Willing to pay Paypal for live/step by step help in setting up a 2 computer network.

[Kiel19]

And the best part is, I'm not computer stupid!

So I won't be a hassle, I'm just that desperate to get this thing working I'm willing to pay.

Here's the lowdown:

Goal
I wish to have a permanently working internet connection on my laptop, and if possible, share files / LAN with my main computer (for gaming, music etc).

Main Computer
WinXP PRO
Connected to the internet (currently working) through a USB port Speedstream USB ADSL Modem, which has a phone line connected into the wall, and a spare ethernet spot.

New Laptop
WinXP PRO

Connection
Telstra Bigpond ADSL 512/256
So this is a little hard to explain. As mentioned above, my main computer is connected to a Speedstream USB Modem via a USB port in the back. In said modem is a phone line to the wall, an AC adapter for power obviously, and an ethernet cable. The ethernet cable runs up through my roof and down into my living area and into my...
DLink Dir-300 Wireless Router.

Where I've gotten so far
I've managed to get the laptop to connect perfectly with a wireless 54MBp/s "Excellent" connection to the router wherever I am in the house, however I have no internet or email. I'm happy to log in to 192.168.0.1 and restore factory defaults if you wish to start all over again, too.

Price will be negotiated preferably after I'm setup. I'm not asking for it to be overly cheap either, if you get it working and it's worked for like a day without hassles, I'll pay well!

However I do ask that if something does go wrong in the near future that I have access to a little ongoing support...but that's up to you.

So who's in!?

[Greg]

I need to know more about the modem, but I'd be inclined
to suggest that the router be connected to the modem.

Wall->router->cable to desktop
Use the wireless for the laptop as you are.

This way, the router can do the DNS and WAN sharing. Right now I think you would be able to do it too, but the router puts a better firewall between you and the internet then the direct USB port.

Of course, there's more than one way to do this.

What modem and router models do you have?

[Kiel19]

I need to know more about the modem, but I'd be inclined
to suggest that the router be connected to the modem.

Wall->router->cable to desktop
Use the wireless for the laptop as you are.

This way, the router can do the DNS and WAN sharing. Right now I think you would be able to do it too, but the router puts a better firewall between you and the internet then the direct USB port.

Of course, there's more than one way to do this.

What modem and router models do you have?

Hi,

Out of curiosity I am now using the same modem but instead of the USB port connected to the computer I'm using the ethernet slot.

The modem to my main PC which is plugged into the wall is a Speedstream USB Adapter modem. The wireless router is a D-Link Dir-300.

[Kiel19]

I got it setup and working, by pure fluke.

What I'm wondering now, and have no chance of succeeding by myself, is how to have a wireless laptop and a desktop PC share files and play games ("offline", technically) in the way of a LAN?

[Greg]

For me, I'd do as I suggester. PC direct to Router. Laptop via wireless to router. Router to USB Modem. USB Modem to Wall. Let the the router do LAN and WAN and free up the PC to just be on the lan and be able to share and use the wan without redundancy.

Right now, the way to do it would be an Ethernet cable to the router lan port from the PC I think. I'm not convinced that is your best bet.

[bigH2O]

Greg's right on the connection for this setup.
Wall->Modem->wireless router
Wired connection PC-> wireless router
Wireless connection notebook->wireless router
Wireless router configured as DHCP and DNS server

To get file sharing going on you'll need to set up a workgroup that both computers are members of, then set sharing up on the drives/directories that you want to share between the two computers.

To set up the workgroup, Start->right click on My Computer->Computer Name->To rename this computer or join a domain->Change->Workgroup. Assign a name for the Workgroup, and click OK. Make sure both computers are using the same Workgroup name. It wouldn't hurt to assign logical computer names to the machines like "MyNotebook", MyDesktop" etc while you're making the adjustments here.

To set up file sharing, launch explorer. Find the drive or folder you want to share and right click on it, then select sharing. It'll probably throw up a warning about being sure you know what you're doing before you share files. If you click through that, you can check a box to tell it to share, give the directory/drive a share name, and decide whether or not to let the other computer modify your files.

One word of caution though... if you are going to set up a network for file sharing between your two systems, you absolutely need to set WPA encryption on the router to keep other people who might stray into your signal range off of your router. Consult the documentation on your router as to how to set that up. You'll have to set up both the router for encryption, and the wireless card in the notebook to pass the proper keys to the router so that it knows the notebook is allowed to connect to it.