Help me get my LAN working

[d1abolic]

First off, let me tell you about my miserable attempt to get it running myself. I have two machines, a Linksys BEFSR41 router and a cable connection. So i started off with my main PC connected directly to the modem, and popped in the Linksys installation CD. It verified that i have a connection, and then asked me to hook everything up through the router. I did it and the main machine worked perfectly. So now to the next one. I popped in the CD, and it asked me to connect directly. So i did. And this is where things went horribly wrong. The second machine refused to connect directly or through the router. And after giving up, i found out that now my main machine couldn't connect either. To get my main machine back online i had to call my ISP and they said they cleared something to get it to work again. They said i should have done a DHCP release before attempting to connect the second machine. They wouldn't tell me more though because they said they aren't trained for router support. So now i'm here, hopefully someone will tell me how to get this right.

P.S. Sorry for the repost - i need to finish this ASAP.

 

[JackMDS]

You biggest mistake was that you did not put the Linksys CD, under many book, so it will be out of the way!

First plug the two computers to the Router regular ports, and get your self a Network.

When you have a functional Network attend to the Internet part.

You can read general info here:

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.
anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48">Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?</a>

Networking and sharing between computers.

Since you did not indicate which OS you are using, you will have to look for more specific links here:

World of Windows Networking.

 

[d1abolic]

Holy sh1t, there is too much info on WOWN. Is there a faster way of doing this? I don't have the time to read their entire collection of guides. I thought this would be a 20-minute job.