Basic Newbie Questions! (sorry!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Craig Richard
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Craig Richard

Hi all!

Sorry, pretty fresh in this game - so if someone could help me or point me
in the direction of a website that answers my particulars...

Computer 1:
My home PC that is connected to my Cable modem. No free PCI slots. No ISA
slots. Spare USB slots. One NIC card that is connected (of course) to the
modem. Windows XP Pro.

Computer 2:
Laptop. Free PCMCIA slot. Free USB slot. Windows 98SE (I may put on
WinME)


Here's the question: Can these two computers share my internet connection
as well as files and the printer on Computer 1?

I don't have free PCI slots on 1 to network it to 2. Does a USB-USB
connection work? Do I need a hub?

Thanks in advance - I appreciate it!

Craig
 
Craig said:
Hi all!

Sorry, pretty fresh in this game - so if someone could help me or point me
in the direction of a website that answers my particulars...

Computer 1:
My home PC that is connected to my Cable modem. No free PCI slots. No ISA
slots. Spare USB slots. One NIC card that is connected (of course) to the
modem. Windows XP Pro.

Computer 2:
Laptop. Free PCMCIA slot. Free USB slot. Windows 98SE (I may put on
WinME)


Here's the question: Can these two computers share my internet connection
as well as files and the printer on Computer 1?

I don't have free PCI slots on 1 to network it to 2. Does a USB-USB
connection work? Do I need a hub?

Thanks in advance - I appreciate it!

Craig
Click to expand...
I assume you want to share your internet connection. Best solution would
be a router, which usually come with a built-in switch, and a NIC for
the laptop; or go wireless and get a wireless router with switch, and
wireless NIC for the laptop. Wired routers are pretty cheap nowadays,
and it simplifies connecting to the internet. Wireless not so cheap,
more setup, but lots more convenient for the laptop. A router also
provides a layer of security to your local network. I started out wired,
then got a wireless.
Using a hub or switch between your cable modem and both PCs is an
alternative, but if you don't get two IP addresses from your ISP, only
one PC could log in to the internet at a time. Did this for a while,
too, before I discovered routers.
I haven't heard anything good about using USB for internet connection
sharing (ICS), but it CAN be done.
 
Craig Richard said:
Hi all!

Sorry, pretty fresh in this game - so if someone could help me or point me
in the direction of a website that answers my particulars...

Computer 1:
My home PC that is connected to my Cable modem. No free PCI slots. No ISA
slots. Spare USB slots. One NIC card that is connected (of course) to the
modem. Windows XP Pro.

Computer 2:
Laptop. Free PCMCIA slot. Free USB slot. Windows 98SE (I may put on
WinME)


Here's the question: Can these two computers share my internet connection
as well as files and the printer on Computer 1?

I don't have free PCI slots on 1 to network it to 2. Does a USB-USB
connection work? Do I need a hub?

Thanks in advance - I appreciate it!

Craig
Click to expand...

You could get a wireless USB 802.11b adapter for the desktop and a 802.11b
PC card for the laptop.
Set up internet connection sharing on the desktop after you have a working
connection between the two PCs.
Otherwise, two USB Lan adapters and a *crossover* network cable could work
(but probably just as expensive as the above solution without the wireless
benefits). Are you sure there isn't a network port on the laptop? Most built
in the last few years have them (but not all).

I haven't tried any of these myself but I intend to in the near future.
Maybe someone else could comment if they have done this successfully.
 
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