I have a non remote related problem.
I was hoping some one would be kind enough to assist me.

I have two PC's one with windows XP home the other with Windows XP media center both have 10/100 NIC cards one PC (the main one)has a USB ADSL Speedtouch 330 modem connected .I have a Crossover cable connected between the two.

I want to leave my main P.C on all the time and share files ,printer and its internet connection with the second pc via the crossover cable.

Yes i understand that a router is the best way to do it.
But it is supposed to be possible to do it with the equipment i have.(i maybe wrong)

I have spent about eight solid hours trying to get it to work i have used all the network wizards,tried setting IP addresses and gateways and its all a jumble in my head now.

i have googled the problem and gone through all the set up guides i can find.

On my task bar on the main PC i can see two sets of the two linked P.C icons one when you hover says speed touch connection at 8.1 Mbps it also says shared in the properties and the second says local area network connection speed 100 Mbps status
connected

on the second PC i have just one set of the icon saying local area now connected at 100Mbps.

in network places they just dont see each other.

i cant share files from one pc to the other or log on to the internet on the second pc?!

I have switched off both firewalls still nothing.

anyone have a suggestion that doesnt involve buying a router?

I am also available on msn messenger on



I would be very grateful for any help

thank you

Bob, in a word no, but then I'm no PC guru. However, I do have a QUE book here "Widows XP Professional (Third Edition)" that covers this topic. Would you like to borrow it?

PS
Be warned, it's no light-weight read.

not to be ignorant but pony up the 60 bucks for a router.......your 8 hours is worth more isnt it?

ed

Steady on, we're talking about a Lancashire here. Okay, not quite as bad as a Yorkie, but still "careful".

They said a man couldn't be put on the moon!
maybe i'm attempting a walk on the Sun! lol

djy' s right about me being tight fisted though.

Thanks for the very kind offer djy but ive gotten an headache from it all at the mo.

thanks guys i think i'll have to get my wallet out

Bob - it's not necessary to get your wallet out... Easiest way to let your PC's see each other is to enable Internet Connection Sharing on your main PC. This can be done by going into your modem network connection properties, clicking the advanced tab, and checking the box that says, "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection". This will set a static IP address on your PC with the modem and enable a rudimentary DHCP server on it. Set your other PC to be a DHCP client. After that, you'll have to share the files and printers you want shared and you should be able to see the other PC. I hope that helps... If not, let me know and I can try and take it further.

first, is it a crossover cable or a regular ethernet? Are you sure you crossed the right pins?

you need to cross 2-6 and 1-3




or this might help more

its a pre made 10 metre crossover cable ...like the piccys Anthony!! so thats how you remember it in your head! lol

I can now share files from my main pc to the second pc .
both PC's show up on both network placesnow.
on the second pc it says the network path is not available.
still cannot get access to the internet though on the second PC.
on another note file transfer is pretty damn fast! and what i was hoping for.

half way there just need the internet on the second pc now!

Bob - see my notes above re: internet connection sharing. :) Oh - and where was that when I was memorizing the pin-outs?

[Link: annoyances.org]

"If you're sharing a DSL, cable modem, or other ethernet-based Internet connection, the computer with the connection must have two ethernet cards installed. (Microsoft doesn't tell you about this one!)"

I don't believe that's accurate. The USB modem w/the (most likely) PPPoE connection should identify itself as its own network adapter... of course, I've been wrong once or twice before (unless you believe my wife) :)

Apparently, in my wife's eyes, I'm wrong even when I'm right.

in network connections the speed touch usb modem appears in heading "dial up"

the nic and my fire wire card appear under the heading" Lan or high speed internet"

RC Geek i tried what you suggested.my other setting could be out due to an ignoramous messing....that would be me.

Let me take a step back - how, exactly, do you connect to the internet? Is a user name and password required? Is it cable or DSL?

It sounds like it's much the same as me; a little bit of both. External USB ADSL modem via a user name/password type dial up. His speeds are a little different to mine though, but then I don't live a stones throw from from the exchange.