How should I set up my home network?

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I AM TRYING TO CONNECT TWO COMPUTERS TO THE INTERNET
THROUGH ONE ASDSL MODEM NO ROUTER. I HAVE PLUGGED THE MODEM INTO ONE COMPUTER AND THE ETHERNET BETWEEN THE TWO COMPUTERS SET UP A HOME NETWORK BUT CAN'T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET THROUGH THE SECOND COMPUTER.

Have you enabled Internet COnnection Sharing on the first one?

Leo,
Having just spent the last 2 days on and off trying to re-setup my cable/wireless network (after format and clean xp install of the laptop), I have finally had a win of sorts. After reading "daves" post of a few weeks ago (I have the exact network setup he had) I managed to get internet access on the laptop after disabling the router WEP key and all firewalls (that I know of). Despite this success after much frustration, I am unable to "see" the laptop from the PC (ethernet connection to router) or see any computers in the workgroup for that matter from the PC. This problem has existed ever since I've had the router/network, though I thought I'd have another crack at it while I had minimal programs installed on the laptop.
I am able to access and share files from the laptop to the PC but not the other way. It is as if there is some kind of firewall stopping me seeing the laptop?! I have tried every measure I know of and searched forums for an answer but as yet have had no success.
Setup is PC (XP SP1) connected to Linksys WRT54G via CAT5,
WRT connected to Motorola SB4200 cable via CAT5, laptop (XP SP1) (centrino) connected to WRT via wireless.
Avast anti-virus (previously had Nortons.)
Windows firewall (on or off makes no diff)
Sharing on all folders

Thank you for yours and anyone elses help.

I have a network setup via a broadband router, how can I disconnect my desktop PC (running XP) from the LAN (It has a wired ethernet connection)

You want to DISconnect? How about unplugging the cable?

Thanks Leo, I HAD thought of that one, but it's just not terribly user friendly! So I'm just disabling the entire LAN at present so I can keep the router live for VOIP use.

Thanks

Chris

You can also go into Settings/Network and right click on the connection representing that network adapter and disable it.

The writer forgot to mention MANY DSL modems (and possibly cable modems, but I have little experience with them) have a Router built in. If this is the case I reccomend NOT USING the built in router and purchasing a linksys. You can in theory hook up a hub or switch (switch is better) straight to this modem and use more than 1 computer on the connection. The problem is the modem interfaces are usually horrible. The main thing is you want to put your modem in "bridge" mode if you are using a seperate router. If you dont, the pc's will be double NAT-ed, and this causes problems with almost any program that tries to use the internet other than your web browser.

i got a an isdn modem speedtouch 330 and i have 2 machines one is a desktop and the other one is a laptop which has a wireless card .
i bought a creative network blaster which is an access point (wireles router) my desktop is wired to the router wan port and my my modem is conected to the desktop via usb, i can see on my laptop that there is internet connection but when i trie to acces any thing in the browser i cant why this happen ? i tried to put the wire which come from my desktop to the lan port on the router and i do ics in the desktop i can acces the internet in my laptop but this will be internet sharing via the desktop what i want is internet sharing via the router mean if i switch off my desktop pc i wanna the internet to be available always and one more things the adsl which i have is wired via rj11 but on the router there is no rj11 port

sir i do get that how to connect pcs for using internet but i have a query i wil be gratefull if u help me out.
my quey is .. i have a laptop and a computer. i want to connect these 2 with the help of a lan cable for simple file sharing. idon't have any router,hub or so. can i connect a laptop and a computer for simple file sharing with just a lan cable.
i dont want to share the internet connection.
please help me out
thanking you ANAND

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