hi everyone, hope you can help me since i've scoured google but seem unable to come up with a simple yes or no to my question.

despite being more than conversant with computers the whole "networking" area is new territory for me and i don't wanna end up blowing cash i haven't got on needless hardware just so my relatives can surf the net!!

my question is this, say for example i have two pc's:
pc1:
windows xp pro
wireless network card (belkin 802.11g wireless desktop network card - internal)
internet access (via an external usb adsl modem on freeserve/wanadoo)

pc2:
windows xp pro
wireless network card (belkin 802.11g wireless desktop network card - internal)

can i share the internet connection of pc1 for use on pc2 using ONLY a wireless network card in each? (and assuming that both pc's will need to be switched on when internet access is required by pc2?)

it seems like a very simple question/idea but i've been unable to find an answer as most tutorials/forums always suggest the use of a router also.

also if it is indeed possible to do it this way, could someone provide a quick and basic description of what steps should be followed to achieve this once both pci network cards are installed?

thank you for your time in advance!
slong

A router is easier than using Internet Connection Sharing that is available in Win 2000/XP Pro. I have tried both and found the router much more reliable and stable. (I found info on it in the Windows Help and Support Center searching under Internet Connection Sharing)

The advantage I found with a router is that it adds an extra layer of firewall protection to your home connection. Routers are not all that expensive now compared to a few years ago. If this is just a temporary deal, then ICS can be a good way to go.

Let me know if this helped.

Andy

but there is one draw back the pc linked to the router needsto be turned on unless you are using wireless also check out this link


hope this helps

the second pc, the one without an internet connection, is really not used terribly often and even then i would say stability is really not of importance for the sake of only very occasional internet access and maybe the odd file sent back and forth. as long as it works some of the time then they can't grumble since i'm paying for everything lol

thanks for the link, i'll have a read when the network cards arrive but it all sounds fairly straightforward i was just unsure as to whether it was easily do-able without a router or not.

thanks for the help

If you don't find what you need in the Windows Help And Support Center (is that's XP's flashy new name for "the help file"?!), then go to http://support.microsoft.com. Using the menu on the left-hand side, you can look for technical articles about setting up networking and Internet Connection Sharing. Microsoft's online articles are really very good.

Originally Posted by DJNafey

If you don't find what you need in the Windows Help And Support Center (is that's XP's flashy new name for "the help file"?!), then go to http://support.microsoft.com. Using the menu on the left-hand side, you can look for technical articles about setting up networking and Internet Connection Sharing. Microsoft's online articles are really very good.

Flashy & Fun

to be honest i think i'm allergic to the "windows help and support center" due to a recent experience involving trying to get rid of VERY persistent spyware on someones PC and the amount of times the help and support center popped up when booting into safe mode on windows me - it did my head in!!

thank god for tweakui for windows xp on my own computer, else all those mis-clicks on the start menu when aiming for the "run..." option would send me truly round the bend when that help center stuff brings my computer to a grinding halt! lol

my new pc aint due til tuesday of next week so until then i may have a play with my current pc and the old pc downstairs (windows 95 - will upgrade to 98se) and the network cards and see if i can learn a few things networking-wise before doing it for real

why oh why did i think it would go without a hitch? lol

ok, so two pc's both running windows xp (home and pro, no sp2) installed the belkin software on both, then put in the wireless network cards.

created a network, both pc's are connected to that network BUT in "my network places" on each pc you can only see the pc that you're sitting at.

i've disabled the windows firewall on both, got file and printer sharing running, even shared all the hard drives but nothing.

any ideas on why this is happening? needless to say the internet connection sharing aint happening just now - can't even ping the remote computer

HEYELP! HEYELP! lol

Are they both in the same workgroup? (Right-click My Network Places and check your Properties).

Are they running a different subnet mask in TCP/IP?

Have they both got the same IP address?! (Go to a command prompt and type ipconfig).