Please explain this to me....

[jmoore2001]

I know I need to go get a router...but this is whats going on.

I have 4 computers connected on a hub, and the hub is going to my cable modem. One of the computers (with windows xp) is connected, but the other 3 aren't. I was already told that I need a router instead of a hub, but how is this computer even connected when the others aren't?

[vass0922]

1 PC - No router required
> 1 PC - Router OR Some sort of proxy software. ICS that comes with WinXP is sufficient.

Your ISP gives you ((typically)) one public IP that the world can see.
If you connect ONE PC to it, that PC gets the public IP.
If you connect a second PC it can NOT get a public IP so its sits there stupid.
You get something like ICS or a good routers (router IS suggested as it also provides a "decent" firewall) to give you plenty of internal IP's. The router or ICS box then uses that ONE external IP given from the ISP so the world can talk with you.