h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hubby has recently discovered a website that he likes posting to. No, it's not H2G2 - he's not *that* bright. Thing is that there are times when he's online when I want to use the computer, too. I have an old PC sitting in the loft, unused. Other than obvious things like a new monitor for the second PC, what do I need to do to get both computers working at the same time? Ideally I'd like them both to have Internet access. What do I need to do to achieve this?

I've had the same problems until I got a notebook recently.
You need either a router, either to be connected via cables, or with wireless LAN, which is not very safe, cause other people can hack into your pc and dial expensive numbers or get your data, so I wouldn't recommend this. Depending on what you want to do, your pc should atleast be a pentium II, anything else would be too slow. My notebook is a pentium II, I mainly use it to go here, and it works just fine
The pc should be with a network card ( I hope this is the right vocabulary ) yes, I think that's it, that's what my notebook is with.
Hope this is of some help to you

Bel

I'm sure there's plenty of researchers with better knowledge than me, but here's some starters.
You'll need some sort of network card in the second PC & network cable to join the two computers together. Then some configuration of network settings. If you have a slow internet connection, two users downloading will slow things up even more.

All the above answers assume the you have a broadband connection. If you have a dial up, sharing the connection is possible, but it will be so frustrating that its not worth the effort.

Assuming you do have a broadband connection, either cable or ADSL, all you require is a network card for each computer. A broadband/DSL 4 Port Router and two bits of Category 5 Untwisted Pair cable to connect them. This can be obtained form any computer store and the Router will come with a length already to get you started. The router will cost you somewhere around £60 - £80.

Installing and connecting up is the next problem. This all depends on how good you are at reading and understanding instructions and how much you understand about networks now. Routers usually come with comprehensive instruction.

I would steer clear of wireless networks unless you absolutely need the portability. If the two computers are desktops that are generally going to stay in one place, wire them together.

One final point, if your ISP is AOL you are going to have to speak to them. AOL, in their infinite wisdom, do everything different than the rest of the Internet community and require special handling.

Donald

right.. it's been said before, I summarise:
- if you use a dial-up telephone line: forget it. You'll be sorry.
- if you do not have the patience to spend a full day installing: forget wireless networks
- if you have two desktop computers near to each other, no laptop: forget wireless networks
- if you do not have the discipline to change passwords every week: forget wireless networks
- use a router to connect your pcs, buy a router that can connect to your type of broadband connection. Window's Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) works but that's the only good I can say about it.

there are a *lot* of websites explaining set up, connecting, configuration and use of home networks. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm is one of them. Depending on what systems you use (unix, linux, windows 95, 98, nt, 2000, xp, me, other) you may run into challenges. Just try to remember that home networks have been made before, and that reprogramming your pc with a sledge hammer solves no technical problems. Depending on your pc's a home network should cost you about 2 hours work (shopping for hardware excluded) and between 50 and 150 USD.