XP networking

[Guest]

Hello, I'm wondering if I can create a home LAN with a desktop (running XP
Home and connected to the Internet) and a laptop (running W2000), each with
an Ethernet card, and just a cable between them rather than using a hub. If
so, should the cable be a network one or a crossover one? I want to access
the Internet from the laptop through the desktop AND share files between the
two computers.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello, I'm wondering if I can create a home LAN with a desktop (running XP
Home and connected to the Internet) and a laptop (running W2000), each with
an Ethernet card, and just a cable between them rather than using a hub. If
so, should the cable be a network one or a crossover one?

Crossover.


I want to access
the Internet from the laptop through the desktop AND share files between the
two computers.

On the WinXP PC, create local user account(s), with non-blank
password(s), that have the desired access privileges to the desired
shares. Log on to the other PCs using those account(s), and you will be
able to access the designated shares, provided your network is
configured properly. Also, make sure that WinXP's built-in firewall is
disabled on the internal LAN connection.

On the Win2K PC, create local user account(s), with non-blank
password(s), that have the desired access privileges to the desired
shares. Log on to the other PCs using those account(s), and you will be
able to access the designated shares, provided your network is
configured properly.

Usually, WinXP's Networking Wizard makes it simple and painless --
almost entirely automatic, in fact. There's a lot of useful,
easy-to-follow information in WinXP's Help & Support files, and here:

Home Networking
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/homenet/default.asp

Networking Information
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking.htm

PracticallyNetworked Home
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/index.htm

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

Configuring Windows 2000 Professional to Work in a Peer-to-Peer
Network
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q258717


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello, I'm wondering if I can create a home LAN with a desktop
(running XP Home and connected to the Internet) and a laptop (running
W2000), each with an Ethernet card, and just a cable between them
rather than using a hub. If so, should the cable be a network one or
a crossover one?

If you don't use a hub, switch, or router, you need a crossover cable. But
note that a crossover cable *is* a network cable, just a special kind of
network cable.

I want to access the Internet from the laptop
through the desktop AND share files between the two computers.

What kind of internet connection do you have? Dialup? DSL? Cable? Other?
Unless it's dialup, you'll find that doing it the way you propose is a poor
method. You'd be much better off connecting your DSL/Cable modem to an
inexpensive router, and connecting to that router with ordinary CAT5 cables.
That way, one computer doesn't have to be on for the other to use the
internet connection.

 

[Guest]

If you don't use a hub, switch, or router, you need a crossover cable. But
note that a crossover cable *is* a network cable, just a special kind of
network cable.




What kind of internet connection do you have? Dialup? DSL? Cable? Other?
Unless it's dialup, you'll find that doing it the way you propose is a poor
method. You'd be much better off connecting your DSL/Cable modem to an
inexpensive router, and connecting to that router with ordinary CAT5 cables.
That way, one computer doesn't have to be on for the other to use the
internet connection.

 

[Guest]

If you don't use a hub, switch, or router, you need a crossover cable. But
note that a crossover cable *is* a network cable, just a special kind of
network cable.




What kind of internet connection do you have? Dialup? DSL? Cable? Other?
Unless it's dialup, you'll find that doing it the way you propose is a poor
method. You'd be much better off connecting your DSL/Cable modem to an
inexpensive router, and connecting to that router with ordinary CAT5 cables.
That way, one computer doesn't have to be on for the other to use the
internet connection.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Thanks for the info so far. I've been trying to set up the LAN but I can't get started! I've installed two Ethernet cards, one for the ADSL modem and one for the laptop with cables, patch type to the modem, crossover type to the laptop. When I turn both computers on, the desktop (connected to the ADSL modem) hangs and I can only start it in Safe Mode. The only way I've been able to get it to boot right into XP is if I physically remove one of the Ethernet cards. What gives?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is your DSL modem internal or external? What I recommend is an external DSL
modem connected to a router via standard CAT5 cable. The router should also
connect to both computers with standard CAT5 cables. I think you'll find
that setting this is up up is very easy, and much more convenient than other
choices.

What we call a DSL modem is actually really a router anyway, and some DSL
"modems" already come with those sharing capabilities built in.

It will require some extra expense for the router, and for an external
modem, if you don't already have one, but the total shouldn't be more than
$100US or so. I think it's worth it.