Networking two XP computers so that both can run the net?

Hi all,

I’ve got 2 computers networked to each other (both using XP), one of which has a modem and connects to the internet over the phone line. I was wondering how I would go about setting up a connection so that both computers can use the internet at the same time.

Thanks for your help.

Go under the network connection for your modem and enable internet connection sharing. The network address for the machine with the modem will want to be 192.168.0.1, so use this number as the gateway in the second computer. The easiest thing is to use a static IP in the second computer as well, something like 192.168.0.2.

Done, but still no good.

I am guessing there is some setting that needs to be changed on the computer without the modem? Somewhere under Internet Options? I need to somehow tell the other computer where and how to connect to the internet.

Set the “other” computer to use the the modem computer as a proxy server.

Sharing a modem connection is going to be awfully slow. If you can, you might want to consider using a cable modem hooked up to a router.

If you have a firewall, turn it off for now. I needed to uninstall mine once just to get the thing to work. Also you really should telll us what version XP You have, & also under the start menu, they have extensive Hlp.

IIRC, you can do a modem sharing.

Rats. Anyway, I have done it in NT, but not in XP.

Much as i’m loathe to say it, if you let windows set up your network automagically then you can specify “share internet connection” on one and “use network connection” on the other computer. This is how i talked my dad through it on the phone as its very hard to do it manually without actually being there.

Then if you really want you can always go back and change the IPs on both computers manually (don’t forget to set the subnet mask too) and the internet gateway should still work.

Go to Start/Network Connections, then click on “Setup a home or small office network”. Follow the instructions on screen. Do this on both comps.

If that doesn’t work, try usingWinProxy.

As engineer_comp_geek suggested, Internet Connection Sharing is the easiest way to share your modem connection. There are some good instructions here.

On the second computer (the one without the modem) go under network properties and TCP/IP and make the default gateway 192.168.0.1 (the network address of the first computer). Also, if your computer is set to automatically obtain its DNS server from its host, you’ll need to manually enter the DNS server on the second computer. On the first computer type “ipconfig /all” at a command prompt, and that will tell you the IP address of the DNS server (among other things).

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/crawford/02july01.asp

Official windows xp ICS instructions.

Got it working.

I re-ran the network setup wizards and it seemed to fix itself. Thanks all for the help.