Question aobut connecting laptop to PC

[billz103071]

I have a question. I am trying to connect my PC to my laptop to use the wireless router for my PC. Is there a device like a USB key that I can plug into my PC to catch the air waves of the wireless router. If so, where?

[DavidHB]

More info needed, I'm afraid. What are the exact makes and model numbers of the laptop, desktop and router? Are you sure that the laptop does not have wireless capabilities built in (so that it may just be a matter of enabling them)? Are both computers running XP?

Do you just want to connect to the Internet, or are you also planning to share files and/or printers between the two machines? If it is the latter, the router will need to be properly firewalled to protect your local network from the Internet.

Generally, if your router has a spare ethernet port, I'd try to get a wired connection going first (so that you know that the LAN and internet connection are working OK) and switch to wireless as a second stage. Or maybe not; if you can manage with a wired connection, it will be quicker and often more reliable than wireless.

Hope this helps.

David

[johnwill]

If you have a USB wireless adapter, that will connect to a wireless router.

A typical example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-33150021

[DavidHB]

Originally Posted by johnwill

If you have a USB wireless adapter, that will connect to a wireless router.

But don't buy one until you are sure your laptop hasn't got one built in. And if you're unfamiliar with networking, I still think that it's worth starting with a wired connection; all that costs - if there's a spare port on your router - is an Ethernet cable.

David

[billz103071]

I have a Laptop Toshiba Satellite M45 running Windows XP SP2 and a desktop GATEWAY running Windows XP SP2 as well. I am using the laptop's wireless connection to get on a router from the neighborhood. What I would like to do is use the laptop as a go between for the desktop to use to get onto the internet through the laptop. Is there some way that I can hook up an ethernet cable and bridge the connection between the laptop and desktop to make the connection so the desktop can also get on the internet?

[DavidHB]

As I'd not recommend sharing files through a router you do not control, the best method is either to get an internal Wifi card or a (as Johnwill suggests) a USB Wifi adapter for the desktop and establish a separate connection for each machine.

You could establish a direct cable connection between the computers (using a crossover cable) and then use Internet Connection Sharing, but, leaving aside the likely hassle of making something like that work, sharing already limited wireless bandwidth between two machines is not a recipe for peace and contentment.

BTW, I'd check out the legalities of what you are doing. Here in the UK, using someone else's Internet connection is at best a breach of the agreement with the ISP and at worst a criminal offence.

David

[billz103071]

Thanks for the heads up, I will check into it before attempting anything.

[johnwill]

I'm going to close this one. What you're doing is illegal and also against our Tech Support Forum Rules & Conduct. Buy your own access and stop stealing it from your neighbors!