Multiplay via LAN and TCP/IP does not work

Description

Multiplay via LAN or TCP/IP does not work: In this example, playing with two computers, both set for simultaneous turns and different machines, one host one player, both using IPX.

Both PC's are using updated currently Windows XP and my firewall was disabled. Basically, what happens is as follows:

1) If I quit out of a created multiplayer game and want to start a new one I have to quit out of the game completely on both computers and start a new multiplayer game again, otherwise the other pc can't connect to the host anymore.

2) As described below, once a multiplayer game is started and both empires are created the player pc just sits at the TCP/IP screen saying "waiting for files from host" and never gets to a play screen. All the buttons stay grayed out. I tried processing a second turn but still the same issue. The game files never get transfered to the other PC.

3) Also I am unable to select a pre-made race from the game, I have to create a new one or load one I made from before.

I even tried a work around suggestion by someone and no luck:

Work around that did not work:
"One other bug I neglected to mention in my last post (sorry) was that currently the first turn seems to be bugged so that the remote players don't get an option to play. The way we got around it was that each person used the host computer to take that very first turn (only works if you are in the same location obviously). The other option is that the AI controls the first turn automatically. Downside to that is the remote player would then have to undo most of what was done on the 2nd turn since the AI may or may not have been going down the right path. Nasty bug that will hopefully get fixed soon"

Another work around that worked for some people was this:
Detailed MP steps
Submitted by Numdydar on Wed, 2006-10-18 21:00.
Hopefully this will help everyone out as I am playing MP with NO issues.

1) Start the game.
2) Select 'New Game'
3) Set up map, player points, galaxy size, etc.
4) Once everything is set select 'Mulitplayer'
5) Select 'Simultaneous Movement', Different Machines', Connection Type 'Host'
6) Select Provider Type "Internet TCP/IP connection for Direct Play'
7) Type in save game name to use at top of screen
Select 'Begin'
9) Select 'Wait for Players'
10) At this point the game will sit and wait for playes to connect.
11) On a SEPERATE PC start the game
12) Select 'New Game' on the seperate PC.
13) On the seperate PC, just imediately go to "multiplayer' tab and set the selections as detailed in 5-6 above. You do NOT need to type in a save game name at this point as you will NOT be the host.
14) Select the IP address, port, user name, etc. and select 'Connect to Host'. If you did not connect, make SURE the host PC has 'Wait for players' button pressed and try again.
15) Once a player has connected their name will show up in the list
16) Once all players have connected to the Host, select 'Begin Game' on the Host.
17) The Host will now indicate that it is waiting for player empire files
18) The players can now create their empire by selecting 'the Create Empire' as it is now selectable.
19) The players create or load their empire files. If you create a new empire make sure you save it to a file before exiting the create empire screen
20) After creating/loading empire, select 'Begin' on the non-Host PC's
21) The Host will now indicate that the empire files have been recieved
22) After all the empire files have been recieved by the Host, select 'Process Turn'. This will setup the 1st turn game files.
23) Click 'Ok' on the next screen asking if you are sure that you want to process the turn.
24) The Host will create the game files and a list of player and computer empires will show up on the host screen.
25) Go to the saved game directory on the Host and copy ALL the files to each players save game directory.
26) Each player will go back to the Main SEV game screen and select 'Load Game'
27) The game will ask you if you want to load the file as a TCPIP Host. Say 'NO'
28) The game will load and each player can take their turn.
29) Once a player has finished their turn, hit end turn and exit back to the main SEV screen.
30) Copy the completed player turn file (all player files will end in '000X' where X is the player number, Player 1 is 0001, Player 2 is 0002, etc.) to the save game directory on the HOST PC.
31) Once all player files hace been copied to the Host save game directory, Exit the Host game back to the SEV main screen and select "load Game'
32) When the TCPIP question about Host or Player comes up, select 'YES' as you want to run the turn as a Host now.
33) Select 'Process turn on the Host' and click 'Yes' on the next screen.
34) The turn will process.
35) Repeat steps 25-34.