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| Thread ID: 97799 | 2009-02-28 03:29:00 | Networked laptop as internet server? | GordonBennet (13808) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 751968 | 2009-02-28 03:29:00 | Hi All My problem is that I have a sick old laptop that I'd be happy to replace, but there's a hitch. My internet connection is via a Telecom Mobile Broadband PCMCIA card, which still has a long way to run on its contract (over 12 months). None of the laptops in my shortlist have a PCMCIA slot. I've checked with Telecom and they say swapping to another device (e.g. Express/USB) is not allowed on the existing contract. If my old laptop is left on a stable surface, plugged in to mains power it seems to be okay. It's just moving it around, plugging in and unplugging that seems to bother it. It's running Win XP. So my question is: If I buy a new laptop, can I connect it somehow to the old one and have the old one function as a kind of "internet server", just receiving the signal and passing it to the new laptop? Essentially just using its PCMCIA slot as a kind of peripheral. I realise this means that my "mobile" internet is no longer mobile, but that's acceptable to me in the medium term (i.e. until my contract expires). |
GordonBennet (13808) | ||
| 751969 | 2009-02-28 03:33:00 | This should work, as I've tried it b4: unlockforus.blogspot.com Blam |
Blam (54) | ||
| 751970 | 2009-02-28 06:39:00 | This should work, as I've tried it b4: unlockforus.blogspot.com Blam Cool. Thanks. By the way, what method of physical connection did you use between the two machines? And was the performance of the internet connection affected badly/at all? |
GordonBennet (13808) | ||
| 751971 | 2009-02-28 07:05:00 | Its should be just at fast on the original PC's connection. I made an ad-hoc network at school, using my computer, to share internet Cheers Blam BTW With this method you can also share the printer:) |
Blam (54) | ||
| 751972 | 2009-02-28 08:08:00 | Cool . Thanks . By the way, what method of physical connection did you use between the two machines? And was the performance of the internet connection affected badly/at all? It looks like Blam's article used an ad-hoc wireless network . This depends on your old laptop having wireless networking . You could achieve the same thing using a "crossover" network cable - usually fairly cheap to buy instead, and follow the same instructions for doing the "Internet Connection Sharing" step . |
somebody (208) | ||
| 751973 | 2009-02-28 12:19:00 | You can also buy PCI to PCMCIA card adaptors for desktops... www.ascent.co.nz www.sella.co.nz |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 751974 | 2009-03-25 05:29:00 | That worked very well! I'm typing this on my brand new laptop, using my old one as the internet gateway. | GordonBennet (13808) | ||
| 751975 | 2009-03-25 06:41:00 | Excellent - great to hear. | somebody (208) | ||
| 751976 | 2009-05-01 03:48:00 | Back in March, all this seemed to work fine. I did, however, have a lot of subsequent problems. Sometimes the internet would work on the "client" machine. Sometimes it wouldn't, but I'd be able to share files between the machines. Sometimes neither. I didn't post back because I felt it was my fault for experimenting with the settings each time it went wrong. Eventually I gave up in disgust and used a USB flash drive to transfer files. By an interesting coincidence, the current PC World (May 2009) has an article - 'Connect two or more PCs - anywhere, anytime' - that may explain things. Consider the apparent contradiction in these two extracts. First, talking about networking two computers with a cross-over cable: "Repeat the process on the second PC, but set its IP address as 192.168.0.2." But later, talking about sharing an internet connection: "Verify that the client computer is set to automatic connection ... Click the Obtain an IP address automatically radio button." Well, it can't be both at once. Either the second (client) machine has a specific IP address or obtains its own. Does this mean I have to choose between sharing my internet connection or sharing my files? Are those two functions mutually exclusive? |
GordonBennet (13808) | ||
| 751977 | 2009-05-01 05:38:00 | I think you should specify the IP addresses for both computers. But for the client machine, set the default gateway to be the computer connected to the internet. Which method let you share the internet connection and which let you share files? You can do both at once. |
utopian201 (6245) | ||
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