Ok... for my DSL connection, when I load IE it "dials" and then connects right away. I don't mind this cause I don't have to worry about my computer being open to the internet all the time it's on.. anyway.. I've now setup my 2 computers so that they can share the internet and files, etc.. What I want to know is... Is there a way for me to setup my "guest" computer to dial my internet connection on the "host" computer if that connection isn't already connected? So like.. if I'm playing a game on my WinXP PC... and my girl friend wants to surf the internet... she can just load IE on the WinME PC and my WinXP PC will dial the connection and connect to the internet without needing me on my WinXP PC to load IE first. Can it be done??

OK... make that 2... Also.. on my WinME PC... everytime I connect or disconnect from my DSL connection... I get an annoying message by the clock on my WinME PC... it says: Residential Gateway Device: A new device is now available on your network. For more information click here. An icon pops up and says that... if I click it... it asks if I want to make a shortcut on my desktop.. NO.. I don't... then if I say yes or no it will also pop up a window showing all my available network folders and such... only nothing is ever new about them. Lastly.. if I just ignor the thing.. the icon stays.. and drives me nuts. What ever this "feature" is... I want it gone. :)

Why not get a router and set the dsl to share between the 2 PCs. Simply to do with Ethernet. Sounds like you used your Internet providers software to setup your connection and that pop-up is their junk. When setting up a routed connection, you do away with the ISPs connection so it goes thru the router instead and then you just open the browser and you're on the web, IF you have saved your user name and password.

I don't want to spend the money on a router.... at least not right now. It's not the 3rd party software... it's something in WinME telling me a new connection is on my network... it makes sense since it happens eveytime I connect to the internet on my other computer... I just want to turn that notice off.

Check all your NETWORKING settings and configs and see if you can find a similar name in there to what that pop-up says. If it is a connection, it has to be listed your NETWORKING.

1) I've setup my other computer to dail up my WinXP connection if it isn't already connected. ;) It was a setting in WinXP in my network settings. :) 2) I've learned a little more about my message... it's a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) notice telling me there's a new device. What I need to do now is disable the UPnP message... without disabling UPnP... which would stop my internet connection sharing (ICS). Always with more questions... before I setup my network today... when I would load my WinXP PC... as soon as my main programs loaded I could connect to the internet.... say with in 30secs of desktop loadin... now, after setting up my network... it takes almost 3-5min (after the desktop) appears to dial my connection... that is... before that time I can try to dail... but it won't go past dialing... until 3-5min have passed.... then I can reload my connection and dial normally. Ideas on that one?... plus I don't think it's the same "glitch" when XP is looking for an IP address when you've got network card (or something)... that problem would stop most of my programs from loading for 2min... this one lets everything load... but I can't dial my connection. :)

Actually what you are talking about is DISABLING the UPnP SERVICE in Win XP. Click START > ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS > SERVICES. Actually, it only has 1 dependency and that's SSDP (which aids in discovery of UPnP devices) which should be DISABLED also. Both are considered possible security concerns. ICS is not involved. As for the delay in loads, you should get a look at the boot load picture which can be done with a download tool from www.microsoft.com called BOOT VIS. It's a TRACE, BOOT OPTIMIZER program than will, when ordered to TRACE, power down, boot and then graph your complete boot process all the way to user desktop control. You can easily see WHAT and WHERE and for HOW LONG each process takes place. It's a FREE, zipped program. Finding the IP like DNS namecache is also a WIN XP SERVICE that can be ENABLED, if not already. The function is the store and readily draw the IPs of what you "click" so that the web browser can then navigate to the URL. As for your NETWORK config, there may be a bottleneck. A router also serves to function in that it finds and deploys the most efficient path for the data packets to travel to their destination. And today a 4-port router by LINKSYS with NAT Network Address Translation) will run you $60 tops. LINKSYS is an OK product, good enough for home use, but I mention it due to its low cost and popularity. Plus, it is considered more secure for a home network.