Networking help

[jgv115]

I have one old computer and 1 laptop.

The old computer only has ethernet

The laptop has wifi and ethernet.

I'm trying to get my old computer to get internet from the laptop's wifi.

I did this a few months ago with no problem now it doesn't work.

What I do first is connect a ethernet cable (a d-link cat5e. It came with the router DIR-655 (d-link) from the computer to the laptop. Then bridge the wireless network connection and the local area connection.

Sounds right? But it doesn't work. I cannot get Internet from neither side when I bridge it. It's weird because a few months ago I did this exact setup and it worked.

What's my problem?

P.S I've also tried ICS and Windows just gives me an error saying it can't share the connection.

I'm using Windows XP professional 32bit.

[thehacker010]

I don't think bridging the LAN and Wireless Connection is the best way to go with Windows XP. Interesting that you say it worked but now it doesn't. Does the laptop work fine with a LAN connection? Have you updated/reset your bios settings recently? Some computers have a WIFI/LAN switch setting in the bios. It makes windows automatically switch one off when the other is being used.

Ideally, I would try to get the LAN connection working on the laptop first. Then, right-click the wireless connection, click properties, and then add a "Preferred Networks" in the "Wireless Networks" tab. Make it use "Shared Network Authentication" and use some simple password or disable it while testing. Click your newly created Preferred Network and click Advanced. Set it to Ad-Hoc.

FINALLY, right-click and go to properties on your LAN connection. Enable ICS.

Your desktop should now be able to see your newly created wireless "hotspot."

(a d-link cat5e. It came with the router DIR-655 (d-link) from the computer to the laptop.

Do you not have a wireless router anymore? That would make it a lot easier to manage. HEHE

[jgv115]

I probably didn't explain my problem properly.

The desktop's only way of getting internet is LAN. My router is too far away from the computer to get LAN.

My laptop is wireless. I want to use it's wireless connection to help the desktop out.

[thehacker010]

My bad, It is pretty late in the morning. lol

Well, I am tired and going to bed now. One idea is this though:

1. Connect your laptop to the wireless network
2. Connect your PC to the laptop using a cable.
3. On your laptop under wireless properties, select "Allow Other Users To Connect To This PC"
4. Go to your desktop, setup a Local Area Connection and right-click properties on TCP/IP v4. Set the desktop's IP to 192.168.0.xxx(something between 2 and 254).
Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS: 192.168.0.1.
5. Try to use the internet on your desktop.

I am sorry if that does not work. Maybe someone else has more experience with sharing internet like this.

[jgv115]

You said allow others to connect to this pc. Are you meaning Allow other network users through this computer's internet connection?

If you are then it doesnt' work. I tick that box and it says A LAN connection is already configured with the IP address that is required for automatic IP addressing.

I set a static IP for the LAN port on my laptop. ICS wanted to change the address to 192.168.0.1. The only problem is that my router is that same address!!!

What do I do now?

[thehacker010]

Well, there might be a better way to do this then...

Since ICS is wanting to change the laptop's IP to 192.168.0.1, that would fit with those settings I listed for the desktop. The only catch is you would have to first change the router's IP to something like 192.168.0.2.

This sounds like a fun setup. LOL

Router, 192.168.0.2, connects to laptop that is assigned 192.168.0.1

Desktop: 192.168.0.3 connects to laptop as if it were a gateway.

[jgv115]

Are you sure there's no other way?

What if I use windows 7 on the desktop?

[thehacker010]

Are you sure there's no other way?

What if I use windows 7 on the desktop?

I don't know about Windows 7, but bridging those two connections is starting to make a lot more sense now. Change all the TCP/IP settings back to automatic, assuming your router assigns IP address i.e. DHCP.

Then on your laptop, highlight the wireless and wired connection and bridge them. The desktop should basically ignore the laptop and the router would assign the desktop a new internal IP.

I know you said that is what you use to do but it is not working now. Well, I give up.

I can install Active Directories and Domains all day, but Windows Internet Sharing confuses the heck out of me.