My computer on Lan can't access internet...

Mark1982 · 08-11-2007, 05:06 PM

Hello,
I have to admit to being a complete newbie when it comes to networking computers. Recently I've been trying to connect my laptop to my desktop computer using an ethernet crossover cable. (I accidentally bought a patch cable, but did some DIY to make it a crossover cable.)

So after setting up my network connections using the Network Setup Wizard, I had no luck in getting the two computers to connect to each other. I gave up on it for a while, but then the other day I happened to try setting up the I.P addresses manually. So my desktop is set to 192.168.0.1 and my laptop is set to 192.168.0.2 (the subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0)

Now the two computers connect instantly, and file sharing is working perfectly. The only problem remaining is that my laptop can't access the internet. (My desktop computer connects to the internet using a USB ADSL modem.)

Is it because I haven't set the "Preferred DNS server" in the TCP/IP Properties on my laptop? How do I find the correct server address? Or could it be another problem? The internet connection on my desktop computer has all sharing options enabled.

Thanks for any help,
Mark

**JamesO** · 08-11-2007, 05:53 PM

Would be far simpler to get a router and connect the router to the DSL modem, assuming it has an Ethernet port, then just connect the machines to the router either via wire or wirelessly.

Note you will need to configure the router as PPPoE with the DSL user name and password in most instances.

JamesO

Mark1982 · 08-11-2007, 06:04 PM

Thanks for the advice. I would like to try wireless in the future, but at the moment I'd like to get things working with the crossover cable.

shwaavay · 08-13-2007, 11:17 AM

You need to turn on internet connection sharing on the computer that connects to the internet. To do this go to Network connections in control panel, right click the connection to the internet and select properties, select the advanced tab and check the box for share this connection(This assumes you are using XP :)).

Now on the Laptop set the Gateway and DNS servers to the ip of the Desktop (192.168.0.1) and everything should work perfectly.

Mark1982 · 08-13-2007, 10:56 PM

Thanks a lot! It works perfectly now. Well, only when I disable my firewall, but that's another problem I'll try and figure out... ;)

08-11-2007, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark1982 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	My computer on Lan can't access internet... Hello, I have to admit to being a complete newbie when it comes to networking computers. Recently I've been trying to connect my laptop to my desktop computer using an ethernet crossover cable. (I accidentally bought a patch cable, but did some DIY to make it a crossover cable.) So after setting up my network connections using the Network Setup Wizard, I had no luck in getting the two computers to connect to each other. I gave up on it for a while, but then the other day I happened to try setting up the I.P addresses manually. So my desktop is set to 192.168.0.1 and my laptop is set to 192.168.0.2 (the subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0) Now the two computers connect instantly, and file sharing is working perfectly. The only problem remaining is that my laptop can't access the internet. (My desktop computer connects to the internet using a USB ADSL modem.) Is it because I haven't set the "Preferred DNS server" in the TCP/IP Properties on my laptop? How do I find the correct server address? Or could it be another problem? The internet connection on my desktop computer has all sharing options enabled. Thanks for any help, Mark

08-11-2007, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
JamesO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA USA Posts: 2,289 OS: 98SE, W2k Pro, XP Pro	Re: My computer on Lan can't access internet... Would be far simpler to get a router and connect the router to the DSL modem, assuming it has an Ethernet port, then just connect the machines to the router either via wire or wirelessly. Note you will need to configure the router as PPPoE with the DSL user name and password in most instances. JamesO

08-11-2007, 06:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark1982 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Re: My computer on Lan can't access internet... Thanks for the advice. I would like to try wireless in the future, but at the moment I'd like to get things working with the crossover cable.

08-13-2007, 11:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
shwaavay Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 19 OS: XPe	Re: My computer on Lan can't access internet... You need to turn on internet connection sharing on the computer that connects to the internet. To do this go to Network connections in control panel, right click the connection to the internet and select properties, select the advanced tab and check the box for share this connection(This assumes you are using XP :)). Now on the Laptop set the Gateway and DNS servers to the ip of the Desktop (192.168.0.1) and everything should work perfectly.

08-13-2007, 10:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mark1982 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23 OS: XP	Re: My computer on Lan can't access internet... Thanks a lot! It works perfectly now. Well, only when I disable my firewall, but that's another problem I'll try and figure out... ;)