i have two machine both running winxp pro. machine 1: network adaptor 1 connected to the internet. network adaptor 2 connected machine 2 through a cat5 cable. machine 2: one on board network adaptor connected to network adaptor 2 on machine 1. i am having trouble both setting up a local network, and share the internet connection from machine 1 to machine 2. i have followed the instruction through the network setup wizard on machine 1 but always get an error at the end. at one point i can setup the local network. but sometimes the network show up and sometimes it does not. i have already checked the 'share internet connection' for the local connection 1 (thru adaptor 1) on machine 1. but i still have no internet on machine 2. i am stuck now. can anyone help? thx~

Hmm, still learning XP myself. But, a couple questions are in order. I have setup my laptop, which is XP, to access internet through a router then to internet. I remember haveing to 'create a connection' in network places, and picked the box(s) related to 'this machine connects to internet through another machine on local network' , or something along those lines. Have you setup the client machine yet??(machine 2) Also, is your cable that goes from computer to computer a CROSS-OVER cable?? If not, it needs to be, as a straight-thru cable will not work computer to computer. If the house catches fire, SAVE the computer!!

yes, i have successfully run the network setup wizard on the client machine (but having trouble on the ics host machine). and it is a x-over cat5. i could get the local network up and running last night (can share files, printers and stuffs). but after i rebooted the machine (i can't remember which one). the network was gone and i couldn't get it back up. and still can't share the internet.

If the Machines can see each other and can share files. Then this is good. The rest should be a peice of cake. First you are gonna have configure the TCP/IP settings on the client PC. PC#1 is the HOST. The nic on it that is connecting the client to the HOST via the crossover cable should have the IP addy of 192.168.0.1 This is default for windows when setting up a HOST. So. You can either tell the client when you configure the TCP/IP settings to obtain IP address automatically. Or you can do what I prefer. Set Static IP's. So configure the client's TCP/IP settings as follows. Give it the IP addy of 192.168.0.2 Subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0 IP Gateway should be 192.168.0.1 And give the client the DNS server addresses of you ISP. You may have to call them to get the addresses. I like to use two DNS servers. One as primary, and one as secondary. Make sure the TCP/IP settings on the nic in the HOST PC is set up like this. IP addy should be 192.168.0.1 Subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0 no IP gateway. And then it should have the DNS server addy's of you ISP The TCP/IP settings for your connection to the Internet should have the Ip and gateway and DNS server addy's Provided by your ISP. You will need to reboot each computer and try to connect. Hope this helps.

Well, as I mentioned, I'm not too familiar with the XP o/s as a whole yet. Sure that someone more knowledgable will see this and offer more information into your problem. My only other question to ask at this time would be, "are you opposed to buying a router instead of directly wiring the two pc's together?" Routers are pretty cheap, somewhere around $40-$45us dollars, and it would truly help in two aspects of your network layout. First, I am guessing because your "internet" is on ethernet, that it's cable or dsl?, so with that, a router will give your LAN a nice firewall. Second, the data load on the 'server' pc for the internet sharing would be eliminated because you wouldn't need it. Which could also benifit you in the fct that any one of the computers could access the internet with out both of them having to be on. I only offer this info, because I set up a four unit LAN with cable modem, and a router was by far the best choice. Personally, if I had only two pcs, I would have still run them through a router to the internet. If the house catches fire, SAVE the computer!!

Nicely spoken Dave. As I pondered for a moment, I would like to also add, that 'sometimes' with cable modems and prolly dsl also, when setting things up in the LAN, these units can 'lock'. I have had this happen MANY times, and spend forever trying to figure out what setting was hosed up. Finially, I would power-cycle everthing, turning on the modem FIRST, then the computers, in your case, HOST then Client. And whoa, evrything was a happy camper. If the house catches fire, SAVE the computer!!

sean, yes, i don't want to get a router for now, i was planning to get a wireless one initially but the 'bandwidth' is just not ideal (only 54mbps). i was just thinking a direct connection would provide the highest transfer rate since i will be doing a lot of file transferring b/w the two machine. i will try to follow the instructions given by you guys later tonight after the stanley cup playoff game. ^^"