Networking Problem

[bballchic24]

I have tried a million different ways to get my 2 computers to share an internet connection and it just won't work hope someone will have some advice!!

I bought a Belkin 5-Port Network Switch to hook them up. I have a Dell Inspiron 4100 laptop running Windows XP this computer has no internet service. Then I have a Compaq Windows ME Presario which is directly connected to the internet. I want to keep the ME as the main computer and have the XP as a client. My internet service is Charter and I connect through a Charter Pipeline Webstar Modem. I am not even sure if I have the cables connected right the network switch didn't come with very good instructions. But here's how I have them connected:
1. I have a Cat 5 cable from the Windows ME Presario to the Network Switch.
2. A Cat 5 from the Windows XP to the Network Switch.
3. A Cat 5 from the Charter Pipeline Webstar modem to the network switch.
I've tried running the network setup disk and everything and it's just not working. Neither computer will recognize the other one, but on my XP it shows an icon on the taskbar that says that I'm connected to a network but when I try to open a webpage it says that I'm not connected. I am extremely confused so if anyone could help me I would really really apreciate it!

[ceh383]

Most ISP's will only give you 1 ip address, if you need more you usually have to pay extra for them.That said you can still do it.
Option 1- Replace the switch with a router.
Option 2- Install a second network card in the ME machine.Then set up like this

Cable/DSL modem to 1st network card(nic 1) in ME machine w\cat5. 2nd network card(nic 2) to switch w\cat5. Switch to XP machine w\cat5.
Nic2 and the XP machine will need static ip addresses.....192.168.1.1(nic2) & 192.168.1.2(XP) Subnet mask 255.255.255.0(both)
After you have that done, install AnalogX proxy on the ME machine.

[bballchic24]

Thanks for answering me! After I read your reply I figured out what one problem was so maybe someone can help me from here. I want to establish Internet connection sharing between my Windows ME Presario, which has an Internet connection, and my Windows XP Inspiron, which does not have an Internet connection.

The Windows ME Presario's Internet provider is Charter Pipeline, using the WEBSTAR cable modem. The WEBSTAR modem connects to the NIC port in the Windows ME Presario modem, thus giving me the Internet connection.

I have purchased a BELKIN 5-Port 10/100BT Ethernet Network Switch in order to establish the Internet connection sharing between these two computers.

To establish the internet connection sharing:

A cable is to run from the Windows ME Presario to the Network Switch.

A cable is also to run from the Windows XP Inspiron to the Network Switch.

BUT, there is only one NIC port on the back of the Windows ME Presario modem. Since the cable from the WEBSTAR cable moden is connected to the NIC port in the Windows ME Presario modem, I cannot run a cable from the Windows ME Presario modem to the Network Switch. So I'm really confused and stuck and would appreciate any help that anyone can give me!

[bballchic24]

Also I forgot to ask what is the difference between a router and a network switch? This is probably a really dumb question, but I have no clue.

[ceh383]

A switch connects several computers together forming a network. A router routes IP packets from one network to another. Most Cable/DSL routers have a built in switch, so one piece of equipment does the job of two.



Without a router, you will need to install a second network card in the WinME machine.

[bballchic24]

okay i went and bought and installed a second network card on my ME machine and i changed the ip address on the XP to 192.168.1.2 and on the NIC2 192.168.1.1 and i tried "pinging" the XP from the ME and it worked but i still don't have internet access on the XP and when i tried "pinging" the ME's ip which is 68.117.145.233 it said it couldn't be found but it did ping the NIC2 succesfully. do i need to change the ip addy on the ME?

[bAdWaYz]

bballchic,
I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble getting things to work If you have a cable connection you could have saved yourself many headaches and just got a router/switch. At any rate seeing as how you have just a switch and you are ready to use ICS then woohoo! The 1st NIC card on the ME computer needs to have your external ip in other words the ip that your computer had before you started this whole networking business. The 2nd NIC card needs to have the ip address of 192.168.0.1 with the subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and the DNS of 192.168.0.1. On the XP computer you can either have it set its ip Auto or you can go in and set it to 192.168.0.2 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 the default gateway of 192.168.0.1 and the DNS of 192.168.0.1 After that reboot and see how it all works out. If you want a nice step by step with pics on the whole thing you may want to look at this link:http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...smeinstall.htm

I know heheh its alot of reading but in the long run will save you from wanting to throw your computers out the window. I hope this has helped and good luck getting everything working

[bAdWaYz]

I'm not gonna get on a soapbox or anything but I really wish people would post back after help is given to let folks know if they worked the problem out or not. A little feedback goes a long way.

[bballchic24]

Sorry badwayz, I hadn't been online for awhile. All the advice did help and I got both computers online! So thank you all so much for the advice!!

[antiskeptic84]

Can i recommend one thing...ME is not the best system to be using as your main! Its far to unstable for that kind of work- i recommend using your XP Machine as the net sharing machine- if your ME machine was a 2k machine, id be saying well done. But not using ME...*shudders*
Is there anyway you could set up your connection through XP? Or is your highspeed modem in the ME alone?
If it is..i recommend pulling out your tool kit! could prove to be some great fun! :-)