KGs computer question of the week

[KG]

i have two new computers, a router, and ether net cable. i want them to be networked. i've been told i can set this up in XP. any tips?

[nine23]

1. The network "wizard" in XP will walk you through it...

[Misunderestimator]

2. Pretty much just plug it all in and turn it on.

With XP it's pretty simple. Your router should come with instructions that are easy to follow. And XP has instructions for setting up a workgroup.

Any other questions?

[KG]

4. ooops

[Mairead]

3. I presume you also have ethernet cards for each machine?

Or either ethernet on the mamaboards? You don't mention them, so I thought I'd ask.

If you do, then as has been already said: connect them up and turn them on and it'll all work, if they're both running Windoze. If one or both is running some version of Unix, it takes more work, but is still feasible even for a non-Unix person.

[KG]

5. it isn't working.

there is another router between my machines and the internet, for the rest of this office to have internet access, could this be a problem?

[Misunderestimator]

6. You should be able to piggyback on the router...

How is it connected to the existing router?

[KG]

7. an ethernet cable

fron office router>my router>then to each computer. no internet, and no connection between computers. argh

[Misunderestimator]

10. And when you plug directly into the pre-existing router?

Do you get a connection? If you do, then you should get one with the new router between your PCs and the old router. It works just like coaxial cable when hooking up VCRs, etc... the signal should just pass through the router into the other router.

Sounds like you might need to configure the new router. Do you have an instruction book with it?

[no name no slogan]

8. make sure the router is set to dynamically assign IP #s too

IIRC most of them are set to that by default, anyways. also be sure that the two computers are set to use DHCP, too, or else you'll have to assign them IP addresses manually.

Hope this makes some sense. Of course, I could be just blowing smoke, too...

[KG]

9. unable to set anything on the router

coz when i run the router setup CD, it detects the other router, i think, and wont let me go any farther.

this is my first stab at this sort of thing, some stuff i just don't understand.

[KG]

11. or should i just network these two computers thru the office router?

there are ports available.

[no name no slogan]

12. i feel your pain

i'm going thru the same thing with two wireless routers in two different locations. they've "wizard"-ized the setup process so much that I can't get under the hood of the devices to set them up the old-fashioned way-- which I can do, much better than some dumbass wizard can do it.

grrrr.... why can't they keep things complicated, like they used to be?!?!?!?