my current set up is the cable internet goes into an 8 port router and then 5 computers in the house are connected to the router. I recently got a laptop and want to use it in my room in conjunction with my desktop PC, but the only internet I have in my room is the ethernet going to my desktop.

I have an old router and I figured I could plug what is currently the desktop's ethernet cable into the WAN port of the new router. then from there, plug the desktop into the new router and the laptop into the new router.

I seem to have done this successfully. right now I can use the internet in this configuration, but I cannot access the other 4 other computers on the LAN that are just connected to the original router. even when I view "entire network" in my network places, the only computer that shows up is the desktop. I cannot access any of the 4 computers that are just plugged into the router. before I did this setup I could go into my network places and view entire network and see them just fine.

so my question is, in this setup with my room having a desktop and laptop connected to a router which is connected to the original router, how can I view the other computers on the LAN?

internet->routerA--(ethernet)-->routerB--(ethernet)-->desktopinroom

PS- I did not run a wire from the original router into my room for the laptop because I do not have a cable long enough and it would be messy all over the floor.

Why don't you just put another NIC on the desktop and then use a CrooOver Cable to connect to the laptop. And share the net with the laptop and bridge the two nics together so that you can have access to the other PC's on the network?
Its alot easy than to Bridge to diferent networks (Router A + Router B)

there is no room in the desktop for another NIC

You need to turn off the DHCP functions within the 2nd router so that it will act as just a switch. If that doesn't work you can just use a simple 4-port switch instead of the router.

Michael J

Using 2 nics and ICS as Dark666 suggests is in no way easier than what you're currently doing.

You have several options.
1) buy a cheap hub and use it inplace of the second router.

2) Keep the the second router connected as you currently have it and turn off its DCHP server.

3) Instead of connecting router1 to router2's WAN port, connect it to one one of router2's LAN ports and also turn off DCHP in the second router.

By using method 2 or 3, all you're doing is using your second router as a switch.

ok I plugged routerA into just a port on routerB and turned the DHCP thing off. everything's working fine, I can view computers on the LAN and use the internet. thanks for the help.