Windows networking with 2 pc's

[DaveImme]

A friend of mine has a win 98 pc and a newly purchased XP pc and wants to network the two. Easy enough, I'm sure, but one pc (XP) has cable internet access and wants to be able to access the net via the 98 pc if need.

Anything particular I need to do for this?

Also, I've not done peer to peer nw in over 5 years, and did it just once, too, but not with XP. So, Ivjust need to set a workgroup and attach the two (will use cat 5 w/rj 45 ends), right?

Any info to make this task easy would be greatly appreciated..

 

[BlackburnKL]

First, search this forum for peer-to-peer networking threads. You will find a lot of helpful information. I have such a network running in my home and it works fairly well. My suggestion is that you make the XP PC conform to the Windows 98 networking rather than the other way around. That may not allow you to share the Internet connection--I don't know--I haven't tried that.

As for connecting the two PCs together, you can direct cable two PCs together without a switch or hub, but to do so, you need a "crossover" cable. A regular CAT5 cable will not work. They are available at places like Radio Shack, but are expensive. See if you can find a cable reseller. You can get one for about 25% of the cost at some of those other places.

Another alternative is to install a switch between them (hubs are old technology, but they still work). With a switch, you should be able to use a standard CAT5 network cable from each PC to the switch. A switch also will generally allow you to expand the network more easily in the future.

Good luck! BlackburnKL

 

[DaveImme]

Thanks. I can make my own crossover.....I have a sheet here that I made when I had to make a crossover cable a few years back, so I assume the same pattern is applicable. Much cheaper than buying even a hub. I know they will be limited to 2 pc's, so that's not an issue. I need to go to Radio shack for hearing aid batteries, so I will look at what they have and jot down the pin pattern.

Yeah, I've worked with switches and hubs...hell, I worked with concentrators too! Does this give my age away? Just never needed to attach more than 2 pc's in a p-to-p.

Thanks for the tip to conform to the 98 pc....I already saved some time by your tip (and the crossover tip, as well).

 

[sdraper]

I have two pc's connected by a crossover cable. Mine WinXP Pro and my wife's Win98SE. My PC is connected to the net via cable modem. I simply used the home network wizard. It even produced a floppy to install the necessary files on the W98SE machine. It was pretty hassle free.
hope this helps,
sdraper

 

[spool]

This link may be some help.It has step by step instructions for all Windows OS's.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/

spool