I've tried to connect two computers without using a hub, using a DLink DFE530tx+,with an AMD PCNET FAMILY Ethernet Adapter(PCI-ISA) integrated network card, and a SMC EtherEZ 8416 on the host computer. The host computer is hooked up to a cable modem on the SMC. I'm using the AMD to connect to the DLink on the other computer. The host is running Win98, and the other computer is running WinME. The DLink card is being seen by the other computer, and I show no conflicts or problems with the AMD on the host computer. The two just won't communicate with each other. The idea was to connect the other computer to the cable modem in this way. Does anyone know where I've gone wrong with this? Something I've forgotten to do? Thanks in advance for any help! :) J Hammes

My understanding from your discribiton is the following pc1----Pc2----cable modem pc1 to pc2 is hopefully connect via cross cable. if this true and the proper configuration are set then should able to ping pc2 from pc1 and visa versia , also should able to share folders between them. The issue is surfing you need to Ip foward which nether windows 98 or me can do you need w2k pro or linux to do this . Other get a hub. Setup inter net sharing with the pc2 the one with two nics, or better yet get a router and sell one the nics believe less headaches and worth the price

If I understand the question correctly, you are using a NIC & want to connect the two computers together. If this is correct all you need is a crossover cable. You can buy it or build it yourself if you have the tools to do this. To NIC 1 To NIC 2 Pin Pin TX+ 1 White/Orange 3 White/Green RX+ TX- 2 Orange 6 Green RX- RX+ 3 White/Green 1 White/Orange TX+ 4 Blue 7 White/Brown 5 White/Blue 8 Brown RX- 6 Green 2 Orange TX- 7 White/Brown 4 Blue 8 Brown 5 White/Blue Below is a great link to show you in detail how to do it, or you can email me & I'll send you a how to file on this. Good luck http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

K: Sounds like you've just told me that I need either Linux or W2K to share the cable modem between these two computers. Is this true? I've been told I can link the cable modem to the client computer thru the host computer. Is this the only way to do this without a hub or a router? Thanks in advance. JHammes

No I didn't say that. You need a Network Interface Card (NIC) in each computer. If you want to connect two computers (and only 2) without using a hub or switch, you need a crossover cable. (either buy it or use the instructions from above to make it)using your Win98 & WinMe computers you would just create a peer-to-peer network. If you need more information I found a website that going into detail on this. Use the link below I hope this helps. Good luck http://www.billsmith7.net/network/peer-to-peer.htm

Yes if you have the follow diagram below pc1 ----(cable)---pc2---(cable)---internet if pc2 is the one connect to you modem and has two nics and pc1 is connect to pc2 and has a cross cable then pc2 has to be windows 2000 or linux.. Windows 95/98/me can not foward ips. I would still suggest the simple is get a router it has less headaches. However if instead of keeping the two nics then need setup internet connects share on the pc with two nics and need a hub between pc1 and pc2 still can cause many headaches but less costly then my first solution. and fillay still do not want a hub you must have windows 2000 or linux and turn on ipfowarding as well as internet connection share so much headaches with this and costly if use w2k pro or server, l;inux is free but you need to understand hopw it works before dive in. Again I personallly suggest get lynksys router cheap and easy to install and works get good luck

Here is my favorite picture for cat5 cables: http://ttiiggy.bizhosting.com/cgi-bin/image/templates/cable-colors.jpg Sounds like your difficulties MIGHT be a simple as using a crossover cable instead of straight through. I personally use DSL so the cable modem MIGHT be a little different. Most of this is copied from a similar question further up the board (http://www.computing.net/networking/wwwboard/forum/5642.html). I am going to make some ASSumtions here and ask some more questions. You have cable internet connection and that has been working fine? When you install the second NW card it the computer you need to go check the properties to be sure that your system is using the correct card to try to connect to the internet. If it doesn't connect, you can try plugging the CAT5 coming from the cable Modem into the OTHER card. Make sure there are not any resource conflicts. Just get that machine back to functional with both NW cards in it first before you try setting up the Internet Connection Sharing. That IS what you are trying to do, right? Win98 early version does NOT have ICS. Win98SE has the ICS and it has a wizard that is supposed to make it easy. Yeah, right. I remember spending hour messing with connections and settings. Plus the host computer has to be on any time the OTHER computer is to be on the internet. That DOES work. If you have had both of your computers connected together and communicating then you know the cable you have between is right. If you have NOT had the two computers hooked together then you WILL need to get/make a CAT5 CROSSOVER cable OR get a hub and straight through cables to plug the machines into the hub. Depending on WHAT ISP you have you probably CANNOT just plug the cable modem into a hub and hope that it works. Sounds like you don't really want to go buy a hub anyway. If you only have two computers you can get by without a hub. Should be able to get one on E-bay for about $10 though. That would make it easier if you ever do get another computer. If you don't want to HAVE to have both computers on for the second one to do internet then you will probably have to get a router. They run from $60 to $100 and up. The router will handle the connecting duties and you can plug both machines into the router and use either one by itself and get on the internet. There are still more questions and answers if you need more. jer...