I need a little help with Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing

[nx02nx02]

I have Comcast HSI with a cable modem and 2 computers that I need to get on the internet.
I was hoping I could use ICS cause I dont have a router.

The main computer with the cable modem hooked to it is working great and has 2 ethernet cards in it. 1 for the cable modem and the other one for internet connection sharing. The 2nd computer has 1 ethernet card and the 2 computers are hooked together with a crossover cable.

But for some reason it just isnt working. The 2nd computer cant access the internet.
The first computer isnt sharing like its supposed too. I dont even know for sure if the 2 computers can see eachother (any way to test this?)

When I try to access the internet on the 2nd computer by opening IE it says, detecting proxy settings for a bit then comes up with, the page cannot be displayed.

I also ran network setup wizard on both computers and it still dont work.

So what would cause ICS not to work? Everything is hooked up, using a total of 3 NIC cards and a crossover cable. I turned ICS on on the main computer.

Any ideas?

Also, what should the ip addresses be? Or do I use obtain ip automatically?

 

[boomerang]

Check here for information on what you're trying to do. It's for 2000, but I'm guessing it will apply for XP also.

But really, unless money is a problem, a router is the way to go. Easy setup, the computer connected to the modem will not always have to be on and just for security alone, it's worth the money.

Edit: Inexpensive routers.