I have a desktop at work running XP. It is connected with a fixed IP to the corporate network, which I cannot "touch." My laptop running Vista Business has internet access via a wireless network, but I cannot access the corporate network (no logon software installed, cannot change this). I want to connect the two computers directly via a crossover cable for file and monitor sharing (using MaxiVista software) while maintaining internet access through the wireless on my laptop and through the existing NIC on my desktop. Can I install a 2nd NIC in the desktop for the crossover connection and can I use both the wireless and wired connections on the laptop simultaneously? Is there a better/easier way to do this?

You can use both simultaniously, but the must be in different network ranges, to get it to work. E.g.: WLAN Card: IP: 192.168.0.50 NetMask: 255.255.255.0 Wired Card: IP: 192.168.1.50 NetMask: 255.255.255.0 Otherwise, when both network card are in the same network, e.g. 192.168.0.x, only one of the cards will be used. So sometimes you may be able to communicate with the other PC or Laptop and sometimes you can't because the other card is never used. Please send a reply, if you solved the problem !!!