Updating Windows XP Home in a two computer LAN

[Guest]

I have a Windows XP update problem. My wife works for a small charitable
organization and they have a two computer LAN, hardwired with a crossover
cable at 100mbps. They both run XP Home with SP 2, which was installed on
each one via CD from Microsoft. One machine has access to the Internet
through AOL and it is completely up-to-date with Windows patches.

How can I update the second machine, which has no Internet connection, by
logging onto the machine with the AOL capability and run the downloads
through the 100mbps cable connection to the second computer? Can it be done?
Or do I have to run phone wire to the second machine and give it its own AOL
dialup connection just for updating?

 

[Guest]

Hi Benedict,

Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the PC with internet connectivity.
Click 'Start', 'Help' and enter 'ICS'. That should guide you through setting
it up.

Regards Colin.

 

[Guest]

Thank you! I don't use ICS at home where we have a wireless LAN so I've
never looked at it. I will do it tomorrow.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi Benedict,

Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the PC with internet connectivity.
Click 'Start', 'Help' and enter 'ICS'. That should guide you through setting
it up.

Regards Colin.

That would work fine with most dial-up Internet accounts, Colin, but
not with AOL. AOL designed its software in a way that's incompatible
with Internet Connection Sharing. The latest version of AOL doesn't
even create a network connection on my computer.

Benedict, because of AOL's software design, it's not easy to share a
dial-up AOL connection with another computer.

Here's a free proxy server program that runs on Windows XP and can let
other computers access the Internet through an AOL connection. It's
difficult to set up, but it works:

AnalogX Proxy
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm

The other computers won't be able to log into AOL, because AOL only
allows one screen name to log in at a time. They will be able to use
other Internet programs, like Windows Update, Internet Explorer, email
programs, news readers, etc.

NOTE: To protect your network and prevent malicious use by Internet
hackers, read and follow the suggestions in the following message that
appears when you run AnalogX:

WARNING - Proxy is currently running in an open state!

The proxy server is currently running in an open state, which
should only be used when you initially install the proxy server or
if you are attempting to verify that everything is configured
properly. Please read the security section of the documentation
for information on how to secure the proxy once it is successfully
configured - when it is running in a closed state this message will
no longer appear. When the proxy is running in an open state, it
is visible to other computers on the Internet and could potentially
be used by spammers or other Internet users to mask their
activities.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Thank you Steve. You've just saved me a couple of frustrating hours tomorrow
trying to help my wife. I've had trouble with AOL in other respects--trying
to read webmail from a remote location. Thank God I don't have to deal with
them and all that advertizing junk.

 

[Guest]

That would work fine with most dial-up Internet accounts, Colin, but
not with AOL. AOL designed its software in a way that's incompatible
with Internet Connection Sharing. The latest version of AOL doesn't
even create a network connection on my computer.

Benedict, because of AOL's software design, it's not easy to share a
dial-up AOL connection with another computer.

Here's a free proxy server program that runs on Windows XP and can let
other computers access the Internet through an AOL connection. It's
difficult to set up, but it works:

AnalogX Proxy
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm

The other computers won't be able to log into AOL, because AOL only
allows one screen name to log in at a time. They will be able to use
other Internet programs, like Windows Update, Internet Explorer, email
programs, news readers, etc.

NOTE: To protect your network and prevent malicious use by Internet
hackers, read and follow the suggestions in the following message that
appears when you run AnalogX:

WARNING - Proxy is currently running in an open state!

The proxy server is currently running in an open state, which
should only be used when you initially install the proxy server or
if you are attempting to verify that everything is configured
properly. Please read the security section of the documentation
for information on how to secure the proxy once it is successfully
configured - when it is running in a closed state this message will
no longer appear. When the proxy is running in an open state, it
is visible to other computers on the Internet and could potentially
be used by spammers or other Internet users to mask their
activities.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware of the AOL ICS issue. Yet another good reaon
not to use AOL !

Regards Colin.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a Windows XP update problem. My wife works for a small charitable
organization and they have a two computer LAN, hardwired with a crossover
cable at 100mbps. They both run XP Home with SP 2, which was installed on
each one via CD from Microsoft. One machine has access to the Internet
through AOL and it is completely up-to-date with Windows patches.

How can I update the second machine, which has no Internet connection, by
logging onto the machine with the AOL capability and run the downloads
through the 100mbps cable connection to the second computer? Can it be done?
Or do I have to run phone wire to the second machine and give it its own AOL
dialup connection just for updating?

Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the PC with internet connectivity.
Click 'Start', 'Help' and enter 'ICS'. That should guide you through setting
it up.

That would work fine with most dial-up Internet accounts, Colin, but
not with AOL. AOL designed its software in a way that's incompatible
with Internet Connection Sharing. The latest version of AOL doesn't
even create a network connection on my computer. [snip]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware of the AOL ICS issue. Yet another good reaon
not to use AOL !

Regards Colin.

Hi, Colin. I agree about AOL. I use a limited AOL account
($4.95/month for 3 hours of dial-up time) so that I can help my
consulting clients (and my mother!) with AOL, but I wouldn't recommend
AOL to someone who's looking for a new ISP.

It's possible to share an AOL broadband account between multiple
computers (and to log onto multiple screen names simultaneously) using
a special, AOL-approved broadband router.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com