Hello I need some help! I've got a laptop (Win XP Pro) and PC (Win 98 SE). I've just installed ADSL and i want to share the connection between 2 computers. I'm new to networking. I want to buy router and RJ45 cable. Can anyone explain how to set the whole thing up? What settings to i need to make? Thank you very much :-)

Buy a hardware router like the LinkSys BEFSR41 if you want to stay with Ethernet wired connections. Cost about $50 at Best Buy. Other routers with firewall cost less. If you want to go wi-fi with your laptop, consider spending a little more for a wi-fi router. This way you can add a card to the laptop later. The router usually come with instructions on how to set it up and configure it. And usually have one short Ethernet cable with them. Normally they are plug and play. Just insert it between the ASDL Modem and your system. Start with the desktop system first and get it working. If you have a PPPoE DSL connection, then you will need to configure the router with the PPPoE user ID and password so that it handles the logon instead of using the software program supplied by your ADSL ISP.

I have the same pair of computers. A laptop w WinXP Pro & a desktop w Win98SE. DSL internet connection was connected directly to the desktop. I bought the Linksys BEFW11S4 router, to set up wireless sharing. The instructions that come in the box could have been better. I had a few gliches getting it set up, but finally got there. The CD-ROM in the box has a setup wizard that you start to run BEFORE connecting the router, and with the internet connection active, so it can memorize your ISP settings. Then you connect the router between the modem and the desktop PC, and continue with the setup wizard, which transfers the settings to the router. I don't know if the other Linksys models use similar setups.

When I set up my home network, I worked the Verizon DSL modem first, to make sure that my connection is established correctly. I used Verizon CD to do this Then I added BEFSR41 router. When you set up the router, run the CD first. The CD will tell you when to disconnect from the modem and add the router. It's was easy!