Easy, plug an ethernet cable into the Modem, plug the other end into the Router's WAN port (there is only 1), now take another ethernet cable and plug it into one of the several LAN ports (any will do), connect the other end into the PC network card. Done!  Power up the Modem first, let it boot up, now power up the Router, Windows will take care of itself once this is done..

 

WAN-wide area network (to the outside world)

LAN-local area network  (your PC)

 

Read your Router documentation on any configuration that needs to be done, such as password, there is a default password to get into the router and this should be changed.

Looks to me like it should all work. 

 

Steve

Unless your house is pre-wired for ethernet, you may want to reconsider your purchase options.  I noticed that you mention your PCs are in different rooms.

 

Don't get me wrong, what you are purchasing will work just fine via wired connections, but you must hook up cable to go from both PCs to the Router and then another cable to the Cable modem if you want to share the internet (or file/print sharing) with both PCs.

 

I would get a Wireless PCI card for your XPS and a good ol' Linksys WRT54G for your router.  Both are relatively inexpensive, easy to setup, and widely available.  Of course, most any "G" type of Router and Wireless cards work well.

 

LT

 

 

 

Thanks folks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.  I've ordered the parts today.

 

However, I 'think' I may have a problem. 

 

History of my XPS computer:

 

Hard drive crashed after 3+ years so I did the logical thing and ordered a new computer (8200).

 

Bought a new hard drive and XP (original was 98SE) and installed it, all went fine.  I think it's called a clean install, not the upgrade.  Cost me $100 if I remember correctly.

 

Tonight I fired up the old beast to check it out, works fine   However.......when I checked properties on the C drive it says 'fat 32' system rather than NTFS.  I thought XP was the NTFS system.  Did I do something wrong on the install and do I have to redo the XP install again?  Not a big problem I guess as I still have the disks, just curious.

 

To the last post:  Live in a mobile home and the two computers are only a couple feet apart, just drill a small hole through two pieces of paneling to connect the two.  Thanks anyway.

 

One more thing:  Seeing the XPS hasn't been connected to the internet for over 3 years I ordered SP2 on CD hoping this will limit all the upgrades I have to download.  Correct?

 

Thanks,

 

O'Riley

 

 

Windows XP will run fine with the FAT32 file system, but you can convert it to NTFS using Windows XP Disk Management if you want.

 

Using the SP2 CD will speed things up a bit in terms of the upgrade.

 

Steve