Hi Luke...!
A little bit of info from our side of the Pond...>>>

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0860716404....

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hardware/networking/productView.htm?quicklinx=37...

Cheers...!

Paul.

P.S. ...it looks as though Luke has deleted his original post....
...still, perhaps we can carry on with the subject of Local Area Network connecting advice...

So SORRY Paul & Andy,    did I do it???,  no wonder I could not find it !   here it is again:-

"..........What is the simplest and cheapest way to network our two PCs in the same room, to use the broadband on either.
One 1500mhz has winXP & the other win98(very slow , also with USB).
I have a Serial cable DB9 & DB25 I used to "Laplink" my PCs, then both win98.
Thnx,     luke ................."

So my old cable is no good? Do I have to buy,buy,buy again?
The PCs are only 3ft apart. I gues I will have to shift the USB cable, each time, from one to the other.

What a carry on.                   Thnx,          luke

Quote:



eeeer..........

Ok, John, your in the line of fire next time I attempt a "simple" network connection.

I am fairly confident on most common PC operations, but networking is absolutely daunting for me, and I cringe when I have to do it.

It can be incredibly complex to hook up two pc's side by side, so, now I know who to turn to for help!

Actually, I'm surprised there is no dedicated forum in SimV for it.

Be sure to name your WORKGROUP the same on both computers! I think Win98 names it something other than the defaul WinXP 'MSHOME'. I would change both of them to something original.

Networking is very simple.

Get a switch and hook your computers up to the switch with cat5 or cat5e straight-though cables. Make sure both computers have the same workgroup and bam your done, no other config necessary. A switch is very cheap these days and works much better than using a crossover cable in a peer to peer connection.

Personally, I'd get a router with a built-in switch (which is also cheap). That way, you can connect your router's WAN connection to your ISP's border router. This allows you to have a fast lan and share your internet connection much faster than using a host pc to 'distribute' connections.

I haven't used win98 in years, but isn't there supposed to be a my network places icon on the desktop?

On Win'98, the icon is somewhere simple where you wouldn't expect it, that's all I can remember, sry.

Have you tried right clicking on the network neighborhood icon and selecting properties from the drop down menu?

If you get a networking icon in the system tray, (quick launch toolbar), try right clicking and going to it's properties, I think it takes you to that folder,  again I can't remember exactly.

It's handy to have that icon in the toolbar, if it doesn't exist, try going to the networking options in explorer and find the little check box that puts it there.

In those same networking options, you will need to set IP adresses for the adapters, TCP/IP protocols etc, etc.

When you start getting into Internet Connection Sharing, and configuring that thru a firewall, you get into some real headaches. I think Autopilot is probably right, if I understand him correcty, by going thru a "hub", it may simplify things.

I have gotten it all working perfectly and then I come up with a Stupid problem like when in a multiplayer game over the LAN connection, One player's bullets and weapons have no effect on the other player, that's how crazy it seems to get.

I wouldn't listen to me though, go with someone else who knows how to do it "simply".