***Im new to networking!!! Help!!!***

madkid88

Ive got two pc's:

1.Tiny, Windows ME, Getting network card in there tommorow.
2.Dell, Windows XP, network card working(Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection)

I have ADSL broadband on the dell, however no internet connection on the ME. I want to network these 2 pc's asap, will a crossover cable do the job? I can pick one up cheap. I am bit concerned as they are different operating systems, however i think after ive put the network card in the tiny, i think it should work??

Can anyone help please
Thanks

T4i

erm.......Windows ME *might* cause problems. Some people report that ME is !!!!!! when it comes to LAN's.

Can you not install XP on the Tiny machine?

If you want both p.c's to use the internet then you need a router (with built in modem).

If you want both p.c's just to share files etc and not have net then a crossover cable will do.

madkid88

T4i wrote:

erm.......Windows ME *might* cause problems. Some people report that ME is !!!!!! when it comes to LAN's.

Can you not install XP on the Tiny machine?

If you want both p.c's to use the internet then you need a router (with built in modem).

If you want both p.c's just to share files etc and not have net then a crossover cable will do.

my friend has advised me to do use a crossover because he is using it at the moment, with his internet connection. Jus plug in rj45 crossover on each network card and then set up the internet settings. I can upgrade to 2000 or XP. I jus want the internet on tiny pc...odas have said the cable dus the job

gavinp

If you use a crossover cable, you need to share the internet connection by configuring Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on the XP machine.

The reason people use a router rather than this method is the XP machine has to be switched on for the ME machine to be able to access the Internet, security is compromised, not all programs will work and the XP machine will be slowed down whenever the ME machine is on.

For the sake of £30, it is a much better idea to buy a router:

For example, http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?&product_uid=90976

Thanks

Gavin

tigermatt

The best option is to purchase a router to access the Internet on both the XP and ME machines. This shares your internet connection and is easier to setup than Internet Connection Sharing which isn't very good on ME machines.

Most routers also have built-in firewalls and NAT (Network Address Translation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation) so you are more secure than using an ADSL modem with your only defence as a software firewall.

There are reports that ZoneAlarm doesn't work with ICS but I've never had any problems with it so try it and see.

A crossover cable will work but I don't recommend this option due to all the issues I mentioned above, security, speed, ICS problems etc.

Hope this helps