Wireless laptop as network bridge

[Subaguru]

Upfront, I'm nearly completely ignorant of networking beyond setting up/running game servers and installing consumer grade wireless networks for home use.

That said, here's my issue: I've got components for a new gaming rig arriving this evening. As the intended destination is in my upstairs office where the router lives, I did not order a wifi motherboard or wifi adapter, since I'm planning on running hardwire. A friend of mine who has never built a PC before wanted to watch me put this one together and configure it so he can be prepared for his build next month, and since build space in the office is limited, the intent was to build on the dining room table. It was only today that it dawned on me I'm not going to be able to update Windows, or install from Steam until I get the machine moved up to the router.

So the question: Is it even possible to run an ethernet cable from my laptop, which has wifi, to the mobo on the new Desktop to get network access? There aren't any local stores where I live that I can depend on to carry computer parts, and a wifi adapter will be pointless after this weekend anyway.

If need be, I'll just haul the thing upstairs early and finish config in its intended environment, but the elbow room I'll have in the dining room is quite nice.

 

[ch33zw1z]

How far are the rooms? Can you just use a 100 foot cable instead? it's only temporary anyways...

 

[Subaguru]

Could, if I had a 100 footer. The design of the house has all the upstairs rooms with a kind of balcony overlook across the living room, and the dining room is directly under the office. It's really a lack of forethought that even puts me in this position. Never had a machine w/o wifi in the house, so it's never had to be a consideration.

Suddenly realized how much I'm overthinking this. It's pretty much going to be a matter of setting up a LAN with the laptop and the new machine. Seemed a lot more complicated at 11PM last night after a long day working on Nissans.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So the question: Is it even possible to run an ethernet cable from my laptop, which has wifi, to the mobo on the new Desktop to get network access? There aren't any local stores where I live that I can depend on to carry computer parts, and a wifi adapter will be pointless after this weekend anyway.

If need be, I'll just haul the thing upstairs early and finish config in its intended environment, but the elbow room I'll have in the dining room is quite nice.

To answer the original question, yes. Assuming you have windows installed on the laptop:

https://www.google.com/search?q=set...&sugexp=chrome,mod=2&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

It's called internet connection sharing. I asked about the cable, because ICS can be a pain in the butt at times. (everytime)