wireless network - connecting to the net?

I have two computers that I wish to connect via a wireless network - a
desktop PC running Windows 2000 Pro SP4 (uses the cable modem), and a
notebook running Windows XP Pro.

Both machines have 802.11g 54Mbps wireless cards (PC - Linksys, Laptop -
Belkin) - I am not using a router (would probably have made life easier,
but got to deal with what i've got!)

I have got the two machines seeing each other and files can be exchanged
- speed sometimes goes down to 1Mbps, but mainly stays at 54Mbps... so I
can live with that... also been unable to share a printer connected to
the PC, but again that can be solved another day.

The real problem is the internet - I want to be able to surf the internet
on the laptop, using the wireless connection to the PC and hence the
cable modem connected to it.

I tried using ICS, but couldn't get that to work, I then tried Winroute
and that didn't work either... eventually found a program called CCProxy
and after some settings changes in the program, I could surf on the
laptop... actually went to the other end of the house to prove it to
myself!

so then I tried to be clever and enable WEP on the wireless network -
after rebooting, the PC could no longer see the laptop, let alone allow
it to surf.

I took WEP off to try to return to what I had... I eventually got them
communicating again, but on a different channel (11 - was on 6 when
surfing) but still cannot surf... i've got them both back to channel 6,
but still no go.

I simply don't have a clue what i've changed that still prevents me from
surfing on the laptop - i'm not even sure whether the problem is the
settings on the PC or the laptop..... networks eh!!!

CCProxy asks for a local IP address from a dropdown list - when I could
surf I had 3 available to me, the NIC Card (Modem), Wireless Network and
192.168.0.1 - but after enabling WEP and rebooting, I lost this third
option... when its receiving packets from the laptop, the graph on
CCProxy peaks, so you can see it working.

enabling ICS returns 192.168.0.1, but then I lose one of the others - nor
does it allow me to surf!

i'm not overly familiar with networks (expecially wireless), nor have I
used XP a lot, so I need advice... i'm guessing its something to do with
TCP/IP on the PC, but I can't see anything obviously wrong...

on the laptop, the wireless connection was added to the network bridge -
but can't remember if it was when i could surf... anyway, i've pulled it
out from the bridge and I can access its tcp/ip settings now... not very
aware of the purpose of the bridge, but looking at the layout in Network
Connections, I don't think it was bridged originally...

what should the TCP/IP settings be for all these devices - any advice
would be gratefully received!

I don't think the firewall is a problem, because it was enabled when I
was surfing... and i've since tried it off and made no difference...
there is no firewall enabled on the laptop currently.

its more frustrating knowing I had it working, than it would be if I had
got nowhere with it!!!

thanks

Jane

jane wrote:

> I tried using ICS, but couldn't get that to work, I then tried Winroute
> and that didn't work either... eventually found a program called CCProxy
> and after some settings changes in the program, I could surf on the
> laptop... actually went to the other end of the house to prove it to
> myself!

Windows ICS should be fine - make sure you enable ICS on the network
connection that has the cable modem (I assume you did do this, but it's
a common mistake)

> what should the TCP/IP settings be for all these devices - any advice
> would be gratefully received!

Since you are using a wireless network, and only have 2 PCs, I suggest
assigning the IP address manually in your TCP/IP settings.

(Make sure you do not touch the TCP/IP settings for the internet
connection - these settings should be automatically obtained from your ISP)

for the Windows 2000 Desktop PC, go to the Wireless LAN properties, and
set the IP Address to 192.168.0.1 - then set the Subnet mask to
255.255.255.0

for the Windows XP laptop, set the IP Address to 192.168.0.2, and the
subnet mask to 255.255.255.0

Once you have done this, you can test that the TCP/IP is working (it
should be if you are able to share files - I assume you use NetBIOS over
TCP/IP).

use your MS-DOS/Command Prompt on the Win2000 computer
type (without quotes) "ping 192.168.0.2"

- you should recieve a reply. If you do, try Windows ICS again.

> I don't think the firewall is a problem, because it was enabled when I
> was surfing... and i've since tried it off and made no difference...
> there is no firewall enabled on the laptop currently.

If you have XP SP2, double-check to make sure that the XP firewall is
disabled. Annoyingly, SP2 activates the firewall by default, even if
you didnt have it on before.

--
Ben Cottrell AKA Bench

>> I tried using ICS, but couldn't get that to work, I then tried
>> Winroute and that didn't work either... eventually found a program
>> called CCProxy and after some settings changes in the program, I
>> could surf on the laptop... actually went to the other end of the
>> house to prove it to myself!
>
> Windows ICS should be fine - make sure you enable ICS on the network
> connection that has the cable modem (I assume you did do this, but
> it's a common mistake)

done.

>> what should the TCP/IP settings be for all these devices - any advice
>> would be gratefully received!
> Since you are using a wireless network, and only have 2 PCs, I suggest
> assigning the IP address manually in your TCP/IP settings.
> (Make sure you do not touch the TCP/IP settings for the internet
> connection - these settings should be automatically obtained from your
> ISP)
> for the Windows 2000 Desktop PC, go to the Wireless LAN properties,
> and set the IP Address to 192.168.0.1 - then set the Subnet mask to
> 255.255.255.0

done.

> for the Windows XP laptop, set the IP Address to 192.168.0.2, and the
> subnet mask to 255.255.255.0

done.

> Once you have done this, you can test that the TCP/IP is working (it
> should be if you are able to share files - I assume you use NetBIOS
> over TCP/IP).
> use your MS-DOS/Command Prompt on the Win2000 computer
> type (without quotes) "ping 192.168.0.2"
>
> - you should recieve a reply. If you do, try Windows ICS again.

4 packets sent, 4 packets received, 0% loss

>> I don't think the firewall is a problem, because it was enabled when
>> I was surfing... and i've since tried it off and made no
>> difference... there is no firewall enabled on the laptop currently.
>
> If you have XP SP2, double-check to make sure that the XP firewall is
> disabled. Annoyingly, SP2 activates the firewall by default, even
> if you didnt have it on before.

you mean the ICS firewall ? it is unchecked, so I assume is not activated.

I checked again, and it has SP1 installed, not SP2... one of the reasons
for wanting to surf on the laptop is to run windows update.

but I still cannot surf, nor check email on the laptop.

can I give you the tcp/ip settings for the two wireless cards..

desktop - IP address & subnet as above, no DNS settings
(Advanced - Interface metric=1, top two radio button/checkbox
ticked+register this connections addresses in DNS, no WINS addresses,
Enable LMHOSTS lookup disabled, Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, IPSEC is
disabled, filtering is enabled and permit all.

laptop - IP address & subnet as above, no DNS settings
(Advanced - Interface metric=auto, top two radio button/checkbox
ticked+register this connections addresses in DNS, no WINS addresses,
Enable LMHOSTS lookup disabled, Enable NetBIOS over DHCP (if static IP, use
Netbios over TCP/IP), filtering is enabled and permit all.

also, in Internet Explorer on the laptop, what connection settings do I
need ?

currently, its set to 'Never Dial A Connection', and in LAN settings
'Automatically detect settings is ticked! - the proxy server is not ticked.

I don't know if this is relevant, but I can transfer files from PC->Laptop,
but not the other way around... I would like the option, but don't think
its the cause of the non-surfing problem.

hope you can help

thanks

Jane