I just finished installing Vista on my new PC. I have not tried the Internet out yet. Can i just run an ethernet cable from the new PC to the DSL modem? Currently my prior computer is hooked up to the DSL modem. I intend to disconnect it and connect the new PC. I don't have to install software on the new PC, right? The modem has the IP address so all I have to do is switch the PC connected from one to the other? Am I right? Thanks.

Yes you are correct, you can just switch out the network cable and run it to the new PC, instead of the old. Also you can get a cable that will allow you to share the internet connection over two computers, with one computer accessing the other's internet connection. i believe the cable is called a Cat 5 crossover cable, some refer to it as a "patch" cable. Jarvis-Technician TekTime www.time4tech.com

Disconnect the power to the modem and with the new PC powered off, connect the cable to it. Power on the modem and then the PC. Bryan

Thank you for your responses. I was not aware of the crossover cable. If both PCs have only one NIC, how does the modem get connected? In other words, I'm seeing 3 places the cable needs to be connected: modem to PC1, then PC1 to PC2. How can you do this with one cable?

If you want to connect two PCs each one with one ethernet card, I suggest you buy a router (it is quite inexpensive) than connect the modem to the router's WAN plug and the PCs to the router's LAN plugs. In that way you can access Internet from each PC without booting the other and can share data and printer on the LAN you set up. It is easy and straightforward.

The dsl modem may or may not be configured. Use it's web based setup to view the config if you want. One clue is the old computers IP address. If private then most likely you don't need software or need to know user and password. If public then you might wish to see the ISP's web page for any setup application. Most people really don't need the app but the goofy ISP's seem to force you in many cases. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

Thanks folks! For now I'm just moving the DSL modem between computers to see how the internet displays on my new monitor. Eventually I'm going to get a wireless router and connect that way. So instead of going through all the fuss with a router, right now I just did a quick modem swap. Works OK; I only need one PC connecting to the internet at a time for now anyway.