I have two WinXP 32-bit computers on my local LAN. Both on the same network with adjacent IP addresses. No firewall enabled on either. The game otherwise plays great on both machines in single player mode.

When I try to start a LAN game from one, it will hang for 30-45 seconds after hitting Launch, but that machine will load the game on the selected map. I hit LAN/Join on the second machine, it discovers the LAN game already in progress. When I hit Launch, it also hangs for 30-60 seconds then proceeds to load the map. Right when it should jump into the map, I immediately get "CONNECTION TO HOST LOST" with "Waiting for players" flashing in the background. It then takes 1-2 minutes to return back to the main menu to try again.

This also does it for Direct connection by IP address. Again, neither firewall is enabled on either machine so its not that. The guest PC does see the LAN game, but will not join it.

I have also tried the GameSpy multiplayer patches and the same results still happen. I cannot join those either (same issue).

I'm at a loss... any ideas?

Answering my own question for anyone else who may have this issue...

My WinXP machines did not quite meet the minimum requirements for the video card. I installed a GeForce 6200 into each. Not only does the game load a lot faster (solving my other loading problem), but multiplayer works normally now too.

Good luck.