[jedicandie]

Hello to all you out there that actually read this and are willing to help. I know a TON about computers with one exception: Networking. Well, actually just networking 2 computers together. I have found at OfficeMax (or was it Office Depot?), that there is a "kit" with 2 cards and a hub for like $69 (cables included). Will this be all I need to start a Network between my 2 computers? One comp will be running WinME and the other Win98SE. I basically want it to share Inet connetions, share files, and play LAN games on it. Any advice would be helpful. Thank You for your time

[Super]

You can do that, or you can just simply put 2 NICs in one computer (one will connect you to the internet if you have cable or DSL, but if phone line, one is enough; the other will connect to the 2nd computer.), and one NIC in the second. Use a cross-over cable to connect the 2 together. Set up internet connection sharing. Go to WinMe's help files on networking. Very helpful. WinMe even has a Home Networking Wizard (in My Network Places) which will help you.

Hope This Helps!

[jedicandie]

put 2 NICs in one computer

Ok as I said before I am ALMOST totally ignorant of this. What is a NIC? Unfortunately because of my location I have yet to have any ISP come here with DSL or Cable (even though most everyone in the other towns close to us have it....). Anyways, would it be cheaper to do the NICs and crossover or would the kit be cheaper? Money is a little tight. As for Inet connect I know 56k would be really slow but my Wife only checks her email and I usually have to disconnect and then reconnect. I mainly want the Network for that and playing games when my friends come over.
Thanx for responding

[Super]

NIC - Network Interface Card.

ok here is my setup, just look at it and you would be able to apply it to your comps.

1st computer:
2 NICs: 1 connects to the internet, 2 connects to the second computer

2nd computer:
1 NIC: connects to the first computer

Your case:
You can just buy 2 NICs, put 1 of them in the 1st computer, and the 2nd NIC in the 2nd computer and connect them with cross-over cable. A cross-over cable is not your average network cable. It has some wires crossed (as you can tell by the name of it ).

Whats cheaper? Well, you can look at the prices of NICs in your area, and basically add up the prices of 2 NICs and a Cross-over cable, and see what it will cost you. A good NIC to use can be with the speed of 10/100 (it will say so on the box). Thats what I use, and I can send a 87MB file from one computer to the other in 33 secs .

If the prices of the kit and just 2NICs with a cross-over cable will be close, please provide us with a link (if possible) to both of the products, and we'll tell you which one is better.

I don't know which is the easiest to set up, because I have used only one configuration so far, but I can say it was pretty easy.

[Robertem70]

The option of having two nic's in one pc means your multihoming it. It also means that the multihomed machine always has to be on to allow the second machine to connect to the internet.
Most of the broadband modems be it dsl/cable allow for multiple ip's so you can have either machine running and still connect.

[jedicandie]

I'd like to thank everyone for thier advice. Went out the other day and picked up a complete kit (2 cards, hub, 2 cables $69). It's up and working GREAT! Does everything I need it to. Thanx again everyone!