Then, I can recheck Local
Area Connection in the Firewall, and continue Internet access from the
client!

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I have had this happen now on 2 different and unrelated LAN's. One
used a hub ... the other a crossover cable. It all makes no sense.
Why does it work sometimes and not others? Why after failing, does
unchecking, then rechecking the Firewall LAC fix it?

Maybe I need to just go with another firewall. Any suggestions on a
good cheap or free one?

Thanks everyone!

Henry