How Can I Connect Two Computers to One Cable Internet Connection?

Question

We want to hook up two compuers to one cable internet connecion but we are unsure how to do this. One of the computer's is old and running 98SE, the other one is brand new and running XP... Will this affect anything? Will they still run independently? For example could Viruses or such things from the old one be transfered to the new one? Please help cause I'm unsure about this!!! Thank you so much for your time!! : )

Answer 1

Buy a cable/dsl router- doesn't matter which one, they are all about the same (D-Link, Netgear, Linksys, etc) Your modem plugs into the router instead of directly to a computer. Your computers then connect to the router as well. A router also prevents unsolicited Internet traffic from reaching your computers, which greatly improves your defense vs hackers and blaster-type worms.

One that lets you share a cable internet connection between up to 4 computers about $50 new, or maybe $25 second hand (lots of people have recently upgraded to wireless and are selling their old routers- check craigslist for your local area)

Don't bother with trying to split the Internet connection using Windows Internet Connection Sharing - sometimes it works fine, other times not, and it slows down your main computer in any case. It's far better to have an inexpensive piece of dedicated hardware to handle that duty exclusively.


Here are a couple of examples:

Answer 2

You can easily set up both computers in a small network configuration so that both computers can access the Internet. They also can work independantly from each other.

To start off, I wouldn't recommend using Win 9x with the Internet because it is has too many security problems. For example, with XP, it will protect against (for the most part) having the system files changed or deleted, but Win 9x does not offer such protection.

You can enable File Sharing between the two computers, but it heightens the chance of having one computer directly infecting the other.

What you need-
You need to buy a router which will connect to your Internet modem. Your computers will connect to the router (not each other). If the computers are not far away from each other and the cable modem is nearby, you can avoid spending more money on a wireless setup. For a wired setup, you just buy a regular router and install a PCI Ethernet network card in each computer if your computers don't have a built-in network card.
Then you buy Ethernet cables to connect both computers to the router, and you have 1 cable connect from the cable modem to the router.
Both computers can access the Internet at the same time, via the router. It is also possible to share files and your printer between the 2 computers via the router as well.

A wireless router and wireless PCI network cards (or wireless USB network devices) are more expensive and a little harder to set up. If you go wireless, get a 108 mpbs router and wireless network cards.
Follow the instructions that came with the router to set everything up, or you can usually call your ISP if you're having trouble.

Answer 3

purchase a router (Linksys or whatever) and plug that into your cable modem, then run patch cords from each of the PC's to the available ports on the router, or you can purchase a wireless router and wireless cards for the PC's, then you won't need the patch cables. Yes, your PC's will still act independently. Anything is possible with viruses if you don't take the steps to protect your PC. You must have antivirus software, current OS updates/patches, a router with a built in firewall is a good idea, and staying away from obscure webistes or opening strange emails will also help.

Answer 4

There's a couple ways to do this. One way, probably the easiest, is go buy two wireless cards and a wireless router. Belkin's been the best brand I've used so far. You connect the router through your cable modem, which i'm sure comes with instructions if you're unsure on how to do that and it's practically cake from there...just download some software on both computers and you should be surfing.

Answer 5

Best person to answer your question is Internet cafe. They have multiple computers installed on a single dial up connection. Still for your instant info: I think you need an external dial-up modem, thru which you can connect 2 computers & use both of them simueltaneously. Further if you want to increase the browsing speed you need install a router. (but for 2 computer I dont think internet speed would be affected)

Answer 6

You need to buy a wireless router to attach to one of your computers and the telephone outlet (cable connection). It is also wise to obtain a low-pass filter if you also want to use the same connection for a telephone. (this goes on the telephone connection to permit the telephone frequencies to pass but not the computer communications which are at a much higher frequency).
you then need to get a wireless adapter. These come in a form which can be connected to your computer's USB port or, depending on the computer, directly to the LAN port. The router connected to the phone line needs to be turned on even if you are not using that computer in order to be able to use the other computer for communication. They will still run independently, If your firewall in each computer is adequate, no viruses would be able to be transferred from one computer to the other.

Answer 7

Your best option is to buy an Internet Gateway Router by Netgear or Actiontec:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Routers:4168-Brand=NETGEAR

You can actaully connect as many PC as you want and they will function independatly of each other. One thing that is important is what kind of connection you have. There are different routers for DSL/Cable and 56K modems, I think only Actiotec does the 56K ones. Also, if you have Best Buy near you, you can call their Geek Squad and have them come out to set it up, because set up could be a *****...

Hope this helps

Answer 8

Just connect them together and enable internet connection settings in the network settings on your XP computer (Start>Network Connections>Right Click on your LAN Connection)
No...as long as you have current antivirus on both such as Mcaffe (www.mcaffee.com) or Norton (www.symantec.com) or a free one such as AVG (free.grisoft.com). Also, on both computers you should run a firewall such as Zonalarm (Not The Best thing to run www.zonalarm.com) or Kerio Personal Firewall (www.kerio.com)
Yes they still will run independantly, and you can only transfer viruses across if you are sharing folders or transferring files across your network - just scan them first!
Good luck!

Answer 9

i have 2 computers hooked up on one internet .all you need is a router .under 30.00 they will run independent of each other .an no viruses will not affect both from one to other .I purchased my router at best buy.

Answer 10

Get a broadband router. D-Link is a good brand. The thing about Linksys is it can be pick about letting in wireless devices if its a wireless router and it can be hard to setup.