Wireless networking:?

Question

Ok, I need some help. What do I need and how do I do it?

I have two PC's. One has internet access, the other doesn't. I want to be able to share the connection between the two PC's, and share the printer access/file access etc. I also want to play multiplayer games between the two PC's. Thanks for your help.

PS Detailed answered will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

I assume the one machine without internet access is your wireless machine. Your wireless router will need to be set up, follow the instructions and adjust settings to your liking and needs, ie wireless security, firewall, PPPoE, DHCP server.
Cable/DSL modem gets plugged into a wireless routers wan/internet port. Any wired devices (computer, print server) get plugged into available ethernet ports on the wireless router. Shares are made available to network computers. Wireless machine is configured to connect to router. If you install a print server on your network that will need to be configured as well as the machine that will use the printer(s).
Good luck

Answer 2

Here are some resources to get you started:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1427&page=1

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/troubleshoot.mspx

There is also a great book you can purchase at most book stores called, "Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Networking", by Mark Edward Soper.

This book is about 300 pages of easy to read and understand detailed step by step instructions on hooking up and maintaining a home network of Wired, Wireless and Mixed connections. It also contains information on hooking up other nodes (computers, entertainment devices, TiVo, game consoles, security items, Printers, Print Servers, any item hookable to a network is called a node). It explains first how to hook up the network and gain connectivity and then to configure the security if Wireless is one of your chosen options for your network.

I really don't reccomend using Internet Connection Sharing. Use that only if you just can't afford a Router w/Access Point and Switch. Routers are really not that expensive any longer, with the 802.11b extreamy inexpensive but the slowest, and the 802.11g is now relatively inexpensive as well due to the availability of the newest protocol, 802.11n which is now the most expensive as it is faster and has a further coverage area. However, the mixed 802.11b/g is still fast with the g, if you use the b it will slow the entire network down to the b speed, so use the g and leave the b alone if at all possible.

Good luck and have a great day!

Answer 3

Does the second computer have an ethernet card? If not, buy one and stick it in (http://www.buy.com/prod/Netgear_FA311_Ethernet_Network_Card_10_100BT_PCI/q/loc/101/10249482.html ). It should just work if you have a modern OS.

Now buy an ethernet router (http://www.buy.com/prod/Linksys_EtherFast_Cable_DSL_Router_4_Port_External_BEFSR41_Linksys/q/loc/413/10235958.html ). That link is to a good one, they can be had for cheaper. The key is it has to have at least a 2 port hub included (most, including the one I link, have 4 ports). If it doesn't have the hub/switch included you'll have to buy one of those, too.

Now buy 2 more ethernet cables (I assume you already have one on the computer that's hooked to the internet today). http://www.buy.com/prod/Belkin_Network_Cable_RJ_45_male_RJ_45_male_7_ft_UTP_CAT_5/q/loc/101/10030394.html

Hook everything up, it should just work with the default settings!

Answer 4

You need to purchase a router and if your other pc isn't wireless you'll also need an adapter to receiver the signal from the router. They come with installation CD's so don't sweat it much.