Baby steps needed to hook up 2 computers

[daremi]

Hi Guys
I need help in actual baby steps to hook up two computers. I am connected to the internet via cable to one computer that is running on XP and want to network another computer which is running on windows 98 and is about 20 metres away. So how do I do it? Do I first have to buy another network card for the XP computer and I definetely need another network card for the second computer which I also want it to have internet access. Then what kind of cable do I require? An what settings do I have to change on both computers. Please any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SaintTigurius]

XP = 1 network card only needed
98 = 1 network card only needed

buy a router,

buy 3 cat53 cables, make sure there good lenght. so they can reach

modem --- plugs into ---router === two network cables= == one going to XP other to 98

follow instruction from router manual to set it up..

 

[daremi]

Thanks SaintTigurius

I dont have resouces to buy a router. Isn't there a way just to hook up these two PCs just using a cable and not going to a router or Hub?
Thanks

 

[Nebben]

If you don't want a router:

Main PC (WinXP)
Card 1 = Connected directly to your cable modem
Card 2 = Connected directly to your second PC with a crossover cable, NOT a standard Cat5 cable. (A normal cable might work if your cards support auto-crossover)

Secondary PC (Win98)
Card 1 = Connected to main PC with the crossover cable


Go into your network control panel on the main control panel and run the Network Setup Wizard. It'll walk you through what you need to do. It will also create a disk for you to run on your Win98 computer if I remember correctly, or else it will just tell you to run something from your XP CD on the second computer. This should set it up automatically.