Setting up a network. plz help

[Leonidas The Lion]

Since now i have my gaming comp.
Its specs are:
PentiumD Dual Core
2GB Ram
160 GB Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT


So i want to create a network with my old comp that has everything on it and my new gaming comp.

What do I need?
How do I do it.

The only equipment i have it the cable to link the pc's

So if someone could explain to me what I need and how you do it.
Please help me.

BTW is this new graphics card any good?
Because i have no idea.

[Kingtiger]

Well the graphics card is decent it will run most games well with medium settings and 1024x768 resolution i speak from expierience i have a 7300 se myself good card for the price imo

[Incinerate_IV]

The graphics card is a pretty low end, maybe low/med settings in M2TW, and you will have to turn the resolution down a bit. A 7300GT is pretty good for a card in that price range, but it probably won't last you very long.

To create a network, you need a router first.

[ajimenez3]

As was stated above you will want a Router, but if you want you can also use just a Switch or at the least a cross-over cable.
Also make sure that both of the computers workgroup/domain name are the same and that the folders you want to share between them are shared out.

[Erik]

If you just want to connect the two computers all you need is a cross-over cable. (or modify a standard network cable into a cross-over cable, but you'll need a special tool to do that)

If you want to connect more than two computers you need a hub or a switch, and standard network cables.
Using a switch makes the network faster, but hubs are cheaper and simpler.

If you want to include an internet connection you'll also need a router.
Most (if not all) routers come with a build-in switch, so you don't need to buy one separately.

[Freddie]

If you want to include an internet connection you'll also need a router.
Most (if not all) routers come with a build-in switch, so you don't need to buy one separately.

It would appear I'm an unlucky person, my ADSL router has no built in switch.

All you need to to connect two PC's is a crossover network lead, if you broadband it would help if you had a router that had a switch.

[Erik]

[CENTER][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="Green"]It would appear I'm an unlucky person, my ADSL router has no built in switch.

I think it's just a modem, not a modem/router.
Does it allow you to connect more than one computer to the internet?
If not, then it's a modem.

To clarify:
-A modem converts digital signals (like Ethernet) into analogue signals (like ADSL) and vice-versa.
-A router assigns IP addresses and channels (or "routs") data over the internet.
-A hub splits an Ethernet cable, allowing more than two connections, but all devices share the same bandwidth.
-A switch is like a hub, but only connects devices when they are actually talking to each other to improve network performance. Switches are a lot like routers, but simpler.

[Freddie]

I think it's just a modem, not a modem/router.
Does it allow you to connect more than one computer to the internet?
If not, then it's a modem.

To clarify:
-A modem converts digital signals (like Ethernet) into analogue signals (like ADSL) and vice-versa.
-A router assigns IP addresses and channels (or "routs") data over the internet.
-A hub splits an Ethernet cable, allowing more than two connections, but all devices share the same bandwidth.
-A switch is like a hub, but only connects devices when they are actually talking to each other to improve network performance. Switches are a lot like routers, but simpler.

No it definitely is a router (it connects directly into the phone socket and is connected to my computer via a Ethernet cable), it has access points for 4 other computers to connect to, but I'm dammed if I can work out how I can network with it as well.

[Erik]

it has access points for 4 other computers to connect to

Yes, then it;s a router.

but I'm dammed if I can work out how I can network with it as well.[/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER]

Theoretically it's possible that you can't.
But to me it makes no sense not to include a switch because switches aren't expensive and they add a whole lot of functionality.

[Gaius Baltar]

Instead of a router or switch, you could also perform the same task with a wireless router. All have at least 2-4 ethernet connections so you can set up the network with standard cables and spoof the mac address of your internet computer and have wireless for your laptop as well.

[Leonidas The Lion]

Well i have the cross over cable but is there a way to set up network without using the windows on.
I just want to be able to share files from comp to the other and to share my internet connection that is all.

[Leonidas The Lion]

I have a router i think it is a wireless router i have connected other comps with this router or modem. I am using 1 post now it has 3 free.
Do you guys want me to post a pic?

[Erik]

Do you guys want me to post a pic?

Yes.

Do the connectors on the router any symbols next to them?
Maybe post a pic of that.

[ajimenez3]

I have a router i think it is a wireless router i have connected other comps with this router or modem. I am using 1 post now it has 3 free.
Do you guys want me to post a pic?

What type of Router is it?(Model number).
If it is a Lynksys then one of the connections is for the WAN(that connects to your high speed/Broadband modem). The others are the built in switch. You can connect your computers to those outlets. If you want to connect to the wireless router wirelessly then you are going to need wireless NIC for the computers.

To share files between the two computers you are going to have to make them both members of the same workgroup. If you are using Windows XP you can just right click on the "My Computer" icon on the desk top or click "Start" then right click on the "My Computer". For both just choose "Properties". Click on the TAB "Computer Name". Click on the "Change" button. Computer Name Change will come up. Go to the bottom where it says "Member of" and click on the radio button that is next to "Workgroup". In the space you can name your workgroup to any name you want to call it. Make the other computer the same workgroup member using the same method.
If you want to share files and be able to open and change them you have to share out the folder or drive that you want to share. Otherwise you will only see the other computer on your network but not be able to open it and see any file or folder on it.

[Leonidas The Lion]

Here is the modem or router:




and the markings:



Can someone explain step by step what to do.

[ajimenez3]

You should be able to just connect the other computer with a network cable to one of the other three empty slots and be able to network to the other computer and just use the method I listed to get them to communicate with each other. If you want to connect wirelessly then you will need a wireless adapter on the other computer.

You should just need that router to create your network.
Here is a link to a site that is pretty good at explaining how to do a lot of computer network related things. http://lifehacker.com/software/wifi/...ork-162754.php

[Leonidas The Lion]

The link cable i have is a double sided USB.
And i don't have a mac.
Can someone post a step by step tutorial.
Thanx.
If you want a picture or the cable just say it.

[Erik]

The link cable i have is a double sided USB.

Ah.
I think it's possible to link two computers with an USB cable (with windows XP at least), but it's not as fast or as practical as doing it with Ethernet cables.

Connect the two computers with the cable, then go to:
Start->Settings->Network Connections->New Connection Wizard.
Click "next", then select "set up an advanced connection" and follow the Wizard from there. (not sure what will happen next, I've only done this once and it was years ago).

For a better result you should use that modem/router/switch.
All you need is some (standard) Ethernet cables or wireless network cards.

[Leonidas The Lion]

Now that you mention it i have a special USB that you plug into the comp and go online with wireless.

EDIT: Erik i tried it but no result.
Could someone post a step by step tutorial.
I mostly need it for modding i have all my programs on this comp and i want to be able to mod on this comp but test it on the other.

[Erik]

EDIT: Erik i tried it but no result.

You might have to repeat the process on both computers.
Like I said I've only done this once, many years ago, so I don't know exactly how I did it.

But if I were you I'd just set up a proper (wireless) network.
Shouldn't cost you more than $30 or so for the cables/wireless network cards.