Microsoft has released a utility to assist users in determining the cause of networking problems. Called Network Diagnostics for Windows XP, the utility aims to make detecting networking problems easier for home users. Of course, in true Microsoft fashion, everything about installing and actually using it is confusing. You'll want to read the knowledge base article about it first, but even that is less than spectacular.

Here's what you need to know. When you download it (after jumping through the Windows Genuine "Advantage" hoops, grr) and go to run it, it will identify itself as a "hotfix". It's not a hotfix, it's a utility, but don't be alarmed if you see the word "hotfix".

Once you've got it installed, you'll probably wonder where the heck it is, as it doesn't show up in the Start menu or the Control Panel. At the bottom of the knowledge base article, it explains that the utility can be accessed via Internet Explorer's Tools menu, under "Diagnose Connection Problems..." (of course, why didn't I think of that!?), or run manually by clicking Start, Run, typing %windir%\network diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe, and then clicking OK.

Perfectly user friendly, no?