What could be the problem?

[Cai]

Hi guys, new here, and if anyone can help me out I'll be eternally grateful!

I have 2 PC's, one in my mother's room and one in my room. My internet connection (broadband) is in my mum's room, inconvenient as I need it in my room much more. So I bought a network hub, and two cat 5 patch cables and I'm running a 10 base T ethernet (apparently!) earlier today. I put the broadband modem straight into the hub, and then the cables from either PC, also to the hub. The computer in my mum's room (the one I'm on now!) worked as before, connected fine, and I'm happily surfing away as before.

However, on the PC in my room, I'm not having the same joy. In the taskbar it tells me that it connects to the internet, tells me the speed it's connected at, and even says how long it has been connected for. However, it tells me 'Invalid IP Address' under 'Support' and refuses to 'Repair' itself either. I can't connect to any web page, or share files with the other PC.

I can ping both PC's from one and other, but I can't ping one PC from the other.

Does anyone have a solution? I'm seriously desperate, and I can't work out what's wrong. I've disabled all firewalls and pretty much matched the settings of the PC thats working fine...

[EDIT] The problematic PC performs the same even with the internet connection going directly into it...

[yawningdog]

You need a router.

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

As yawningdog said, you need a router instead of a hub. I don't know enough about networking to tell you the details, but a hub is little more than an intersection and can't do a lot more than what you have already. A router will allow you access like you have in your mother's room.

Do a search with the term "router" in the forum and you will find more info than you need to sort this out....

[Taino718]

Hi,

You have two choices:

1. Get a router. Cost $60 dollars - Linksys BEFSR41.

2. Install a second nic into the other computer and use microsoft ICS.

[Budfred]

Or SMC Wired 10/100 4 Port Cable/DSL Router at CompUSA or MicroCenter for $10.00 after rebates.

Or D-Link 4 Port Ethernet Cable Router at OfficeMax for $20 after rebate.

Or 4 Port Cable/DSL Broadband Router at MicroCenter for $8 after rebate (couldn't figure out the brand).

Or D-Link 4 Port Ethernet Broadband Router at MicroCenter for $40 after rebate.

Or US Robotics 4 Port Broadband Router at MicroCenter for $10 after rebate.

Or Newegg. (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?submit=list&catalog=28&DEPA=1&order=price&sort=asc)

And then there are the wireless routers.... :)

[Cai]

Okay thanks guys, but I have a NIC installed in each PC, so surely I don't need a router? Do I need to download Microsoft ICS?

[Jhorner1]

An easy and cheap solution would be to install proxy software on the machine that can connect to the internet.
You can download one from here (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm)

[Budfred]

If you want to limp along, go with a software solution. If you want to surf as though you are directly connected to the web, get a router....

[Ghost_Hacker]

if you want to share your internet connection and you have only one ISP provided IP address you have 2 options.

1.Router
2.ICS or some other internet sharing software.


As already suggested the router is the method most folks use ( you would still need 2 NICS, so I don't understand your issue with using one) ,but your free to choose ICS or something along those lines if you wish.

Good Luck :)

[yawningdog]

Forgive me, but I really don't think you need to download anything to share internet. In w2kpro, right click my network places, click properties, right click internet connection, click properties, click sharing tab, and the check box is right there.