A simple network

[hayne1]

All i wanr to do is connect up 2 computers, a simple network, at the moment both
computers are connected with a cross-over cable' one upstairs and one downstairs' both have networking cards but nothing seems to work, all we want to do is share the broadband connection thats all, ran the Wizard on both computers, entered user name and password, what are we missing?.
Your help will be a saviour.

[J1mmy]

Just get a router, its as simple as that. You could set everything up withing minutes!

Infact, its an ideal solution to your problem. Here, this is a list from Amazon of routers:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...eywords=router

Read some of the product reviews and decide depending on price and specification/features which one you think is suitble.

most routers come with only one network cable, you may need to buy an extra one.

[GroundZero3]

is your broadband connection plugged into a pc by usb?

The cheapest method since you already have a cross over cable is to enable ICS on the machine that has the modem plugged in.

but like j1mmy said the best route would be to get a router. Gives some form of protection and allows you to plug in other computers without hassle

[hayne1]

We already enabled ICS, and somehow the upstairs computer doesn't like the crossover cable connected to the eth card it keeps freezing. So we will try a router

[hayne1]

HI. I already have another router, its a Speedtouch 530, and we have already tried connecting it through that with no joy. Is it right that the crossover cable would go into router then router into upstairs PC? (hayne1's daughter, owner of extra PC)

[GroundZero3]

is this your router?
http://www.speedtouch.net.nz/st530.htm

if so you need to plug the modem into the wan port. Then you will want to get a switch to plug that into the lan port. Then plug both machines into the switche with straight through cables.

Since you have the router there is no need for ICS